Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Course description MEC2026S, 2014
Course Name:

MEC2026S Project Management

SAQA Credits:

Pre-requisites:

3rd year standing

Co-requisites:

None

Course convenor

A/Professor Franz-Josef Kahlen

Email address:

Fj.kahlen@uct.ac.za

Office location:

Room 103.2, Mechanical Engineering Building, Tel: 021-6504444

Course Lecturer(s)

A/Prof. FJ Kahlen and Dr. Corrinne Shaw.

Email address:

Fj.kahlen@uct.ac.za and Corrinne.shaw@uct.ac.za

The subject line of every email to the lecturers must start with
[MEC2026S], to facilitate tracking of communications.

Office location:

Room 103.2, Mechanical Engineering Building, Tel:021-6504444

Consultation hours:

By appointment and as advised during course

Lecture Venues:

LS2A

Lecture day and

time

Monday from 15h00 to 16h45 (7th & 8th Period)

Tutorial venue, day

and time

Wednesdays, 15h00 to 16h45, Snape LT1

Thursdays, 14h00 to 15h45, Menzies 10
The start of tutorials will be announced on the vula site of this course.

Course objectives
This course deals with the theory, tools, techniques and practices in project management. Opportunities are
provided to develop an understanding of the triangle of Project Management (PM) time, cost and
performance and to use PM techniques to achieve objectives within triangle constrains. The application of the
theory, tools, techniques and practices is an objective. This takes the form of a multidisciplinary project i.e.
development of a small scale engineering system.

Learning outcomes
Students successfully completing this course will able to:
A. Knowledge (Information plus Understanding)
1. Demonstrate an understanding of the fundamental
knowledge and techniques of project management.
B. Skills (Application of Knowledge)
2. Identify projects and how projects are initiated.

ELO
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
6

6 6

7 7

3. Apply the learnt techniques to develop a small scale

engineering system.

4. Develop project reports of a professional standard.

C. Values and Attitudes
1. Participate in group work (to simulate the integration of
different skill sets).

Detailed course content

Introduction to Project Management
Introduction to Project Planning and Life Cycle
Project Scope Management
Project Time Planning and Network
Costing Project and Financial Statement
Managing Project Resources
Managing Risk in Projects
Project Quality Management
Project Human Resource
Project Contracts
Trade-off Analysis in a Project Environment
Project Closeout
Tools include, but are not limited to, WBS, CPM, Gantt Chart, Resource Levelling, Cash Flow
Statement, Trade-off analysis and communication techniques.
Knowledge areas
Mathematics

Basic
Sciences

Engineering
Sciences

Design and
Synthesis

Computing
and IT

Complementary
Studies
100%

Learning environment
The course has a credit rating of 8 and consists of 24 lectures. The time you are expected to devote
to this course (includes lectures, homework, and revision) is 80 hours. The course will be delivered
through slides illustrating practical examples and may include guest lecturers. The lectures are
supported with tutorials including tutorial enabling students to use MS Project.
PROJECTS, PRESENTATIONS AND REPORTS:
Final presentations:
This is an essential part of your learning for the course. The ability to communicate verbally is
crucial for a project manager. Groups will be given 7 minutes to present, with 5 minutes for question
time. The presentation will be in the style of a Pecha Kucha i.e. in which 20 slides are shown for 20
seconds each.

Group Project and report:

There will be a group project involving the application of the theoretical concepts and calculations
presented in the course to the project management of the development of a small scale engineering
system. The groups will be multidisciplinary (i.e. both Electrical and Mechanical Engineering
students).
In addition to material provided to you, you will be required to collect data and information for your
report. You final document should be written with the senior management of this organisation in
mind. It is your deliverable to them and should demonstrate that you have addressed key aspects
required in the management of a project.
Individual Assignments:
Assignments based on coursework may be handed out to you during the class or tutorial sessions,
these will be assessed.
Information specific to ELOs
Objective A: Knowledge
These outcomes are assessed in a written class test, individual assignments, final examination
and group reports.
Objective B: Skills
Assessed through a self reported learning and group reports and presentation.
Objective C: Values and Attitudes
Questions are put to students as part of the oral examination of the group project.
What constitutes satisfactory performance?
A minimum of 40% is required for class tasks and assignments.
Sub-minimum of 50% for final examination
What strategy is to be followed should these learning outcomes not be attained?
The course would need to be repeated if satisfactory performance not attained.
General assessment strategy
24 lecture slots, a practical group project with reports, and a class test.
Suggested time allocation
Learning Activity

Time (hours)

Lectures

42

Tutorials

21

Practical (Laboratory)

Other contact periods

Assignments (Projects)

17

Total learning time

80

General assessment strategy

Assessment Task
Group assignment and presentation
Class Test
Written Examination
Total

%
30
20
50
100

The following DP rules apply:

A minimum weighted average mark of 40% must
be obtained for the Group Assignment and Class
Test.

Kindly note that a subminimum of 50% in the final exam is required for successful completion of
the course.

Prescribed Books/Reading Materials/Notes

The prescribed text book is as follows:
A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide), Project Management
Institute, Pennsylvania.
1. Although notes/ slides will be placed on Vula, you are expected to make notes during the lecture
session.
2. Where necessary, additional references will be included in circulated notes.
3. Students are not required to but are encouraged to peruse additional references.
Note:
Students are expected to attend all sessions. Attendance registers may be taken randomly
throughout the course.