Studying at York
Project Management - ARC00124M
- Department: Archaeology
- Credit value: 20 credits
- Credit level: M
- Academic year of delivery: 2023-24
- See module specification for other years: 2024-25
Module summary
This module seeks to introduce students to the key principles and strategies of project management and how they can be used to ensure the effective delivery of archaeological projects. Drawing on real world examples, you will be introduced to approaches used within both the UK planning system and the archaeological research sector. You will learn how to devise a project plan, develop a realistic Schedule of Works, manage resources, analyse risk and build a strong team culture.
Module will run
| Occurrence | Teaching period |
|---|---|
| A | Semester 2 2023-24 |
Module aims
This module aims:
- To give students an understanding of the key principles and strategies used in project management
- To explain the main documentation used in the development of projects within the archaeological sector
- To provide students with the skills and techniques to successfully deliver any archaeological project on time and on budget
Module learning outcomes
By the end of the module the students should be able to:
- Demonstrate an comprehensive understanding of the key principles of project management
- Demonstrate a systematic understanding of the guidance documents and curatorial frameworks which inform the management of archaeological projects in the UK
- Demonstrate a practical understanding of how to use Written Schemes of Investigation to devise a project plan that identifies stages, products and tasks and defines costs and durations
- Evaluate different methodologies used in project management and develop strategies for monitoring project progress, risks and costs
- Deal with complex common project management problems both systematically and creatively
Module content
Almost everything we do in the workplace that has a completion date, from the smallest to the largest task, can be defined as a project. Project management is therefore an incredibly useful skill and one that can be applied to any project of any size in any industry. This module will introduce students to the key principles and strategies of project management and explore how these can be effectively applied to modern archaeological projects. It will consider the frameworks which inform the management of archaeological projects in the UK and use real world examples to show how they are applied in both the commercial and research sector. It will look in detail at the key elements that form a project plan and explore how you can use traditional project management tools to develop a realistic Schedule of Works, manage resources and keep your project on track and on budget.
Indicative assessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Essay/coursework | 100 |
Special assessment rules
None
Indicative reassessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Essay/coursework | 100 |
Module feedback
Formative: oral feedback from module leaders
Summative: written feedback within the University's turnaround policy
Indicative reading
Carver, J,. 2010. ‘The Urban Archaeology of the CrossRail Project’ in the The Proceedings of the Conference of Cultural Heritage and New Technologies (CHNT) 15, Vienna pp. 518-537 http://www.chnt.at/wp-content/uploads/eBook_WS15_Part4_Sessions2.pdf
Cooper, M.A., Firth, A., Carman, J., & Wheatley, D. (eds.) 1995. Managing Archaeology. London, Routledge.
Schofield, J., Carmen, J and Belford P. (eds). (2011). Archaeological Practice in Great Britain Springer: New York (chapters 2 and 4)