Graduate Diploma in Project Management

The aim of the Graduate Diploma in Project Management is to provide students who already have a degree or extensive applicable experience, with advanced theoretical and applied knowledge in Project Management (equivalent to a second major subject).

This programme covers all aspects of Project Management, including strategic management, contemporary issues, relationships, influence and leadership, plus three elective papers. Knowledge gained is then applied through a choice of a dissertation or internship.

Please note that you will need to use a project management software as part of this course. This will not be provided by SIT. Examples of software include MS Project, TeamGantt, Monday.com, Clickup.

We recommend that students complete MGT622, Fundamentals of Project Management paper, in their first intake of this course.

Level 7 papers (compulsory) – complete all of the following:

MGT622 Fundamentals of Project Management (15 Credits)

With this course participants will be acquainted with the fundamentals of project management terminology and its significance to understand the business benefits for their projects. Through contextual case studies based on real projects, participants will be able to build up their project administration structure.

This pragmatic hands-on course is intended to discover Project Management and develop a strong foundation on a project’s lifecycle. You will learn skills like scoping a project, budget management, progress tracking and improving effectiveness. You will also gain an insight of the tools, techniques, and resources important to oversee projects.

On successful completion of this paper, students will be able to:

• Understand the basic principles and activities of project management.
• Demonstrate skills in the use of a common project management software system.
• Develop a project time-line plan.
• Develop strategies to manage conflict in project management. 
• Estimate and schedule task times, resources required and costs.
• Identify and establish project administration structures.

MGT702 Research Methodology (15 Credits)

Note: This paper must be completed prior to completing MKT730 or MKT731 and requires a final weighted grade of B- or higher to pass the paper.

This paper will introduce students to the skills required to complete a research project.  It will cover advanced research skills, various methodologies available to gather and present primary and secondary information and data, and it will take students through the literature review process.

On successful completion of this paper, students will be able to:

• Select a suitable topic on which to base a research project, or similar piece of written work, and identify any possible ethical issues.
• Source and critically analyse suitable secondary research from a variety of sources both online and in hard copy and select a methodology for gathering primary data.
• Understand the requirements of a ‘literature review’ and how to construct this using an appropriate referencing style.
• Write a proposal to complete a research project, or similar, outlining how all the key elements will be met within a specified timeframe.

MGT717 Organisational Project Management (15 Credits)

Students will learn about the important role projects play in an organisation’s overall success. A case-based approach will allow students to research and deconstruct a well-known, multifaceted project, to uncover successes or failures. Students will explore the case study from a project management perspective, identifying key project management principles and concepts. Students will then evaluate the impact the project had on the organisation. 

On successful completion of this paper, students will be able to:

• Critically evaluate the central role of project management within an organisation.
• Align with the strategic goals of organisations and bring leadership and direction to projects.
• Create realistic plans for executing strategic goals and ensure expectations are set around project delivery timelines.
• Justify the quality of project deliverables to ensure they align with organisational goals and objectives.

MGT718 Project Management in Practice (15 credits)

This paper introduces project management through a practical orientation. This paper focuses on the ‘soft’ skills required for successful project management. Topics covered include: project selection, leadership, ethics, team management and outsourcing. This course will also introduce the Agile project methodology enabling students to perform project with more efficiently and viably.

On successful completion of this paper, students will be able to:

• Critically evaluate the key issues that can influence successful project management outcomes.
• Discuss the commercial realities of managing projects and evaluate potential ethical challenges.
• Critically analyse project management case situation and their outcomes.
• Critically assess the challenges project managers face in the execution of project management tasks and analyse strategies to mitigate challenges

MGT719 Advanced Project Management Methodologies and Frameworks (15 Credits)

Students will gain advanced level knowledge of effective project management frameworks and methodologies which are essential for the success of projects. Widely used frameworks and key methodologies will be discussed. Students will learn to carefully choose and apply the right framework and methodology to their project from private to public sector, irrespective of category, size, and complexity.

On successful completion of this paper, students will be able to:

• Critically evaluate major determinants such as size and scope to select the best project management framework and methodology for the project lifecycle, from initiation to closure.
• Develop strategies to accurately track and report project progress accurately.
• Utilise established tools and techniques to manage and mitigate project risk and develop dispute resolution strategies and controls.
• Critically evaluate strategies to record project successes and failures to ensure lessons learned can be implemented in future projects.

