Strategic Project Planning

Overview
This course was initiated in response to strong and consistent growth in demand for business and management skills that can help deliver
core business activities in a variety of organisations. In the wake of globalisation, companies need to respond rapidly to change at all levels
to maintain their competitive position and sustain growth; the ability to conjoin vision, strategy and strategy implementation using a
robust, flexible and responsive delivering-methodology is essential. The use of project management to do just this, by implementing
strategic objectives and managing overall operations a practice now known as management-by-projects has seen a commensurate
growth in demand for qualifications which can deliver these skills and abilities. Strategic project planning (SPP) differentiates itself from
other project management offerings by providing greater emphasis on the strategic requirement in managing a portfolio of projects to
deliver organisational goals.
Aims and Objectives
The course aims to enable students to:

Acquire and develop a systematic understanding of knowledge in the areas associated with strategic project planning:
o Apply strategies appropriate to the prioritising of projects and managing a portfolio of projects with reference to the internal and
external organisational environment; make evaluative judgements on the development, governance and exploitation of
information systems and their impact on project governance; strategic change and how it influences and affects the behaviour of
employees; using change to achieve competitive advantage.
o Select and apply project management processes in the delivery of successful projects; be able to transfer techniques and
solutions for managing projects from one project to another, including skills in managing the project life cycle, risk and quality
issues in projects, scheduling and budgeting, and monitoring and control; project initiation and establishing shared expectations,
the project life cycle, control and evaluation of projects, the planning and management of procurement and contracts, quality
and risk management throughout a project and apply special techniques to manage multiple projects.
o Apply techniques for project appraisal, selecting and prioritising projects; be able to use selected accounting practices to plan,
manage and control project budgets; and apply relevant aspects of contract law.
Acquire a critical awareness of contemporary and pervasive issues in strategic project planning which may change over time, both in
the academic discipline and professional practice.
Understand and evaluate a comprehensive range of research techniques used in the areas of strategic project planning in order to
create and interpret knowledge.
Evaluate critically academic research, professional research, published case studies and media pronouncements on the development
and use of strategic project planning in business and management.
Encourage the development of subject interests by enabling students to carry out original research at the forefront of knowledge on a
relevant SPP topic through a dissertation.

Assist the development of transferable skills (particularly teamwork, leadership, communication, negotiation, conflict resolution and
presentation) for employment, particularly in middle-to-senior strategic and business related positions in a wide range of public and
private organisations, or in academic research and in preparation for lifelong learning and personal development.

Reasons to take the course

To develop strategic planning, project management and business techniques appropriate to strategic project planning contexts.
To engage in two-way communication involving listening, negotiating and persuading or influencing others; oral and written
communication, the use of a range of media, including the preparation of strategic project reports.
To apply principles and concepts informed by current research to practical situations and Conduct research into project related business
and management issues

Employment Prospects
A postgraduate degree in Strategic Project Planning would suit any individual whose job involves managing work that has a strategic focus
and a defined end goal, for example:

Strategy implementation
Event management (sporting, festival, political, etc)
Mergers and acquisitions
IT Governance and related projects
Developing new products and services
Performance improvement
Business Restructuring

Some students may also go on to pursue PhD research.

Course Modules Overview

Module: Strategic Project Management
1. To introduce key concepts in project management and strategic project management, including the project management life cycle. In
particular, the module focuses on the link between business strategy, implementation and project management.
2. To apply strategic planning tools in the development of project plans for strategy implementation.
The learner will be able to:

understand the concept of projects and project management

apply project management to the process of strategy development and implementation
describe and use a life-cycle model of project management
demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the integrative nature of project management
differentiate between hard and soft areas of project management
use a range of strategic project management tools and methods
analyse a range of project management situations and recommend suitable actions
analyse a range of strategic project management cases and recommend suitable actions
work in a project team

Module: Strategic Alignment of the Project Portfolio

1. To explore the current base of knowledge under the general heading of Management by Projects so as to add more precision to the
term so that it can become a valuable component of business management science.
2. To examine the relationship between the pipeline of requirements for expansion of a business and how it should best relate to the
portfolio of strategic projects.
3. To study how this relationship can best be put into practice in terms of the Governance Regimes which describe how individuals should
best interact to achieve the intended goals and what their optimum roles and responsibilities should be.
4. To teach postgraduate students about the emerging techniques and methodologies in ways that they can contribute to that evolution.
5. To involve business leaders so that the techniques and methodologies can be ratified as valid in a practical environment.
The learner will be able to:

Explain the importance and complexity of a sound strategic project plan for a business.
Critically analyse the options open to business executives to allow them to draw up, optimise and monitor the strategic project plan.
Determine suitable options from a range of options for investment finance that should be earmarked to fund business growth from the
strategic project plan and how this can be assessed afterwards as to its effectiveness.

