| CMI 513 : Managing Projects to Achieve Results |
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Key Information for LEARNERs |
Each task in this assessment brief has been developed to enable you to evidence achievement of the learning outcomes and assessment criteria for CMI 513: Managing Projects to Achieve Results. Each of the assessment criteria must gain a pass outcome for you to successfully achieve the unit.
Preparation for the assessment
- Before you begin the assessment brief please read the CMI 513 unit specifications thoroughly as only the content related to the achievement of the assessment criteria will be assessed.
- Research the topics being assessed. Suggested reading/web resources are provided on the CMI 513 unit specification. Your tutor may signpost you to relevant resources. Additionally, you may access excellent online resources at ManagementDirect https://members.md.cmi.org.uk. Please note that if you have a customised site the link will differ, please contact your Centre for clarification.
- If you are enrolled on the Trailblazer Apprenticeship programme you are encouraged to review the Apprenticeship Standard for Operations/Departmental Manager.
Completing the assessment brief
- The assessment brief contains a series of tasks which are clearly referenced to the relevant assessment criteria and indicative content.
- Refer to the Assessment Guidance Table at the end of the assessment brief which outlines the requirements for a Pass or Refer.
- Evidence must be provided in the evidence booklet. Additional work based evidence such as plans or documentation (which has been referred to within the main text) should be included at the end of the booklet marked ‘Work Based Evidence’. Appendices are not a requirement of this assessment brief. If appendices are included these will not be marked or moderated by the CMI.
- Work based evidence must be accompanied by a supporting statement in the learner evidence box, to explain the link to the assessment criteria. Work based evidence (where required by the task) must not exceed SIX (6) pages. Files embedded in the booklet must not exceed 10MB.
- The evidence booklet must be completed in a professional manner (e.g. applying business conventions for writing formal reports) and by using Microsoft Word, Rich Text Format or another compatible software programme and not in a PDF format.
- An appropriate referencing system (such as Harvard Referencing) must be used to ensure the original source(s) of quotations or models can be verified.
- Finally, you must sign the Learner Authenticity statement (an electronic signature is accepted).
Learner support
For information regarding policies and procedures for assessment (e.g. special assessment arrangements, learner support, appeals, complaints, certification, confidentiality, plagiarism) you should contact your tutor or Centre manager and refer to the CMI Level 5 in Management and Leadership syllabus.
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Introducing assessment Brief CMI 513 |
Assessment brief CMI 513 has been designed to enable Operational Managers to evidence their ability to manage projects which have an organisational impact. The assessment requires managers to create a Good Practice Guide in which they will focus on the knowledge, skills and tools required to plan, implement and manage projects, build stakeholder relationships, manage resources and risk, overcome problems and challenges, report on outcomes and ensure successful project handover.
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Assessment Tasks and WORD COUNT |
Assessment brief CMI 513 features the following assessment tasks. Further detail is provided against each assessment task within the brief.
| Assessment Task | Learning outcomes covered by assessment method | Assessment criteria | Guideline word count | |
| 1 | Write an account which analyses the role of projects in delivering organisational strategy and the impact of legal, organisational and ethical factors on projects | LO1 Understand the role of projects in delivering organisational strategy
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1.1 Analyse the role of projects in delivering organisational strategy | Approx. 800 words |
| LO2 Understand processes for initiating, planning and managing projects | 2.2 Examine the impact of legal, organisational and ethical factors on projects | |||
| 2 | Write a good practice guide entitled:
Processes for initiating, planning and managing project risks |
LO2 Understand processes for initiating, planning and managing projects
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2.1 Analyse the process for initiating projects | Approx. 1500 words |
| 2.4 Analyse techniques for working collaboratively with stakeholders to achieve project aims | ||||
| LO3 Understand the factors which contribute to effective project management | 3.1 Discuss methods of managing data and information in a project environment | |||
| 3.3 Examine approaches to identify, manage and mitigate project risks | ||||
| 3 | Write an account which discusses the use of tools and techniques for managing projects in different contexts | LO2 Understand processes for initiating, planning and managing projects
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2.3 Discuss the use of tools and techniques to plan and manage projects in different contexts
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Approx. 300 words |
| 4 | Write an account which assesses the use of problem solving and decision-making techniques in managing projects | LO3 Understand the factors which contribute to effective project management | 3.2 Assess the use of problem solving and decision making techniques when managing projects
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Approx. 300 words |
| 5 | Write a report entitled:
Methods for monitoring, reporting on and closing a project |
LO2 Understand processes for initiating, planning and managing projects | 2.5 Evaluate methods used for monitoring project progress | Approx. 1100 words |
| 2.6 Discuss methods for reporting on project outcomes | ||||
| 2.7 Assess approaches for project closure |
Guideline word count
The written word, however generated and recorded, is still expected to form the majority of assessable work produced by Learners at Level 5. The amount and volume of work for this unit should be broadly comparable to a word count of 3500-4000 words within a margin of +/-10%. The excessive use of word count is not grounds for referral, however the CMI reserve the right to return work to the Centre for editing and resubmission by the Learner.
