Identify different types of projects and their management approaches and strategies (MO1) Assessment Brief – Resit Submission details Module title: PROJECT MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLES
Module code: UBLM7A-15-M
Assessment title: Construction Project Management Grand Innovative Solution
Assessment type: Portfolio (Report + Poster) – Resit
Assessment weighting: 100% of total module mark
Size or length of assessment: The report submission requires a word count of 2500 words (not including front page, contents page and list of references). The showcase poster is not included in this word count. (no +/- 10% to be used) see New Assessment Content Limit Policy for the University (sharepoint.com)
Module learning outcomes assessed by this task: Identify different types of projects and their management approaches and strategies (MO1)
Give a critical overview of the success factors that have been instrumental in the wider adoption of project management. (MO2)
Interpret the ways in which the external environment and sustainable delivery affects and shapes projects in a given sector of the economy. (MO3)
Understand the impact of risk and value and develop a strategic framework for a project in a given situation. (MO4)
Identify the elements of project management and understand the nature of the work to be undertaken in each of the key stages in the life cycle from inception, through design and construction to post-project evaluation. (MO5)
Critically review generic approaches to the planning, organisation, monitoring and time, cost, quality control of projects and the productive, efficient and effective delivery of projects in the post-Egan era. (MO6)
Critically appraise the key determinants of a successfully implemented innovation in the management of projects in the context and culture of a given sector of new build, property refurbishment or maintenance. (MO7)
Use of AI in assessment: You need to present your own unique innovation for this Portfolio. Using AI to generate your report might result in not meeting the marking criteria and failing the assessment. You may use AI tools to search for information, generate images, check spelling and grammar, and assist with structuring your report. If you have used generative AI for any of these functions in your assessment, you must acknowledge its use through appropriate referencing. Please refer to our specific guidance on using and referencing generative AI. Using generative AI at UWE Bristol – Study skills | UWE Bristol
Guidance on Referencing (inc AI): Please note that the aim of referencing is to demonstrate you have read and understood a range of sources to evidence your key points. You need to list the references consistently and in such a way as to ensure the reader can follow up on the sources for themselves. For more information on referencing, follow this link. References provided by AI are not reliable and might not be relevant to your innovation.
Submission and feedback dates Submission deadline: Before 14:00 on 13th July 2026
This submission is eligible for two (2) calendar day late submission window. Submission format: 2 separate files: Report (MSWord or PDF) + Poster (PPT or PDF) Marks and Feedback due on: 14th August 2026 subject to further announcements
N.B. all times are 24-hour clock, current local time (at time of submission) in the UK
Marks and Feedback will be provided via: Feedback form on Blackboard with comments against the marking criteria.
Completing your assessment What am I required to do on this assessment? For this assessment, you are required to propose a Construction Project Management Grand Innovative Solution that would help improve project management within the construction industry. This assignment is the same as the first sit. This means that you have the option to: (i) consider the feedback given on the first sit to improve your innovation; or (ii) present a new innovation should you decide to start over.
The idea must identify and fit within an aspect of project management practice or processes linked to a given context. This can either be:
the introduction of a new concept of an innovative solution in construction;
OR
an existing innovation idea applied into your workplace, a workplace you have worked in, a particular project or a justified geographical area, that would be a solution or improvement on existing project management practice and would be relevant to other organisations. If you do not have relevant work experience, then this can be based on research and reading.
Assessment Structure The portfolio for this assessment is structured in two submission parts:
Grand Innovative Solution Report (80%) You are required to produce a professional report about your Grand Innovative Solution which will be presented to senior managers in an organisation. The report should present the definition and rationalisation of the idea, a theoretical background to support your idea and the practical steps to effectively implement your idea within the given context.
The report is to be submitted as a MSWord or PDF ‘online’ through Blackboard by the deadline.
Showcase Poster (20%) You must showcase your Grand Innovative Solution in a self-explanatory “A3 presentation poster”. This poster must summarise the main idea of your innovative solution using a mixture of brief text mixed with tables, graphs, pictures, and other presentation formats. It should address the innovative solution rationale, concept and implementation. We recommend you to use the University guidance on how to prepare a good academic poster.
The poster is to be submitted as a PPT or PDF document ‘online’ through Blackboard by the deadline.