Understand the role and their interrelationships needed in a business to allow a Governance Regime to operate and the skills and
characteristics needed by individuals to fill these roles.
Analyse the Information Systems Architecture and how it can be enhanced by development of the business's information systems and
how this can change the way the business should operate.
Discuss current research and practice in the field of Management by Projects.
Critical assessment of previous and current practice in creating and monitoring a strategic project plan.
Solve problems in the development of methodologies and techniques for balancing the requirements pipeline with the strategic project
portfolio.
Become skilled in searching for relevant literature.
Develop team-working and communication skills with other students and with business practitioners.
Develop self-awareness and self-management skills from working on research-based tasks.
Learn through reflection on practice and experience.

Module: Strategy and Intrapreneurship

1. The overall aim of this module is to introduce the students to key aspects of strategy, in particular the role of the individual as an
intrapreneur.
2. The secondary aim of the module is to enhance students knowledge, understanding and awareness of the role of business planning,
particularly in relation to Project Management.
3. The third aim is to enable students to demonstrate strategic awareness through critical and creative thinking, working in teams to solve
complex problems.
The learner will be able to:

Demonstrate an understanding of strategic theory as it relates to entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship;

Demonstrate a critical understanding of key elements in the business plan;
Demonstrate an understanding of the theory of new venture creation through application of principles and procedures appropriate to a
range of situations around new venture creation;
Bring together facts and ideas about strategic intrapreneurship creation to evolve new concepts about new and potential business
ventures.
Demonstrate critical awareness of current issues in the area of intrapreneurship as they relate to strategic project management.
Critical review, research and develop informed alternatives to given problems.
Deal with complex issues and make informed decisions in situations involving incomplete information;
Identify key issues and use appropriate techniques in idea generation and problem solving;
Communicate to an audience, findings from research and analysis;
Demonstrate team working and role play abilities.

Module: Strategic Change

The key theme of the course is strategic change with the aim of learning that there is rarely anything which is fixed about organizational
life and that one way of looking at organizations is that they are always in a state of becoming. The second key theme is an international
perspective with the aim of looking at organizations and ideas from other countries to understand organizations from a much wider and
more valuable strategic perspective.
The learner will be able to:

demonstrate a systematic and critical understanding of key issues in analyzing and managing
use these ideas as practical tools for the analysis and change of organizations
delineate the strategic implications of organisational change
argue the role of change as a vehicle for strategy implementation
apply creative thinking to organisational change and learning problems
articulate the life cycle of organisational change as a project management process
select and apply strategic change tools to organisations
analyse a range strategic and organisational situations and recommend suitable actions
work in a project team and present case analyses
learn from experience and formative peer assessment

organizational change.

Module: Project Control

1. To introduce students to a variety of tools and techniques for monitoring and controlling projects throughout the project life cycle.
2. Emphasis is placed on project definition through a variety of baselines, the importance of risk management and decision making
techniques is highlighted.
3. Control issues in the face of new information from stakeholders and the environment are explored, leading to the management of key
decisions, including the difficult decision of pulling the plug on a project.
The learner will be able to:

understand and apply concepts of control in projects and programmes

develop and use control baselines from a knowledge of the WBS and project constraints
apply scheduling tools to solve time and resource management problems
apply strategic thinking to control decisions
apply risk management techniques to a range of projects and programmes
argue a case for strategic project control decisions which allow for flexibility and evolution of
environmental change in a project

stakeholder expectations and

use a range of strategic project management tools and methods

analyse a range of project and programme management situations and recommend suitable actions
analyse a range of strategic project management cases and recommend suitable actions
work in a project team

Module: Project Procurement and Contract Management

1. To provide students with the knowledge of principles, practices and techniques for the commercial management of projects with
particular emphasis on the role of the supply chain specialist.
The learner will be able to:

Differentiate between the various procurement choices to be made in project management in a range of situations
Identify and describe the main parts of a procurement plan
Explain the key features of common contract types and the differences between them
Select and justify the use of appropriate contracts in a range of situations
Explain what is meant by incentive contracting and perform incentive calculations
Differentiate common partnering arrangements and argue their merits and pitfalls
Apply a range of dispute resolution techniques to commercial contracts
To appreciate the complexity of supply chains and the implications of managing assets owned by someone else.
To be able to apply a range of practical procurement techniques

