CONSTRUCTION, BUSINESS AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT - 2020/1

Module Overview

Civil Engineers generally only build prototypes, with only one chance to get it right safely, on time and on budget requires good management skills. This module addresses the main issues facing Civil Engineers involved in the management of construction projects. Tendering, planning, decision making, organisation and cost control are all key aspects of project management which are covered in the module. This module also seeks to give the student an understanding of their professional, ethical and moral responsibilities within the management of construction and infrastructure activities.  The module will look at the techniques available to assess a contractor's financial  strength at tender stage and the NEC4 options available to provide the client with further financial protection.  The module will consider the interim certification and payment on account process and the use of Project Bank Accounts.  Finally, the module will look at the Project Manager role in helping clients attract commercial financial investment and in presenting property development appraisals to financial instructions.

Module provider

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Module Leader

BRISTOW Abigail (Civl Env Eng)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 6

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Semester 2

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

Completion of the normal progression  requirements from FHEQ Level 5 on a degree course.

Module content

• Interim certificates, payment on account procedures and the use of Project Bank Accounts.


• Commercial Financial Property Development Appraisals.


• The tools and techniques for analysing a contracting company’s financial status and strength.


• Quality Assurance ISO9000 and Total Quality Management Systems.


• The role and duties of the Project Manager.


• The formation of Project teams.


• Systems and contingency approach to management; external supra-system, sub-systems namely, management, psycho social, technical, goals and values and structural.


• Decision making process and techniques.


• The tools of the Project Manager, including, networks, PERT, Line of Balance, cost optimisation.


• Procurement systems.


• Introduction to the various UK procurement systems and the consideration of the likely client project objectives.


• Tendering procedures and tender evaluation and contract award procedures (UK Public Contract Regulations), for measurement, schedule of rates, lump sum and cost plus contracts.


• Anti-competative tendering practice and Bribery and the professional, ethical and moral standards applied to the tendering and contract awarding process


• Contractual risks.

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

None.

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate a working knowledge of financial management related to companies, the roles and duties of project management and an understanding of procurement methods and their selection, via a combination of coursework and examination.

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of :

• Examination (Learning outcomes and transferable skills assessed 1 to 11,13,16 and 19) (b,e,h) (2 hours) (60%)


• Coursework 1 (Learning outcomes and transferable skills assessed 1, 2, 6,10,11,13,14,15,16,17,18 and 19) (10 hours) (20%)


• Coursework 2 (Learning outcomes and transferable skills assessed 8, 9, 13,14,15,18 and 19) (10 hours) (20%)

Formative assessment and feedback (as above)

Students will receive written feedback on their coursework assignments as well as general verbal feedback in class.

Power point presentations and other learning materials will be provided to students and where appropriate placed on Surrey Learn.

Module aims

• The assessment of a contractor's financial strength, using PAS91 - 2013, together with the use NEC4 Parent/HoldingCompany Guarentees and Performance Bonds
• To explain the procedures involved in Interim Certification, assessment and payments on account, together with the use of Project Bank Accounts
• The ability to compare and contrast procurement systems and evaluate client business needs and construction project objectives/priorities
• A systematic understanding of tender methods & tendering evaluation procedures, including anti-competative tendering practice and bribery
• Knowledge of contractual risks and the management of risk
• An appraisal of the roles and duties of the Project Manager, indicating their professional, ethical and moral standards
• An awareness of the Project Manager's objectives in relation to projects
• A comprehensive understanding of the factors to be taken into consideration when forming a project team
• An evaluation of the contingency and systems theory approach to management.
• A critical appraisal of the aims and objectives of decision making
• An awareness of Quality Assurance and Total Quality Management in relation to civil engineering
• A systematic understanding of the choice and the use of ‘tools' for the project manager
• An awareness of attracting Financial Investment for commercial developments and the preparation of Financial Property Development Appraisals

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The teaching and learning strategy is designed to:

Deliver this module principally by lectures and the use of in-class case studies where appropriate to provide an appreciation of the principles and techniques of Construction, Business & Project Management

The learning and teaching methods include:-

• Roles and responsibilities of  The Project Manager including their professional, ethical and moral responsibilities Lecture (3 hours)


• The formation of project Teams Lecture (3 hours)


• Client contractual financial protection Lecture (3 hours)


• Interim certification and Project Bank Accounts Lecture (3 hours)


• Financial Investment and Development Appraisals Lecture (3 hours)


• Procurement methods/selection Lecture (3 hours)


• Tendering & contract award including anti-competetive tendering behavior and bribery (3 hours)


• The tools of  Project Management (Planning networks) Lecture (3 hours)


• The Tools of Project Management (Cost optimisation/Line of Balance Lecture(3 hours)


• Systems and Contingency Theory Lecture (3 hours)


• Decision Making Lecture  (3 hours)


• Module revision, and preparation for end of module Examination (3 hours)


• Preparation and writing of essay/case study assignments (20 hours)


• Independent, directed and guided reading (92 hours)


• Exam (2 Hours)

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: ENG3182

Programmes this module appears in

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2020/1 academic year.