Choose one of the following (either 730 or 731):

PJT730 Management Research Project (Project Management) (30 credits)

This paper provides students with an opportunity to conduct advanced research into an aspect of management theory or practice by integrating the body of knowledge learnt in management papers.

On successful completion of this paper, students will be able to select a current management issue or applied management problem and formulate an appropriate research objective and research question, plan, organise and implement a research project, select and apply appropriate research methodologies, collect, analyse and interpret research data, write a research report to a professional standard, make an oral presentation of the management-related research project and answer relevant questions raised. 

You are expected to: 
Identify and Investigate a current management issue based on personal interest, benefit to an organisation, popular topic or a gap in research you have identified

Approach

• Select a current management issue or applied management problem and formulate an appropriate research objective and research question.
• Select and apply appropriate research methodologies.
• Collect, analyse and interpret research data.
• Write a research report to a professional standard.
• Make a research poster to present your research work
• Undertake an oral defence presenting key points from your research report and answer relevant questions raised.

Assessments

1. Introduction and Literature Review
2. Final Research Report
3. Research Poster
4. Oral defence (via Skype)
5. Reflective Journal

Total Word Count
Approximately 12,000 words

PJT731 Internship (Project Management) (30 credits)

This paper provides students with an opportunity to become familiar with the micro and macro operating environments of an organization and to apply the knowledge and skills acquired throughout the course of their degree study.  Using knowledge and skills gained in the first two years of the degree, students will be enabled to present a development/problem-solving proposal in an area relevant to the internship organization. Students will also gain reflective skills through the reflection on the internship and how their personal and professional managerial skills have developed and broadened.

On successful completion of this paper, students will be able to, critically evaluate an organisation’s corporate direction, main activities, and identify and evaluate the internal environment of the internship organisation, evaluate the organisation’s operating environment and the role of the internship organisation within the industry, assess and rationalise to all stakeholders significant issues confronting the internship organisation, specifically an aspect of concern or interest to the organisation’s operation or management, conduct and critically evaluate primary research regarding the specific aspect to be stated, distinguish between critical and non-critical factors impacting on the problem/development, evaluate information and make recommendations for specific development/problem, consider and assess issues for implementing recommendations, critically assess the dilemmas, challenges and problems faced, and how these issues were resolved during the internship, critically evaluate how the knowledge and skills acquired during the degree programme were adapted into practical situations.

You are expected to:
Identify and Investigate a current management issue within your internship organisation

Approach

• Find an internship placement (this can be in your existing workplace)
• Collect both primary and secondary information to investigate a significant management issue within the organisation
• Make recommendations based on the findings and present a development/problem solving proposal
• Present the reflections and evaluations of the internship project and answer relevant questions raised.

Assessments

1. Introductory Report (based on the organisation)
2. Proposal Report including Negotiation Evidence
3. Research and Strategy Report
4. Journal
5. Presentation (via Skype)

Total Word Count
Approximately 12,000 words

Level 6 papers (elective) - complete one of the following:

MGT605 (MGT206) Risk Management and Quality (Level 6) 15 Credits

Students will be provided with a thorough understanding of issues of risk assessment, prevention and intervention in undertaking projects. The related topic of quality control and evaluation is also considered in detail.

On successful completion of this paper, students will be able to:

• Describe and discuss the theory, practice, strategic importance, and interrelationship between quality and risk management.
• Undertake a risk analysis within a specific industry and justify conclusions.
• Compare and contrast problem-solving methods for dealing with risks and apply them to a specific scenario providing justification for the chosen approach.
• Examine common methods for evaluating quality management.

MGT611* (MGT222) Health and Safety in Employment (Level 6) 15 Credits (*requires access to a workplace or organisation to assess Health and Safety systems, processes, and procedures)

This paper presents students with an overview of health and safety in employment situations and the development of strategies to reduce the incidence and severity of work-related injury and illness.

On successful completion of this paper, students will be able to:

• Identify sources and analyse health, safety, and wellbeing information within a specific organisation.
• Locate and examine key health and safety legislation.
• Analyse progamme strategies to reduce the incidence and severity of work-related injury and illness within a specific organisation.
• Develop and apply engagement strategies to communicate health, safety and wellbeing information to stakeholders (internal and external) at all levels of a specific organisation.