Programme HND in Business

Student Name

ANC ID

Unit Number and Title Unit 06: Managing a Successful Business Project

Academic Year 2023 – FA23

Unit Tutor

Assignment Title Assignment 1

Issue Date 05/11/2023

Submission Date 30/01/2024

Higher National Diploma in Business
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Higher National Diploma in Business

Unit 06: Managing a Successful Business Project

Assignment Brief

Student Name/ID Number

Unit Number and Title Unit 06: Managing a Successful Business Project
Academic Year 2023 – FA23

Unit Tutor

Assignment Title Assignment 1

05/11/2023
Issue Date
Submission Date 30/01/2024

Submission Format

The submission is in the form of a formal report which includes the following components:
 The key stages of project lifecycle
 A project management plan with a work breakdown structure in the form a
Gantt chart
 A completed project Logbook
 A written account of a performance review

The recommended word limit for the report is 4000 - 5000 words, although you will not be
penalised for exceeding the total word limit. You are required to make use of headings,
subheadings as appropriate. Your research should be referenced using the Harvard
referencing system. Please also provide a bibliography using the Harvard referencing
system.

Unit Learning Outcomes

LO1 Explain the key stages of the project lifecycle that should be considered when project
managing
LO2 Produce a Project Management Plan (PMP) for a business project using primary and
secondary research methods
LO3 Implement the Project Management Plan (PMP) to communicate results from the
research and make conclusions from the evidence of findings
LO4 Reflect on value gained from implementing the project and the project management
process.

Theme

‘Corporate Social Responsibility is the continuing commitment by business to behave

ethically and contribute to economic development while improving the quality of life of the
workforce and their families as well as of the local community and society at large.’
(World Business Council for Sustainable Development).
Businesses worldwide have increasingly embraced the concept of Corporate Social
Responsibility (CSR) as a means to develop and adopt sustainable practices and
approaches in their business operations. It is a multifaceted concept that encompasses
many different aspects ranging from philanthropy, ethical responsibilities and
environmental considerations.
Most recently, in response to maximising stakeholder value and expectations, the strategic
benefits of CSR have seen many companies having a competitive advantage. Together with
the rise of globalisation, companies now employ CSR managers, experts and consultants to
produce comprehensive CSR policies and programmes, to give them a competitive edge
and build stakeholder trust and loyalty.

Topic
Trends currently influencing CSR.
Scenario

You have joined John Keels Holdings as a Management Trainee. As a part of your job role
your supervisor has assigned you with a task of compiling a portfolio of evidences
addressing current trends influencing CSR to enable John Keels Holdings to identify better
CSR projects for the next financial year.

Assignment activity & Guidance

For this task you have been asked to conduct a small-scale business project, in the form of
an investigative case study, addressing trends currently influencing CSR which is to be
presented as a business case for management to enable them to determine better CSR
projects for the next fiscal year.

The project will involve investigating the trends currently influencing CSR. This will be
presented to your line manager as a business case with recommendations as to best CSR
trends that can be adopted by John Keels Holdings based on the findings, followed by a
performance review in which you will need to reflect upon the project in relation to your
own personal and professional development. To ensure the project is managed effectively
you will complete a project logbook as you progress through the project (Project log book
is provided in the appendices of the assignment brief).

In order to conduct you project successfully you will need take the following steps:
Step 1 – Understanding Project Life Cycle

1. Identify and evaluate the importance of different stages of project lifecycle in managing
your project successfully.
2. Determine the factors that you should consider when compiling your project plan.
3. Critically evaluate the research methods and strategies that can be used to gather the
required information and data for the project. Examine the importance of identified
research methods and strategies towards to success of the project assigned to you.
4. Critically evaluate the project management process and project plan you have decided
for your project.

Step 2 – Project Management Planning

Devise a detailed project management plan to map out how you intend to schedule for
monitoring and completing the project aims and objectives:
 Begin with the scope. What activities and tasks as defined in your project must
be done in order to make the project a success?
 Identify aim, objectives, deliverables, quality, risk, communication resources and
research methods that you intend to use.
 Provide details of activities to be carried out across project lifecycle
 Create a work break down structure and a Gantt chart to monitor the activities
to be undertaken.
 Justify your approaches/selections on the created project management plan.

Step 3 – Implementing the Project Management Plan

1. Implement your project management plan. For this you are required to;
 Devise a short questionnaire/ or interview questions to collect data related to the
topic provided.
 Research on CSR practices of several organisations to identify the trends.
2. Collate your research and analyse your findings. The findings of your project need to
be presented in the report.
3. Provide a justification as to how project objectives are met through the conclusions and
recommendations drawn from the data analysis and findings.

Step 4 – Reflective Practice

Complete a performance review to critically reflect upon the research findings and project
management process and outcomes in terms of your own personal and professional
development. Do note that the review should critically reflect areas such as the value of
undertaking a business project and managing a project in meeting project objectives and
your own learning and performance.

