POST GRADUATE LIVE EVENT PROJECT - 2021/2

Module Overview

Event Operations provide an increasing source of revenue and profits for a wide range of businesses.  This rising level of importance to the bottom line applies increasing pressure on organisations to better utilise space, manpower and other expensive resources to achieve stable competitive advantage.  As part of this process the demand for managers with specialist skills in event management operations increases.  The ability to present sound event feasibility profiles, operational management skills and event evaluation reports using specialist knowledge will bring the required levels of professionalism to the management of these important revenue streams.

Module provider

Hospitality, Tourism & Events Management

Module Leader

HEHIR Christy (Hosp & Tour)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 7

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

Module Availability

Semester 1

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

None

Module content

The main module content includes theories of logistics and supply chain management for events; event operations including client brief; staffing; planning and food and beverage operations; security and closedown; evaluation of an event; customer feedback; financial reporting

 

Indicative content includes:

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  Think creatively to establish a viable event
  


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  Establish a group/team based on shared values and skill sets (rather than friendship)
  


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  To think critically in the evaluation of event ideas
  


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  Apply established accounting, marketing and human resource theory to create viable ticket sales to target market and control costs and revenue
  


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  Put into practice health and safety management policies for both staff and visitors to the event
  


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  Evaluate success via scrutiny of variance analysis and customer feedback
  


• 
  Reflect on self and group performance and consider how to address strengths and weaknesses
  

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

CW1 - Prepare an individual 3000 word event report to include the proposal, feasibility and operations management planning  based around an event concept of the students own choice  in a campus venue. CW2 - A 30 minute presentation and Q&A session to the venue manager, tutor and invited venue staff CW3 - Submit a 1,500 word report evaluating a PG Live Event Project based upon the assessment marking criteria used by the module teaching team. 

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate both the theoretical and practical skills they have developed in the module. Thus, the summative assessments for this module will consist of:

 

The Summative assessment for this module will consist of:

CW1 Event Management Plan (Group) 35%.                                                                              

The student groups will provide a full Event Management Plan covering a wide range of aspects from event schedules to event operations and safety and risk management. To be submitted in week 7 of the semester and has a word limit of 2,500 words. Feedback and marks will be given in the following weeks.

CW2 Live Event Project (Group) 20%.                                                              

The student groups will provide a final updated event risk assessment 48 hours prior to the set event date and then deliver the live event project as per the Event Management Plan. The Live Event will be staged within the weeks 8, 9, 10, or 11 (depending on the module schedule and event date).

CW3 The Post-Event Evaluation Report (Group) 20%.          

The student groups will provide concise post event reports on key aspects of the events success or otherwise. Key areas will include the popularity of event concept within the competitive event environment, the suitability and quality of the venue and production and HR management, the success of the marketing and finance and budget management. To be submitted in week 11 or 12 and has a word limit of 1,500 words.

CW4 The Individual Reflective Report (individual) 25%.

Individual students will provide a report that focuses on their experience of working within a group in its mission to stage the live event. The areas of focus will include learning, reflective learning, learning styles, work-based learning, teamwork, role preferences, administration, management and leadership. To be submitted in weeks 11, 12 or 13 and has a word limit of 1,500 words.

 

The Formative assessment for this module will consist of:

The Event Feasibility Study Presentation Pitch (Group)

You will be required to Pitch your ideas to an events approval panel consisting of module teaching staff and invited industry practitioners. You will be required to make a Presentation and Pitch your idea to event staff and any invited industry practitioners. This should cover the topics pertinent to the event and its delivery studied in semester one and also the key issues of the concept for the event, the attractiveness of the event concept to target markets, the events design and theming, the  resources requirements and an estimate of costs, areas of potential income and an overview of areas of risk . The Pitch should last for 25 minutes with further time given for in-depth questions from teaching staff and other participants. This pitch should be seen as an exercise to fully explain the nature of the event and its feasibility. All team members must contribute equally to the pitch.

Formative assessment and feedback

During the development of the feasibility study each group will receive verbal feedback about their ideas and plan. The Event Management Plan is a working document that will once submitted continue to evolve in line with advancements planning up until the delivery of the event; hence these is a requirement that a final risk assessment be submitted  no less than 48 hours prior to the event and once all final planning has been completed and reviewed.

 

In weeks  4 or 5 the event feasibility studies will be verbally presented to a panel of teaching staff and invited industry practitioners. This feedback can then be incorporated in planning and the Event Management Plan prior to the submission of this document in weeks  7 or 8  .  Verbal feedback will continue via weekly workshops up until the event is delivered. A tutor will attend and assess the event and give support and feedback during the operations, highlighting any issues that might be improved upon or be included in the post event reporting. Following the submission of the post event report each group will have a 15 minute feedback and evaluation meeting to discuss the event per se and the marks awarded. The reflective report will be supported by examples of effective reflective writing and marked against the criteria provided to the students.

Module aims

• The aim of this module is to provide a framework of practical event operational application utilising a wide range of management skills and an integration of other module on the programme
• To identify and understand the logistics and supply chain requirements in managing an event – how are you going to get the material required at the place you need at the required time
• To construct a work plan for the implementation of an event - who’s going to do what, when and how
• To evaluate the performance, profitability and level of customer satisfaction post event – what feedback do you want and how are you going to measure it
• To apply and evaluate theories of staff motivation and team management, quality control, aesthetics, accounting, marketing, logistics and customer service - how are you going to control and measure these aspect of a business plan
• To develop a comparative perspective on operators in the field and to identify trends in competitive advantage. What are the key indicators used by commercial events companies to measure their performance To provide an understanding of the theoretical foundations of venue location decision making and the wider locational strategic considerations
• To provide an introduction to practical management issues relating to the location of event venue and the management and marketing of the event projects
• To enable students to apply and critically evaluate existing management frameworks relevant to the study of the management of live event projects
• To introduce students to key issues in the marketing of events from an organisational perspective
• To consider the implications of event planning, marketing and management activities from a range of other stakeholders perspectives

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:

 

• 
  The main module content includes theories of logistics and supply chain management for events; event operations including client brief; staffing; planning and food and beverage operations; security and closedown; evaluation of an event; customer feedback; financial reporting
  


• 
  Describe what the module learning and teaching strategy is designed to achieve and how it relates to the programme learning and teaching strategy
  

• Lectures 


• Tutorials 


• Workshops 


• Event Approval Panel meetings


• Feasibility study research self-study


• Operational planning & venue appraisal self-study 


• Post event analysis and reflection self-study 


• Event Approval Panel preparations


• Market research 


• Event marketing


• Ticket sales 


• Event operations (build, live event and breakdown)

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: MANM384

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 2021/2 academic year.