PG LIVE EVENT PROJECT - 2023/4

Module Overview

Conceiving, planning, staging, evaluating and reflecting on the delivery of events is a critical part of studying events. This module covers core elements of how to do this efficiently, effectively and sustainably.



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.



The major part of this module is devoted towards the planning and marketing of a live or digital event. This task will require the students to work in teams with allocated roles and responsibilities. Students will go through the creative decision making process, the feasibility study process and learn essential knowledge about the practical planning, documentation, organisational and technical considerations for the staging of an event and in doing so gain a real depth of understanding of the stage by stage process of successful event management.



Students will undertake marketing activities to promote their events, create income streams, manage cash flows, create risk assessments and deliver all aspects of the planned events from set-up of the event venues (or online platforms) to the final break down and clearing up upon the completion of events. In the post event period following on from the completion of the event, students¿ will report back on the outcomes from their project and then draw up individual reflections on their own learning and their experience of working within an event project team.

Module provider

Surrey Hospitality & Tourism Management

Module Leader

LI Yanning (Hosp & Tour)

Number of Credits: 30

ECTS Credits: 15

Framework: FHEQ Level 7

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

Module Availability

Semester 2

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

N/A

Module content

Indicative content includes:

Organisational structures and roles and responsibilities

Event creativity and design

Design concepts and visitor experience

Project marketing

Planning and team management

Event production and Human Resources

Sponsorship and gaining funding

Business development,

Financial forecasting and budgeting

Documentation of risk assessments

Meetings and communications management

Stakeholder management

The logistics and operations involved in a live event

The management of self, teams, staff and others during live events

The management of venue set up and take down operations and resources

The management of live event production including high quality entertainment, food and beverages and customer service

The safety management of all operations, staff, visitors and others impacted by the event activities. This includes pre and post events staff briefings

Post event reporting and analysis

Post event press and PR

Self-reflection and event evaluation

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

Prepare an individual 3,000 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 or digital hybrid event.

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 assessment for this module consists of:

• A group event management plan (5,000 words maximum) weighted at 75%


• An individual self-reflection (2,000 words) weighted at 25%

Formative assessment

Formative assessment will be conducted through the students' contributions to team activities and event planning throughout the module. These include group presentations of event concepts.

Feedback

Teams will review their plans regularly with the teaching team and will receive ongoing formative feedback on their plans for their live event.

Module aims

• provide a framework of practical event operational application utilising a wide range of management skills
• identify and understand the logistics and supply chain requirements in managing an event
• construct a work plan for the implementation of an event
• evaluate the performance, profitability and level of customer satisfaction post event
• apply and evaluate theories of creativty, staff motivation and team management, quality control, aesthetics, accounting, marketing, logistics and customer service
• develop a comparative perspective on operators in the field and to identify trends in competitive advantage
• provide an understanding of the theoretical foundations of venue location decision making and the wider locational strategic considerations
• provide an introduction to practical management issues relating to the location of event venue and the management and marketing of the event projects
• enable students to apply and critically evaluate existing management frameworks relevant to the study of the management of live event projects
• introduce students to key issues in the marketing of events from an organisational perspective
• consider the implications of event planning, marketing and management activities evaluation from a range of other stakeholders perspectives

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to: facilitate the development of students' knowledge and skills in delivering live events and their understanding of post project reporting, analysis and the venue of individual reflection as a tool for learning and personal development. The learning and teaching strategy is also designed to assist in the developments of student¿s confidence and competence in working with others in challenging operations in order to achieve key outcomes.

The learning and teaching methods include: lectures, group tutorials, workshops, event approval panel meetings, feasibility study research self-study, operational planning & venue appraisal self-study, post event analysis and reflection self-study, market research, event marketing, ticket sales and 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: MANM512

Other information

This module adopts the University curriculum framework, which aims to develop learners with strong capabilities in Digital Capabilities, Employability, Global and Cultural Capabilities, Sustainability, and Resourcefulness and Resilience. This module contributes to the development of the following capabilities: 

Digital Capabilities: This module focuses on developing students’ capabilities in planning and running online events. Students have the option to use the virtual learning environment (VLE),¿SurreyLearn and video conferencing platforms such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams to facilitate learning. These include accessing teaching and learning materials and engaging with their instructors and¿peers.

Employability: The assessments in this module require students to prepare a live event (online or in person), to run the event and to evaluate their event. These planning and management skills will prepare students to be successful event organisers in the digital age.  

Global and Cultural Capabilities: Students will learn how to segment and attract international audiences to online events by extracting, comparing, and contrasting individual and group behaviours, as well as sectoral, national, and regional differences. 

Sustainability: Students will learn the benefits and limitations of online events to support sustainability in the events industry. 

Resourcefulness and Resilience: Students will be required to use a range of sources to identify relevant events, conduct independent research, network with relevant companies/organisations, and work collaboratively with peers to plan their events. Finding solutions through unstructured problems is the key learning aspect of this module that will develop students’ resourcefulness and resilience.   

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 2023/4 academic year.