Question: write a systemmatic literature review on outsourcing of projects.

3 Module Title: Project Organisation & Strategy Module Code: Level 7 Systematic Literature Review This assessment is worth 100% (weighted 50% of the overall module mark). Module Lead/Tutor: Dr. Stanley Njuangang Module Tutor: Mr. Hadi Kazemi THE BRIEF/INSTRUCTIONS According to the Association for Project Management (APM, 2022), there are going to be several factors (for example, technological changes, diversity etc) that reshape the way project managers will be working the future. This has resulted in Patrick Woodman, a project management consultant, noting that project managers will need to develop novel practices that enable them to adapt to new changes. Therefore, in the current coursework, you are required to carry out a systematic literature review on one of the topics listed below on the future of project management. The systematic literature review should amongst other things critically discuss issues relating to the challenges/advantages/disadvantages and implication for the future direction of project management. The topics for consideration in the systematic literature review are: 1. Agile project management 2. Lean project management 3. Outsourcing of projects 4. The balanced scorecard (BSC) as a project management tool As stated earlier, in an area of your choice, you are expected to: I. Critically discuss challenges in implementation in project management (20 Marks) II. Analyse potential advantages/disadvantages in contemporary project management (50 Marks) III. Evaluate implication for future application in project management (20 Marks) IV. Demonstration of research/analysis and communication skills; appropriate formatting of report; quality of references using the Harvard style and free from plagiarism. (10 Marks) 2 You can make assumptions on: - The project management sector - The size of the project - The geographical local of the project What is systematic literature Review? According to Cochrane (2013), systematic literature review attempts 'to identify, appraise and synthesize all the empirical evidence that meets pre-specified eligibility criteria to answer a given research question'. Worth mentioning here is meta-analysis that is a statistical assessment of the data provided from multiple studies or sources that attempt to ask/answer the same question. In addition to the material on Blackboard How to write a systematic literature review, part of a session will be dedicated to writing systematic literature review. You are all encouraged to attend the session for information on the structure and content of the review. This coursework is worth 50% of overall module marks. Learning Outcomes Assessed (from the Module Descriptor, available on Blackboard): LO1 Demonstrate a critical awareness of the context of project environments and their impact on the performance of projects LO2 Critically evaluate project organisation concepts; and how these can aid the successful delivery of projects LO3 Critically evaluate project strategy concepts; and how these can aid the successful delivery of projects The marking criteria for this assignment is detailed in the section titled Assessment criteria p. 3. PREPARATION FOR THE ASSESSMENT - There are written and video materials on Blackboard to assist you complete this coursework. Your 3000-word systematic literature review should be sufficiently detailed to convey a structured and balanced argument about your chosen topic. It is important that you use credible research material from wide range of sources to complete this coursework. They should contain all the references that you have sourced in researching this coursework. You must use Harvard referencing, and your reference section appended at the end does not count towards your word limit. You may use bullet points to highlight your key findings, however, do not replace the discussions with bullet points. Any diagrams/tables used will not count towards your work limit. What we are interested in is the quality of argument you present. - The module leader is available to discuss the assignment. However, you will need to book an appointment through email or Teams RELEASE DATES AND HAND IN DEADLINE Assessment Release date: [28/09/2022] Assessment Deadline Date and time: [23/11/22; 23:59] Please note that this is the final time you can submit - not the time to submit! Your feedback/feed forward and mark for this assessment will be provided on [04 weeks after, Blackboard] 3 SUBMISSION DETAILS The required word count for this assignment is 3000 words. This is subject to a + or - 10% compensation. In other words, if the assessment length is 3000 words, submissions between 3300 and 2700 words would be acceptable. You will need to be careful in the way you use the word count to support key arguments and facts in your report. Where possible, supplement information with material contained in the appendices. The assignment must be submitted through Turnitin that would allow the module tutor to check for improper use of sources or potential plagiarism by scanning through numerous databases. Presenting coursework for assessment Your written assignments must be presented in the following format: - It must be word-processed in 12-point Arial or Times New Roman font. Line spacing should be 1,5 lines - It must be black text on a white background - All pages must be numbered - Margins must be as follows: Top: 2.54 cm, Bottom: 2.54 cm, Left: 2.54 cm, Right: 2.54 cm - It should not contain your name(s) - The number of words (excluding the front cover, title page, contents page, executive summary, reference list, bibliography or appendices) should be stated at the