Module: Quality Management and Performance Improvement

1. To develop knowledge, understanding and critical thinking skills in the application of TQM principle within projects and organisations in
the supply chain.
2. To gain a practical and analytic grounding in the planning and use of a range of tools and frameworks that contribute to improving
performance.
The learner will be able to:

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understand definitions of quality

understand and apply principles of process design and improvement
be able to critically assess various quality improvement tools
understand and apply knowledge management techniques

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distinguish between process re-engineering and quality management

be familiar with the EFQM, Baldridge and other relevant frameworks
be aware of the role of customer satisfaction and employee involvement in quality throughout project supply chain
be able to use analysis and lateral thinking skills
be able to critically evaluate organisations
use computer based learning packages

Module: Strategic and Economic Aspects of Management Accounting

1. To explore developments in the economic analysis of management accounting including strategic management accounting, capital
budgeting, project appraisal, budgeting and control within an organisational context.
2. To introduce alternative modes of analysis that demonstrate the social impact of management accounting techniques.
The learner will be able to:

Understand contemporary management accounting techniques that support managerial decision making
Demonstrate facility with developments in managerial accounting
Analyse management accounting information for the purpose of organisational control
Critically evaluate management accounting policies and practices within the organisational context
Apply analytical and evaluation skills to complex lines of reasoning
Operate effectively as a member of a team
Effectively communicate accounting information to personnel from other organisational functions
Promote organisational integration by relating management accounting information to other organisational functions, policies and
personnel

Module: Legal Aspects of Commercial Contracts

1. To enable the learner to acquire knowledge and understanding of the legal principles regulating the negotiation, formation and
performance of commercial contracts.
2. To enable the learner to understand the practical application of contract law in the context of project planning.
3. To enable the learner to develop the skills necessary for planning contracts in such a way as to avoid legal difficulties.
4. To enable the learner to acquire skills in legal problem solving.

The learner will be able to:

Understand the principles of contract law and its importance in project planning.
Understand the potential legal problems arising out of the formation and performance of commercial contracts.
Demonstrate an awareness of common law and statutory regulation of contract terms and conditions.
Extract general principles from specific cases and apply these principles to new legal problems.
Apply theoretical knowledge and practical problem-solving skills in a variety of contexts.
Review and critically assess legal material.
Communicate effectively and accurately by verbal and written means.

Module: Team Development, Facilitation & Leadership

1. To provide students with the knowledge and skills they need to:
(a) work effectively in a team environment;
(b) differentiate between task needs, team needs, & individual needs;
(c) facilitate the team building process;
(d) select and apply leadership styles in a diverse range of situations
The learner will be able to:

understand team and leadership processes

understand the importance of and the difference between team roles and functional roles and use this to build and develop effective
teams
differentiate between task needs, team needs and individual needs
plan and apply team-development strategies
distinguish between leadership skills, facilitation skills and the role of co-ordinator in the context of team development
explain the importance of clear and effective communication in team-work and demonstrate a range of communication skills
describe the concept of negotiation and negotiation techniques
apply strategies for conflict management in a range of situations
understand the impact of their own personality within a team process and apply reflective learning to their own personal development
create and contribute to effective teams
use basic team-working, leadership and facilitation skills
negotiate for scarce resources
use basic conflict resolution strategies
give a team presentation about the use of team development activities

Module: Research Methods

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generate a critical understanding of the social science research process in terms of qualitative and quantitative methodologies.
develop an appreciation of the nature of Business & Management research.
provide the knowledge & skills required to conduct a sizeable piece of independent research.
enable students to practise their skills & test their understanding of aspects of the research process.

The learner will be able to:

select & develop a topic to investigate

obtain relevant information
access & evaluate literature
select an appropriate methodology
develop an understanding of the differences between qualitative & quantitative research.
know how to analyse, interpret & write-up research results
work independently
communicate & present ideas effectively by written & verbal means

Masters in Information Technology

Overview
There are many IT Masters courses on offer which concentrate on computing and the business applications of IT, but this one has a unique emphasis. Its aim
is to take the student from introduction to Masters Level in Information Technology, applied across a wide range of subject areas. It has been taken
successfully by students from a wide range of disciplines but it is not suitable for graduates in the Arts who do not also have expertise in mathematics. Previous
computing experience is required, and it is expected that applicants will have at least the minimum mathematical background

Aims and Objectives

The course covers the elements of Information and Communication Theory, Programming, Data Communications, Networks, Databases and Information
Systems, and Computer Hardware in a series of core modules. There are laboratory sessions, practical assignments and computing projects to illustrate and
extend the taught materials.