Note: Both, the Report and Poster, must be submitted on the same submission point on Blackboard as two separate files. The report must tackle the following four main sections. We suggest that the Report is structured into these sections.
Idea Rationale (20%): A definition and rationalisation for the innovative solution and its relevance to construction project management as a process. This should introduce the identified problem and the potential solution.
Theoretical Background (30%): Provide a theoretical base to support your innovative solution. You will need to carefully research your proposed solution and produce some evidence to show that you have determined its key strengths, weaknesses and barriers to implementation. Relevant academic references are expected as part of this research.
Steps to Implement the Innovative Solution (40%): Describe what steps, tasks or prerequisites are necessary to achieve your idea. This can follow a typical lifecycle of a project or innovation implementation. You should support this section by using a Gantt chart to outline the steps/tasks within a realistic timeline.
Critical Reflection (10%): A critical reflection on your innovative solution showing awareness of the impact on the organisation/project/industry.
In addition to the requirements mentioned above the report must be supported by the use of full references. These must demonstrate an awareness of the key sources in your chosen area, and the related project management tools/principles. It must also draw on relevant theory and knowledge – which may include evidence from theoretical and/or empirical (case) studies.
Where should I start? One of the first steps to consider is the identification of the problem area for your Grand Innovative Solution. This problem area can be based on real-life experience although additional reading helps you ground your idea and find precedence to support the credibility of your propositions.
A list of subject areas is included in Appendix A. Please note that this list doesn’t outline innovation ideas or solutions, but only the subject areas to be explored based on processes and technologies. These should only be used as starting point to develop your unique solution.
What do I need to do to pass? Carefully follow this assessment brief to make sure you are delivering all the tasks outlined above. Also refer to the marking criteria and any minimum requirements.
How do I achieve high marks in this assessment? Refer to the marking criteria and the characteristics of work that achieves a pass, merit or distinction. Attending the lectures and engaging with the assessment workshop sessions is a good indicative of achieving high marks.
How does the learning and teaching relate to the assessment? Innovation in project management does not refer to invention but has a broader definition of development of existing ideas and application of existing theory to new situations. You are particularly recommended to look at the articles in the module reader defining innovation and looking at the innovation process. The content delivered on this module should also be used as reference to understand the different areas of PM and some of the current issues.
A dedicated assessment workshop will be allocated in each of the teaching blocks. These sessions will provide an opportunity to discuss your innovation idea with the tutors throughout the semester. It is therefore advised to attend to all sessions and actively engage when prompted. Some library sessions will also be delivered as part of this module structure. You are expected to apply this guidance in your assessment.
What additional resources may help me complete this assessment? Refer to the Reading List on Blackboard, which contains sources that may assist you with the completion of the assessment tasks. You are particularly recommended to look at the articles in the module reader
The university, via the Library, provides support on Study Skills which are critical in the development of this assessment. Some links are provided below:
https://www.uwe.ac.uk/study/study-support/study-skills https://www.uwe.ac.uk/study/academic-information/assessments/assessment-offences
What do I do if I am concerned about completing this assessment? It is recommended that you review all of the relevant materials on Blackboard. You can also speak to your module leader for advice and guidance.
UWE Bristol offer a range of Assessment Support Options that you can explore through this link, and both Academic Support and Wellbeing Support are available.
For further information, please see the Student Study Essentials.
How do I avoid an Assessment Offence on this module? Use the support above if you feel unable to submit your own work for this module. Use the support above if you feel unable to submit your own work for this module.
In line with UWE Bristol’s Assessment Content Limit Policy (formerly the Word Count Policy), word count includes all text, including (but not limited to): the main body of text (including headings), all citations (both in and out of brackets), text boxes, tables and graphs, figures and diagrams, quotes, lists.
UWE Bristol’s UWE’s Assessment Offences Policy requires that you submit work that is entirely your own and reflects your own learning, so it is important to:Ensure you reference all sources used, using the UWE Harvard system and the guidance available on UWE’s Study Skills referencing pages.