end of the submission. - The following file-naming convention should be used for the submission of the Project Organisation and Strategy Coursework. [Module title] [Student number] i.e. [Project Practice] [2894573] HELP AND SUPPORT Direct your queries to the module leader: s..g@leedsbeckett.ac.uk 4 Assessment criteria Project Practice 2022/23 academic year Less than 49% 50-59 60-69 70+ Knowledge i. ii, iii The report is based wholly on some sort of superficial theoretical knowledge that is unconnected to the issues under investigation i.e., agile, lean, BSC, outsourcing. The discussion on the advantages/disadvantages as well as implication for future use is shallow and lacks focus. There is little evidence identifying and critically discussing the challenges applying these tools in project management. Where an attempt is made, the issues are mostly presented as bullet points. There is lack of literature (as well as in-text citation) for conducting systematic literature review. It is difficult to ascertain the standpoint of the students on these critical issues. Relevant research material has not been applied to discuss the issues. Some of the challenges are identified, albeit, they have not been critically discussed within the context of the selected area. The same is true for the other questions i.e., advantages/disadvantages, implications. The author has applied some relevant research material to articulate and discuss the critical issues. However, some of it is presented as bullet points. Challenges, advantages/disadvantages are drawn from some research materials; few citations are provided to support key arguments and facts throughout the report. The report demonstrates a strong knowledge base that is supported with relevant literature. The student's standpoint is clear, and the discussion relates to a selected area; a possible sector is also chosen. The arguments and facts are presented in such a way that the reader is able get full understanding about the challenges facing area of choice i.e., agile, lean, outsourcing, BSC. These are supported by research materials from credible sources. In addition, can discuss and highlight limits in the knowledge base in selected area under investigation. Author alludes and provides reference to issues relating to challenges, advantages/disadvantages and implication for application of select tool or area in PM. Critically discusses the challenges providing examples that are drawn from project management practice. Key text and other relevant sources are used throughout the discussion. The author's standpoint is clear and are supported with relevant literature. Analysis Unable to examine material and present ideas in logical fashion. Report is mainly shallow and descriptive focusing on some irrelevant disjointed issue on the topic. Most of the critical issues are presented as a list without adequate discussion. It is difficult to see how the discussion relates to the selected area under discussion. What is presented here falls below what could be considered as systematic literature review. There is lack of coherency, presentation of facts and arguments are poor. The author shows ability to conduct systematic literature review with the view of analysing research materials on the challenges, advantages/disadvantages, implication of selected area on PM. The document selection criteria lack discussion. There is lack of critical analysis to identify and organise the salient issues concerning questions I, ii, and iii. Report lacks criticality and synthesis of facts and argument. As part of the systematic literature review, student is able to identify and critically discuss salient issues to answer questions i. ii. and iii. Lack of clear discussion on the criteria for the selection of relevant research material for conducting the systematic literature review. Assumptions are made, and the report is somewhat organised and presented. Key facts and arguments are supported with some level of in-text citation. Abstract that addresses some of the issues. In addition, the report contains a clear and authoritative critique of relevant literature from wide variety of sources. The student is able to conduct critical analysis through the application of one of the following methodologies i.e., thematic, document and /or content analysis. In each section, the key themes are identified and critically discussed with help of literature. .In each section, there is evidence of the author bringing together the salient points to highlight the issues. The different sections of the report are well connected to provide clarity and understanding. Novel comments to critique the issues. Clear abstract is provided SYNTHESIS & CONCLUSION The report has been written in such a way that it does not present any fresh or new ideas about the issues under discussion i.e., challenges, advantages/disadvantages or implications of lean, agile, outsourcing and BSC on PM. Starting to show evidence of critical analysis and synthesis of literature to discuss the relevant issues. The output is presented in such a way that the author's position is not very clear. The conclusions/recommendations are not wholly drawn from the body of the report. The output includes new ideas on the issues under discussion. It contains sound judgement and positioning on the issues. The conclusion/recommendations are based on the findings of the systematic lit. review. The output includes well developed new ideas on choice and application of selected tool/area, with cogent evidence that the analysis is appropriate. The author shows confidence in their ability and indicates the capacity to think autonomously in complex and demanding and practical situations.