Reasons To Take the Course

Computer Science at Heriot-Watt is well known for its innovative research and postgraduate courses. We have thriving research groups investigating
Databases, Knowledge Bases and Information Systems, Parallel and Distributed Technologies, Software Engineering and Performance Modelling, Vision and
Image Processing, Machine Learning, Natural Language Processing, Automated Reasoning, Logics, Types and Rewriting, Graphics and Multimedia Design,
Human-Computer Interaction and Cognitive Science. Our research activities receive strong support from the UK Research Councils, the EU and from industry.
We gained a Grade 4A in the Research Assessment Exercise, confirming that all our research is at international and nationally leading levels.
We provide a lively and supportive environment for research students and have excellent computing and networking facilities. We welcome applications for
supervised study leading to the degrees of MPhil and PhD

Course Modules Overview

Module: Computer Hardware
Aims

Provide an understanding of the principal theories and concepts of digital logic.

Provide an understanding of the application of digital logic to microprocessor design.
Provide an understanding of microprocessors architecture principles, families, performance factors.
Support in-depth learning of our topic, to be presented (using IT sources) to peers.

Learning Outcomes

Critical understanding of logic theories and the practical application of theories to design based problems.
Get critical understanding of principles and concepts of microprocesser, architecture (CPU; BIO; bus; memory; microprocessing families performance )
linking this to logic design and the extensions to high level programming.
Ability to undertake design of complex problems.
Take responsibility for own work and demonstrate automony.
Communicate, with ICT tools to audience with different levels of knowledge / peer learning.
Undertake critical evaluation of data gathered on web/library/other sources.

Module: Software engineering

Aims

To development significant practical skills in a widely used imperative programming language.

To develop critical understanding of good professional practise in software development and of the software engineering life cycle.
To develop detailed understanding of programming concepts.

Content
Introduction to Unix
C++ Programming- Data Types, Variables, constants and operators; Control constructs; Iteration; Functions; Arrays; Structures; Pointers; Input & Output;
Introduction to Classes
Software Engineering Principles - Software Development models; Requirements analysis and specification; Design Functional & Object-orientated;
Implementation; Validation and verification; Organizing software projects
Shell programming and shell scripts; make files:

Extensive & detailed knowledge and understanding of functional programming concepts & techniques.
Fundamental knowledge of the software engineering life-cycle and an understanding of the methodologies available to support this process.
Ability to design, implement and test large scale software solutions to given requirements.
Ability to design original response to specified software requirements.
Develop skills in a Unix environment.

Undertake critical evaluations of software.

Ability to take responsibility for large scale programming exercise

Module: Data Analysis and Simulation

Aims

To develop a critical understanding of statistical data analysis and its application in science & engineering
To develop an extensive and detailed knowledge of the principle theories and application of discrete modeling of simulation
To develop a knowledge of a significant range of optimization techniques and their application to real life problems

Learning Outcomes

Be able to apply statistical data analysis to a range of scientific and engineering applications
Be able to knowledgably design and define experiments
Be able to critically evaluate optimization techniques
To have a critical understanding of modeling and simulation theories and be able to apply a significant range of these techniques to real life science and
engineering applications
Critically review extend and apply knowledge to a range of applications
Direct and take responsibility for own work
Deal with complex problems and critically review and consolidate knowledge

Module: Multimedia Design

Aims

To equip students with an understanding of the processes and methodologies required for effective design of multimedia, artefacts and systems.
To provide a framework for classification, capture and effective deployment of the range of multimedia resources.
To support the development of skilled and imaginative use of a selection of software tools appropriate to the design, management and deployment of
multimedia resources and systems.

Learning Outcomes

Extensive, detailed and critical understanding of the nature, scope and boundaries of multimedia systems, and the range of properties and applications,
both current and potential.
Both theoretical and practical knowledge of appropriate methodologies for requirements capture, iterative design, resource capture and management,
deployment and evaluation of multimedia systems.
Skill in the use of a range of specialised software tools and systems for media capture, content creation, integration and evaluation of multimedia systems.
A critical understanding of the relationship between the multimedia design process and the classical models of software engineering design, and applicative
skills in both areas.
Demonstration of originality/creativity in the development of a multimedia application.
Requirements capture and negotiation, taking responsibility for own work and work of team, taking responsibility in the development of resources,
demonstrating leadership, initiative in developing solution systems, critical reflection on development process and work undertaken by self and team