The following are excluded from inclusion in word count, if used and not required by the assessment brief: an introduction to a job role, organisation or department; index or contents pages; headings and sub headings; diagrams, charts and graphs; reference list or bibliography; reflective statement drawn from undertaking the assignment and how this has impacted on the learner’s work. Please see the CMI Assessment Guidance Policy for further guidance.
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Scenario |
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DKM&X is a large industrial company that manufactures tools and equipment. The company operates on a shift system and is fully operational six days of the week.
450 staff are based at its UK headquarters. The company has various departments including a design shop, distribution centre, workshop, administrative and management offices, canteen and reception. The site is currently being expanded to increase production and contractors are actively re-developing the offices whilst business continues as usual.
The timeline for completing the expansion of the site is looming and there is a great deal of concern that the deadline for completion will not be met.
You lead a team within the distribution centre which consists of full time and part time staff with different working patterns.
As part of the expansion, your team and the equipment they use need to be moved to a new part of the site. You have been asked to project manage this activity whilst ensuring your team continues to meet targets and maintain service levels.
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The PROJECT CONTEXT |
An organisation’s strategy defines the activities that it will perform to achieve its long-term goals. New or enhanced products, services and practices which can contribute to the achievement of the strategy need to be tested and appraised. Successful organisations use a project approach, which adheres to organisational, legal and ethical requirements to develop and deliver future activities.
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Task 1 |
Basing your response on the scenario outlined above, your own experience of management projects in the workplace or well-chosen examples from an organisation you know well or have researched:
Using examples, write an account which:
- Analyses the role of projects in delivering organisational strategy (AC1.1)
- Examines the impact of legal, organisational and ethical factors on projects (AC2.2)
Guidance for completion of Task 1 |
| · The account should include sub headings. You may choose to include tables and diagrams (as appropriate).
· Your discussion should be underpinned with relevant theoretical principles. · You are encouraged to use examples from an organisation you know well or have researched. · You may undertake research into relevant legal, organisational and ethical factors which impact projects in organisations in an industry sector you know well or have researched. · Refer to the indicative content for each assessment criteria (AC) outlined in the unit specification. |
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Processes for Initiating, planning and managing project risks |
Having a project initiation process helps the manager to understand the work that needs to be done to deliver the project outcomes. Projects which are successful in delivering the organisation’s strategy must be set on firm foundations in the project start-up phase, including taking steps to work collaboratively with stakeholders and manage risk.
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Task 2 |
Basing your response on the scenario outlined on page 3, on your own experience of managing projects in the workplace or on well-chosen examples of projects from an organisation you know well or have researched:
Create a good practice guide entitled ‘Processes for initiating, planning and managing projects. This must be presented in FOUR (4) sections:
A. Processes for initiating projects
To complete this section of the good practice guide you are required to use examples to analyse the process for initiating projects (AC2.1)
B. Techniques for working collaboratively with stakeholders
To complete this section of the good practice guide you are required to use examples to analyse techniques that can be used for working collaboratively with stakeholders to achieve project aims (AC2.4)
C. Identifying, managing and mitigating project risks
To complete this section of the good practice guide you are required to use examples to examine approaches to identify, manage and mitigate project risks (AC3.3)
D. Managing data and information in a project environment
To complete this section of the good practice guide you are required to use examples to discuss methods of managing data and information in a project environment (AC3.1)
Guidance for completion of Task 2 |
| · The good practice guide should include sub headings. You may choose to include tables and diagrams (as appropriate).
· Your discussion should be underpinned with relevant theoretical principles. · You are encouraged to use good practice examples from an organisation you know well or have researched. · Please refer to the indicative content for each assessment criteria (AC) outlined in the unit specification. |
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Tools and techniques for planning and Managing projects |
The types of tools and techniques used to plan and manage a project will depend on the context, such as its size, level of risk, the number of projects being managed and the timeframe.