Refer to peer reviewed primary sources, rather than using AI or secondary sources
Avoid copying and pasting any work into this assessment, including your own previous assessments, work from other students or internet sources
Develop your own style, arguments and wording, so avoid copying sources and changing individual words but keeping, essentially, the same sentences and/or structures from other sources
Never give your work to others who may copy it
If an individual assessment, develop your own work and preparation, and do not allow anyone to make amends on your work (including proof-readers, who may highlight issues but not edit the work) and
When submitting your work, you will be required to confirm that the work is your own, and text-matching software and other methods are routinely used to check submissions against other submissions to the university and internet sources. Details of what constitutes plagiarism and how to avoid it can be found on UWE’s Study
Marks and Feedback Your assessment will be marked according to the following marking criteria, which is based on the suggested structure. The criteria for assessment will be relevant to the learning outcomes of the module.
Clarity of definition of the innovative solution and arguments for and against which show understanding of the solution and its development within a given context.
Theoretical/literature base for the development of the innovative solution, strengths, weaknesses and barriers to implementation.
Determination of the steps for its implementation and the measures overcoming the barriers.
Critical identification of impact of your innovative solution on the organisation/project/industry.
You will lose marks for poor presentation, grammar and referencing. You are also expected to include relevant references from reliable sources that support your innovative solution.
To get a pass (i.e. 50 – 59%) you will
demonstrate your technical understanding of your innovative solution, which should be explained in the form of a proposal based on the problem rationale.
show how this is a development from existing practice within the given context
indicate clearly several steps, or pre-requisites, which would be needed in order to successfully implement the innovative solution in projects and/or organisations
identify the impact of the innovation on the organisation/project/industry
properly cite and reference all your sources using the Harvard system
To get a merit (60 – 69%) you will additionally
show understanding of the process of innovative solution in introducing a new process or product into a project or organisation or the construction/property industry
have been more comprehensive in your coverage of all areas of the criteria especially in the impact of the innovation
showed analytical and comparative ability of strengths and weaknesses and some prioritisation of action
provide a range of relevant references/ evidence
To get a distinction (i.e. ≥ 70%) you will need to comprehensively cover the points above as well as
providing a critical evaluation of your proposed innovation indicating its strengths and weaknesses in relation to current evidence and research
prioritising the steps, or pre-requisites, for its implementation convincingly
showing you understand the innovation’s vulnerabilities and how it might be challenged
providing comprehensive and appropriate references to theory and evidence To fail (i.e. < 50%) you will have
provided information about an innovation which only relates to your own organisation and which ignores other organisations and sectors
provided a descriptive report of an innovation which has already been adopted,
proposed an idea which is not deemed to be innovative or a development of existing practice
not provided adequate theoretical base
not considered the implications of its implementation as a substantial part of your report
not critically reflected on its impacts on the organisation/project/industry.
You can use these to evaluate your own work before you submit. Appendix A Some examples topic areas/themes for innovation ideas are:
Building Information Modelling (BIM)
Digital Fabrication
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
Project management and process improvement and optimisation
Data analytics application in construction project management
Implementation of modern and integrated procurement
Automation in construction
Lifecycle costing and BIM integration
Earned Value Management and 4D+5D BIM implementation
Machine vision applications in project management
GIS and Geospatial data application in project management
Digital Twins
Introduction of value streaming to improve the efficiency of the project at the planning and/or programming stage
Value analysis and management system to deliver best value
Stakeholder management systems
Managing a balanced scorecard system for contractor or consultant bids
Multi-criteria decision support systems for performance management.
Systems for procurement selection
Design management procedures which enhance both the co-ordination of design and construction
The use of design quality indicators feedback to streamline project management (use a particular context)
Improving the success of risk management systems in construction projects
Risk assessment/management systems for the unknowns in refurbishment projects of historic buildings
Managing success criteria for construction or refurbishment projects
Enhancing sustainable client value and contractor profitability
Development of project team working to ensure synergy (could consider Belbin)
Overcoming problems to do with fast tracking (overlapping design and construction)
Improving cost management systems in a given context
Managing cost of client changes
A system for improving health and safety management and accident prevention.
Feed forward or “Last Planner” control to improve sub-contractor time control
Towards zero significant defects (significant defects are those that disrupt the client use/enjoyment)
Developing effective project review systems. Implementing lessons learnt. Benefits analysis
Systems to improve the delivery of sustainable systems e.g. LEED or BREEAM or Passivhaus.
Implementation of Lean construction and Project Management
Modern methods of construction
Note: These are ONLY topic areas, you need to identify how these could be a solution to a particular construction project management problem. You still need to develop your proposal and define your innovation clearly.