Learning Outcomes and Assessment Criteria

Pass Merit Distinction

LO1 Explain the key stages of the project lifecycle that

should be considered when project managing

P1 Explain the stages of

the project lifecycle (PLC)
and their importance to theM1 Evaluate the stages of
success of a project. the PLC and the factors,
(deliverables, quality, risk, D1 Critically evaluate the
P2 Examine the factors to communication and project-management process,
be considered when resources) to be considered PMP and research methods
compiling a project in a PMP. for gathering information and
management plan (PMP). M2 Evaluate a range of data collection.
research methods and
P3 Examine a range of strategies for gathering
research methods and information and data
strategies and their collection.
importance to project
management.

LO2 Produce a Project Management Plan (PMP) for a

business project using primary and secondary research
methods

P4 Produce a PMP that

covers, aim, objectives,
D2 Justify the choices made
deliverables, quality, risk,
in the design of the PMP for
communication resources M3 Produce a detailed
PMP, and schedule for completing the aims and
and research methods.
monitoring and completing objectives of the project.
P5 Produce a work the aims and objectives of
breakdown structure and a the project.
schedule to provide
timeframes and stages for
completion.

LO3 Implement the Project Management Plan (PMP) to LO3 and LO4
communicate results from the research and make
conclusions from the evidence of findings D3 Critically reflect on the
findings from the research and
P6 Conduct a business M4 Justify conclusions the project management
project as stated within the and recommendations process in supporting stated
PMP and communicate drawn from data analysis
findings.

P7 Present data to draw

valid and meaningful and findings to meet the
conclusions and stated project objectives.
recommendations from
data analysis.

LO4 Reflect on value gained from implementing the

objectives and own learning
project and the project management process.

P8 Reflect on the value of M5 Evaluate the project

undertaking the business management process to
project to meet stated meet stated objectives and
objectives and own support own learning and
learning and performance. performance.
Higher Nationals - Summative Assignment Feedback Form
Student Name/ID
Unit Title

Assignment No Assessor

Date Received 1st

Submission Date
submission
Re-submission Date Received 2nd
Date submission

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Resubmission Feedback:

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Internal Verifier’s Comments:

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* Please note that grade decisions are provisional. They are only confirmed once internal
and external moderation has taken place and grades decisions have been agreed at the
assessment board.
Grading Rubric

Achieved/Not
Grading criteria Comment
Achieved

P1 Explain the stages of the project lifecycle (PLC) and their

importance to the success of a project.

P2 Examine the factors to be considered when compiling a

project management plan (PMP).

P3 Examine a range of research methods and strategies and

their importance to project management.

M1 Evaluate the stages of the PLC and the factors,

(deliverables, quality, risk, communication and resources) to
be considered in a PMP.

M2 Evaluate a range of research methods and strategies for

gathering information and data collection.

D1 Critically evaluate the project-management process, PMP

and research methods for gathering information and data
collection.

P4 Produce a PMP that covers, aim, objectives, deliverables,

quality, risk, communication resources and research
methods.

P5 Produce a work breakdown structure and a schedule to

provide timeframes and stages for completion.
M3 Produce a detailed PMP, and schedule for monitoring
and completing the aims and objectives of the project.

D2 Justify the choices made in the design of the PMP for

completing the aims and objectives of the project.

P6 Conduct a business project as stated within the PMP and

communicate findings.

P7 Present data to draw valid and meaningful conclusions

and recommendations from data analysis.

M4 Justify conclusions and recommendations drawn from

data analysis and findings to meet the stated project
objectives.

M4 Justify conclusions and recommendations drawn from

data analysis and findings to meet the stated project
objectives.

M5 Evaluate the project management process to meet stated

objectives and support own learning and performance.

D3 Critically reflect on the findings from the research and

the project management process in supporting stated
objectives and own learning
Appendix 1

Project Logbook
Name:
Project title:

Date:
Update on weekly research/tasks achieved

Points to consider:
What have you completed?
Did you fulfil task requirements?
Are you on track and within deadlines set?
Did you need to make any changes to your project management plan?

Any risks and/or issues identified?

Points to consider:
Did you identify risks/issues with a lack of skills required for undertaking research/tasks?
Did you identify any additional risks/issues that have an impact on the project management
plan?

Problems encountered

Points to consider:
What barriers did you face?
How did you overcome them?
New ideas and change of project direction

What have I learnt about myself this week?

Points to consider:
How did I feel when I had to deal with tasks/problems?
Did I find it useful to complete the tasks?
How well have I performed? What did I contribute?
What can I improve on next week?
How might this learning apply in the future?

Tasks planned for next week

Points to consider:
Which tasks are priority?
Have you set aside sufficient time for completion?

Project plan status to date (on, ahead, behind)

Supervisor comments to address