Module: Database and Information Systems

Aims

To equip students with a detailed and critical understanding of the processes and methodologies required for the analysis, specification and design of
database systems and information systems, and the inter-relationship between such systems.
To enable students to develop a critical understanding of the relationship between organisations, human activity systems and information systems, and
between the information systems development life cycle and software development life cycles, and to utilise that understanding to design and develop
appropriate specialised systems.
To provide the students with practical experience in designing, building and using databases, designing information systems, and critical awareness in the
development and deployment of databases and information systems within organisations

Syllabus
Introduction to Information Systems; Case Study Sir Edward Kelly; Domain of Information Systems; Information Needs, Analysis and Requirements Capture;
Information Systems Development Life Cycle; Databases and Database Management Systems; Data Modelling & Database Design; Relational Algebra; SQL
Language and Constructs; Object-Oriented Databases and Database Design; Functions of Information Systems; Types of Information System; IS Development
Methodologies; Decision-Support Systems; Expert Systems.
Learning Outcomes

Extensive, detailed and critical understanding of the nature, scope and boundaries of data models and database management systems, in relational and
object-oriented paradigms.

Both theoretical and practical knowledge of methodologies for specification and design of databases & IS.
Skill in the use of software tools and languages for database design, development and management.
A critical understanding of the relationship between the information system design process and the classical models of software engineering design, and
applicative skills in both areas.
Demonstration of originality/creativity in the design of an information system.
Taking responsibility for own work, taking responsibility in the development of resources, critical reflection on development process and work undertaken by
self.
Critical analysis, evaluation and synthesis of current database and information system technologies leading to original and creative response to design
task.
Effective communication in electronic and written report form.

Module: Ecommerce Technology

Aims

To review the IT issues raised by electronic business and commerce;

To survey the techniques and technologies available for designing and implementing e-business and e-commerce applications;
To provide first hand experience of Web-based tools and services to help design e-commerce solutions.

Learning Outcomes

Demonstrate extensive knowledge of various e-Business models.

Describe the significant issues in online marketing.
Demonstrate an awareness of current and emerging alternatives for online payment.
Critically evaluate the concepts important to online security.
Discuss the legal and ethical dimensions of e-Commerce and their implications.
Describe and critically review issues, technologies and concepts in the architecture of e-Commerce solutions.
Explain and critically appraise current approaches to Web site design.
Apply and critically discuss the various programming languages related to the Web.
Describe the evolving methodological issues pertaining to e-Commerce system development.
Critically evaluate the search for, and appraisal of, complex, ambiguous and unreliable resources.
Analyse, take responsibility for and reflect on personal and organisational practice.
Develop original and creative solutions to, and judgements on, open-ended problems.

Module: Network Applications

Aims

To equip students with knowledge and understanding of the theories, principles and protocols underlying network applications
To enable students to appreciate critically the range of network application technologies and standards
To give students significant development skills in a range of the principal network technologies, to grasp the main design and practical issues faced in their
application, and confer the ability to select and apply relevant techniques for a given network application development problem.
To have students creatively develop in teams a substantial network application involving web and application server technologies to an original design of
their own

Learning outcomes

Extensive, detailed and critical knowledge and understanding of the theories, techniques and principles underlying the design of network applications and
the range of their application
Theoretical and practical knowledge of the major network application types including email, web applications and services, directory services, news, ftp, irc
Critical awareness of protocols and standards underlying key network applications especially the WWW and of enabling technologies for network
applications such as sockets, DNS, XML
Ability to design and develop useful network applications including WWW applications using apt technologies and languages: HTML, XML, JavaScript, Java
applets, CGI, servlets, SOAP services etc. to professional standards.
Skills in selecting, applying and evaluating apt technologies in a professional way given a problem requiring network interaction.
Ability to build on initial skills and knowledge by independent research using online resources.
Showing initiative, creativity and team working skills in shared network application development

Module: Software Engineering

Aims

To equip students with an understanding of the process of object oriented design.

To provide knowledge of UML notation and other object oriented design techniques.
To support the development of object oriented programs in the Java programming language.
To enable students to carry out object oriented design from specification, document the design using appropriate UML notations, implement the design in
Java and evaluate the results.

Learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding of the Java programming model.

Theoretical and practical knowledge of the design and implementation of object oriented solutions to problems. Skill in the use of Java programming
language.
Critical understanding of object oriented design techniques, including those that are part of the UML
Critical appreciation of the object oriented approach to software engineering.
Design, implement and evaluate an object oriented solution to a problem, taking responsibility for own work and work of team