This unit provides learners with an opportunity to develop their project management and research skills by developing a project where they plan and implement a new product, service or process.
As the rate of change escalates, it is important for organisations to not just hold their place in the market but to plan to move ahead. This unit recognises the importance to managers of having project management skills and the relevant expertise to enable this to happen.
The purpose of this unit is to give learners an opportunity to integrate all the knowledge from their programme of learning by developing a project in which they plan and implement a new product, service or process.
This unit could follow on from Unit 16: Research Methods for Strategic Managers, where a research question is formulated and researched. The fact that there are two units on research and project development and implementation in this specification recognises the scale of work required to develop and implement a sound project.
Learners can take either unit without the other, but may find it necessary to start with Unit 16 if they have no experience of research methodology.
Learners need to take a full and active role in all aspects of the project, and the selection of an appropriate management issue is crucial to success. Learners will cover a full range of management activities and roles, including resource and people management and implementation of change. The result needs to be a substantial report in a style appropriate for consideration by senior management.
