Managing Project : Risk Planning and Management

Abstract

This package contains several resources designed to assist in the teaching of a course on managing projects at the college, undergraduate, or graduate level. These resources were developed using the project to build the Nicol Building, the home of the Sprott School of Business (Carleton University), as the field of study.

The package includes the following components: 1. A long multimedia video documentary on the making of the Nicol Building which provides a brief history of the project that extended over a 17-year period from the idea to its approval to its implementation. It presents information gathered from project documentation and interviews with key stakeholders who were at the forefront of this project.

2. A short multimedia video documentary that offers in-depth coverage on the specific topic of coping with project uncertainties as it relates to the making of the Nicol Building. This documentary serves as an ancillary support material to enhance the experiential learning of students through case-based discussion activities. It is expected to accompany the mini-written case study as discussed below.

3. A mini-written case study that provides students with the opportunity to interact with real situations and apply their organizational, technical, and critical thinking skills. The case is divided into two parts: first, it provides students with background information, specifically about Carleton University, the Sprott School of Business, and the Nicol Building project. In the second part, students are given information on the real challenges encountered in the making of the Nicol Building with regards to coping with project uncertainties, as it is documented specifically in the short media video documentary, and generally in the long media video documentary.

4. Discussion Questions: These are more general questions that encourage students to apply critical thinking, problem-solving, prioritizing, creativity, and/or other skills to real-life management situations. Three levels of difficulty were considered for these questions, where 1 refers to easy questions and 3 to difficult questions. These questions can be used in assignments, classroom discussions, or concept illustrations. We recommend that the instructor facilitate the exchange between students, rather than giving the correct answer, as it will vary according to the students. This can be done by asking the class whether everyone agrees with what has just been said.

5. Quiz questions: These are ice-breaking questions that help students test their overall understanding of the mini-written case study as well as the multimedia videos. Students should read the case and/or watch the videos to answer those questions. Three levels of difficulty were considered for these questions, where 1 refers to easy questions and 3 to difficult questions.