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Task 3 |
From the list below write an account and select THREE (3) tools and techniques, discussing how these can be used to plan and manage projects in different contexts (AC2.3).
| Gantt Charts | Network diagrams | Critical Path Analysis (CPA) | Project methodologies (eg. Prince 2 or organisational-specific) |
| Milestone Charts | Project plans | Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) |
Guidance for completion of Task 3 |
| · The account should include sub headings. You may choose to include tables and diagrams (as appropriate).
· Your discussion should be underpinned with relevant theoretical principles. · You are encouraged to use good practice examples from an organisation you know well or have researched. · Refer to the indicative content for each assessment criteria (AC) outlined in the unit specification. |
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Problem solving in projects |
By their nature, projects present problems and challenges, which must be resolved if the project is to be delivered successfully. The manager needs to have an understanding of the use of techniques that can be used to solve problems and make decisions.
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Task 4 |
From the list below, write an account and select TWO (2) problem solving and decision making techniques assessing how they can be used to manage projects (AC3.2).
| Fishbone Analysis (Ishikawa, c.1960s) | Plan Do Check Act (PDCA) (Deming, c.1950s) | Pareto Principle (Juran, date) |
| Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA) | Return on Investment (ROI) | Options Appraisal |
| OODA Loop (Boyd, date) | Plus Minus Interesting (PMI) (de Bono, date) | Ladder of Inference (Senge, 2006) |
| Root Cause Analysis |
Guidance for completion of Task 4 |
| · The account should include sub headings. You may choose to include tables and diagrams (as appropriate).
· Your discussion should be underpinned with relevant theoretical principles. · You are encouraged to use good practice examples from an organisation you know well or have researched. · Refer to the indicative content for each assessment criteria (AC) outlined in the unit specification. |
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methods for Monitoring, reporting on and closing a project |
It is vital for a manager to have an understanding of the methods and approaches used for monitoring, reporting and closing a project.
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Task 5 |
Basing your response on the scenario outlined on page 3, on your own experience of managing projects in the workplace or on well-chosen examples of projects from an organisation you know well or have researched:
Write a report entitled ‘Methods for monitoring, reporting on and closing a project’’. This must be presented in THREE (3) sections:
A. Methods for monitoring project progress
To complete this section of the report you are required to use examples to evaluate methods used for monitoring project progress (AC2.5)
B. Methods for reporting on project outcomes
To complete this section of the report you are required to use examples to discuss methods for reporting on project outcomes (AC2.6)
C. Approaches for project closure
To complete this section of the report you are required to use examples to assess approaches for project closure (AC2.7)
Guidance for completion of Task 3 |
| · The report should include sub headings. You may choose to include tables and diagrams (as appropriate) to support your discussion.
· You may base your response on the scenario outlined on page 3, on your own experience of managing projects in the workplace or on well-chosen examples of projects from an organisation you know well or have researched. · You are encouraged to consider the use of well-chosen examples from an organisation you know well or projects you may have managed in the workplace. · Your discussion should be underpinned with relevant theoretical principles. · Please refer to the indicative content for each assessment criteria (AC) outlined in the unit specification. |
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assessment guidance |
| Refer | Pass |
| · The submission is incomplete
· Tasks are incomplete · Not all assessment criteria have been met · No examples are used or the examples given do not match the requirements of the assessment criteria · Evidence is · Unclear · Technically incorrect or inaccurate · Biased · Unprofessional language · Poorly structured and presented · Ideas are under-developed · Lacks sufficient detail to show understanding of the topic · The application of different perspectives, approaches or schools of thought is unclear or inappropriate · Little or no evaluation of evidence has taken place · The ability to make judgments and solve complex problems has not been evidenced · Evidence is not directly attributable to the learner · External sources of information are not acknowledged · Work based evidence or artefacts (e.g. planning documents or presentation slides) do not meet the requirements of the assessment criteria and are not current (within 5 years) |
· All tasks have been completed
· All assessment criteria have been met · Examples given are well chosen and match the requirements of the assessment criteria · Evidence is · Well written and presented · Contains a breadth of examples · Accurate · Current (e.g. use of up to date legislation) · Authentic · Inclusive · Coherent · Credible · Technically correct · Evidence shows understanding and application of different perspectives, approaches or schools of thought and the reasoning behind them. · Evidence shows the learners ability to evaluate evidence and solve problems to achieve set outcomes. · Evidence used from external sources has been correctly referenced · Evidence is directly attributable to the learner · Work based evidence or artefacts (e.g. planning documents or presentation slides) match the requirements of the assessment criteria and are current (within 5 years |