MSc Construction Project Management

This module is designed to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the macroeconomic factors that influence the construction industry and the innovative practices that drive its growth and sustainability. You'll start by exploring the macroeconomic overview of the national economy, focusing on the five significant components: banks, households, government, firms, and the external sector. You'll learn how each of these components plays a crucial role in ensuring economic growth. However, the focus will be on the firm which is described as the construction industry in this module. You'll explore the role of the construction industry in driving other components of the macroeconomy.Additionally, you will delve into economic models of urban location and growth, learning about urban land economics and the theories that support urban development. You will examine the economic challenges that arise from construction activities in urban areas, providing you with insights into the economic aspects of urban problems caused by the construction industry. Furthermore, you'll explore the innovative practices adopted by construction firms to overcome urban economic challenges. You'll learn about balancing cost and value in construction projects, covering principles such as developers' budgets, whole-life costing, cost geometry, and value management. Also, you will explore how technologies driven by the Fourth Industrial Revolution are utilised by construction firms to reduce costs and enhance the value of their projects.Throughout this module, you'll engage in interactive lectures, group discussions, and hands-on projects designed to stimulate critical thinking and collaboration. By the end of the module, you'll have a solid foundation in macroeconomic principles as they relate to the construction industry, urban economic models, and innovative construction practices, preparing you for a successful career in the construction industry.

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The Dissertation module constitutes a substantial piece of independent work executed within the traditions of scholarship and research characteristic of a particular discipline. Students will learn various research skills which they will then apply to their own chosen research, including developing a research proposal, conducting literature reviews, research methodology, designing a research strategy, data gathering, data presentation, data analysis, and writing up of the dissertation. The choice of a dissertation topic is left to individual students and as long as the proposal can be developed into a dissertation, students shall be allowed to proceed. Each student is allocated a dedicated supervisor to guide the student in the various stages of the research.

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In this module, you will critically evaluate construction procurement methods and analyse how client objectives influence procurement decisions. You will develop strategic skills to select suitable procurement approaches for construction projects. Additionally, you will examine key clauses and documentation in construction contracts, focusing on effective cost management, quality assurance, and timely project delivery. You will also learn how to apply these contractual clauses practically to resolve contractual issues encountered in professional construction practice.

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This module is designed to develop your knowledge and understanding of the production management role in construction project management. The module addresses a number of topics that are vital to the production of buildings. You will find that the lectures presented during the module will have an overall focus on a the strategic issues that those concerned with construction production must concern themselves with. However as you progress your study through the course notes that are presented to accompany the module you will also find a wide range of important operational tools that are necessary to underpin strategic production decisions. The module encompasses a range of topics under 10 principal units of study. In Unit 1 you will learn about production management in general, different types of production system, and you will learn about why the construction industry differentiates itself from other sectors in terms of its production methods and evaluate whether or not this differentiation is justified or not. In Unit 2 you will study various ways in which the construction industry could improve its performance - this will include learning about productivity analysis, work study and lean production methods. In Unit 3 the module will start to examine the first of the main productive resources, specifically human resources; you will learn that based on the present production strategies, the construction industry is heavily reliant on human resources and you will learn about the human resource planning cycle which is needed to evaluate the future requirements for human resources. Unit 4 will investigate the various strategies available to acquire the plant and equipment that is necessary for construction production and you will learn about the advantages and disadvantages associated with each strategy. Unit 5 will examine conventional and future subcontracting trends within the construction industry. In Unit 6 we will complete our examination of resources for production by studying construction materials - you will learn about the main ways in which materials are procured, managed and specifically you will consider how materials waste can be prevented in future construction production. In Unit 7 the module will return to considering more strategic industry level production issues starting with an examination of the present performance of the industry at a macro level and considering various previous attempts that have been made to improve the situation together with their effectiveness. Unit 8 will consider construction as a manufacturing process and you will study to what extent the construction industry can learn from and implement production methods adopted in more productive manufacturing sectors. Unit 9 will examine the present methods used to schedule construction production and you will consider whether or not these present methods remain fit for purpose going forward. Finally, Unit 10 will examine Building Information Modelling (BIM) and consider its usefulness in improving construction industry production performance.

