Effective planning is fundamental to project success. This module targets learners that do not have significant project management experience. It was created to provide learners with the essential concepts, knowledge and skills required to effectively plan projects in a modern context. This module initially provides an executive overview of the modern project management environment including the project lifecycle, organisational strategy, structure and culture. The core of this module focuses on key project planning topics such as project definition, estimating time, cost and schedules and managing risk.

1. Demonstrate a wide and systematic knowledge of project management principles and their practical application in the planning of projects
2. Appraise established project management planning knowledge areas, tools and techniques and explain how they can be used to achieve project goals and organisational strategic objectives.
3. Demonstrate and critically evaluate the main tools available for sucessful project planning including development of Work Breakdown Structures, time, cost and resource estimation techniques, network diagrams, PERT, Critical Chain analysis and supply chain management.

4. Have a critical awareness of the changing project environment in order to forecast and manage risks and challenges so that project deliverables and stakeholders expectations are achieved.
5. Analyse various methods of dealing with project contraints in order to reduce project duration, resource requirements or project costs.

The student will learn about the concepts involved in the management and facilitation of oranisational change from a quality/project management perspective and acquire the knowledge to be capable of leading/facilitating a change programme for quality and productivity improvement in an organisation

1. Critique the concepts associated with transformational change.
2. Discriminate between the various stages of organisational transformation.
3. Evaluatea change programme for quality and productivity improvement in an organisation.

4. Defend the role of facilitator/agent of change in the overall context of orgnaisational improvement.
5. Critically apply insights from a range of alternative approaches to change management.

This module explores the origin and development of environmental policy at European and National level, how the Irish Planning system is used to protect the environment and the requirements of European and National legislation in relation to the environmental assessment of projects (Environmental Impact Assessment) and programmes (Strategic Environmental Assessment).

1. Critically review the development and implementation of environmental policy at Local, National and European level.

2. Explain the legislative framework of the Irish Planning system and how it can help to protect the environment.

3. Explain the legislative framework for Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) at European and National level.

4. Explain the requirements of the EPA Guidelines for the preparation of an Environmental Impact Assessment Reports (EIAR).

5. Carry out a detailed review of an Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR).

This subject introduces the learner to current environmental legal instruments and institutional structures and processes. The learner will will be able to identify, explain and critique environmental regulations and other interventions and safeguards in a European and Irish context. The learner will be able to plan and begin the compilation of a register of environmental legislation.

1. Demonstrate an applied knowledge and understanding of salient areas of environmental legislation, including the major obligations/provisions of the main Irish environmental Acts and S.I.’s and relevant international legal documents.
2. Evaluate the legal and institutional framework designed for environmental protection in Ireland.
3. Communicate information regarding environmental legislation in terms appropriate to the target audience.

4. Criticallyreview and interpret relevant legal instruments aimed at addressing current environmental issues and critically comment on the extent to which existing legislation addresses these issues

5. Assess the implications and effectiveness of the existing legislative framework in the wider socio-economic context.

This module targets learners that do not have significant project management experience. It focuses on project implementation and the sociocultural side of project management. The following are some of the key topics: role of project manager as a leader, stakeholder management and the creation of high performance teams, outsourcing and negotiation. The core of this module focuses on the kinds of information managers use to monitor project progress including earned value. Other topics include project closure, the emergence of agile project management and continuous professional development.

1. Posess a high level of understanding and insight into the key sociocultural areas such as being and effective project manager, managing stakeholder expectations, influencing, networking, ethics and the creation and management of high performance project teams.
2. Critically evaluate the main tools and techniques for progress and performance measurement and evaluation including earned value analysis.
3. Analyse the importance of the project closure phase and associated activities.
4. Critique the emergence of agile project management and its application, when compared to more traditional methodologies.
5. Develop a critical awareness of the importance of career development and continuous professional development in the field of project management.

This subject takes a potential entrepreneur through the process of starting a business, from first thoughts about self-employment to the practicalities of start-up. The student will be required to generate a new Business Plan for a start-up business.

For those students already in employment, this module will focus on 'intrapreneurship'. Intrapreneurship is the process by which companies seek to maintain their competitive edge in innovation and profit by asking employees to spawn new businesses within their company. This module would provide the student with a greater understanding of what it would take to run a particular aspect of the company, perhaps a new product line, department or subsidiary.

Key reasons major corporations encourage intrapreneurship are:

Technology and globalisation are increasing competition. Companies that can pounce quickly on new opportunities will have an advantage over slower competitors.

A recent McKinsey report shows that a company's chances of holding on to a top position are fading. The key player in any industry will have a tougher time holding onto the top spot now more than ever. Leaders must become flexible and entrepreneurial.

•Employee loyalty is ending. If employees feel their great idea would be better received by the competition, they will leave more quickly than ever before. Take, for example, the case of Palm. The company grew large; it started stifling intrapreneurship, and the founders left to start Handspring. Then Palm realised its mistake and purchased Handspring back at a huge cost.

Topics to be addressed include: What makes a good entrepreneur / intrapreneur? Developing a strategy Market Research, Marketing & Advertising Innovation Financial support Preparing budgets and cash flow statements How to generate a business plan How to present your plan to potential investors

It is not required that the proposed new business will be taken any further than the end of the academic year. The marking criteria will take into account how innovative the idea is, that the plan is realistic (potential sales, market share, market research, financial projections) and that students have addressed the main issues including staffing, funding, and route to market.

Note: Guest lectures from industry and government agencies will be utilised on this course.

1. Prepare a Market Research and Feasibility Study for a new manufacturing or service business
2. Develop a Strategy, Mission Statement and Vision for the new business.
3. Identify the optimum business and legal structure and manage Intellectual Property requirements for the new business
4. Generate financial statements, operating budgets and cash flow statements.
5. Integrate all of the above items in order to prepare and present the business plan to a group of potential investors, state agencies and financiers