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This module equips you with the knowledge and skills to appraise and finance projects effectively, exploring the project life cycle from the feasibility stage to financial closure. Also, it will provide you with an indepth understanding of economic appraisal techniques, project finance instruments, and the role of financial institutions in domestic and international markets.The module is structured around two key areas. First, you will explore project appraisal techniques and learn how to evaluate construction projects using methods like the Discounted Cashflow Techniques, Capital Asset Pricing Model and Cost-Benefit Analysis. You will understand how to assess project feasibility, calculate required rates of return, and consider environmental impacts in your decision-making process. More so, you will also understand how to identify, evaluate, and mitigate risks associated with construction projects. This knowledge will enable you to make well-reasoned recommendations about project investments.Moreover, in relation to project finance, this module will provide you with practical insights into how construction projects are funded in both domestic and international markets. Also, you will explore a range of financial instruments, such as bonds, syndicated loans, and derivative products. You will also examine real-world applications through case studies focused on infrastructure projects in both emerging markets and developed economies.The knowledge and skills you develop will be directly applicable to real-world situations, which will prepare you for roles in project management, financial analysis, and investment decision-making within the construction sector. Whether you aim to work in project development, financial institutions, or consultancy, this module will provide you with the analytical skills and financial knowledge needed to evaluate and finance major construction projects.

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This module is designed to develop your knowledge and understanding of the project management discipline. The module addresses a number of topics that are vital to the contemporary construction project manager. Project Management in construction and in general has three major components. The first is managing and leading the client organisation. The second is managing and leading the project team and the third is planning, managing and controlling the project. It is not possible to cover the whole project management discipline in one single module, and many of the other subjects you need to know about are covered in the other five modules that are part of the MSc Construction Project Management Programme. This module serves as an overall foundation for the project management discipline in construction. The module is divided into three major parts. Part 1 presents the basic foundations of the project management discipline. In Part 1 you will study Units 1 and 2 which define project management and consider what is necessary for a project manager to be successful in their role. Part II deals with managing people which incorporates many of the strategic, managerial and leadership issues that are of tremendous importance to the contemporary construction project manager. In Part II you will study Units 3, 4 and 5 and these investigate various aspects of the project managers role in relation to managing the client, managing stakeholders and leading, managing and controlling the project team. Lastly, Part III concerns itself with managing the project. You will study Units 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 in Part III and these each focus on different and important operational tools that are necessary for effective project planning and control. As you can see some units focus on the strategic project management role in terms of managing the client, and managing the project team and others focus on the operational management of the construction project itself. The modern project management discipline recognises the significance of both the strategic and operational aspects of the construction project manager’s role. In the past, too much emphasis was placed on operational tools and too little on strategy. A series of high profile construction project failures has led to a wider understanding and appreciation of the project management discipline and an awareness that the PM must be a ‘strategist’ and a people person as well as a ‘technician’ if projects are to be managed towards the accomplishment of successful outcomes. You should have a sound understanding of this when you have completed your study of the materials in this module.

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The aim of this module is to provide an overview of the risk management methodologies as well as an advanced understanding of the techniques used in risk management and analysis of construction projects in UK and worldwide (where applicable). The module introduces various risk analysis techniques applicable in construction-related businesses. On completion of the module, you are expected to have an improved knowledge on the following: - Principles and methodology of risk management - Decision analysis, evaluation and methods for Risks and Uncertainties - Theory on types of risks and the rational approaches to managing risks in national and international projects- Application of Utility Theory to construction and other projects- The Health and Safety Risks in Construction projects and advances in relevant legislation and regulations.

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