Social and Professional Project Management

Assignment Brief

CIS015-3 Social and Professional Project Management

Learning Outcomes:

Differentiate and critically appreciate the professional, ethical and social context of a project management methodology and its instantiation into practical application both generic and specific to the subject area of your course.

Demonstrate the following skills and abilities:

Task overview

You are required to define, manage and deliver a project during the course of this unit. You will work in groups of five (5), and depending on your pathway you will develop a product with the following minimum requirements:

1. The production of relevant project management documentation.

2. A tangible output directly related to your course e.g. working software for Software Engineering students.

3. You will produce a brief video that shows your product “in action”.

Sample Answer

Social and Professional Project Management

Introduction

Effective project management is critical to ensuring the successful delivery of projects across industries. It involves the structured application of processes, tools, and knowledge to achieve defined goals within constraints of time, cost, and scope. This essay critically evaluates the professional, ethical, and social dimensions of project management and how these are embodied in practical methodologies such as PRINCE2 and Agile. It also explores how project management operates within a wider social, economic, and commercial context, drawing on examples from collaborative and technology-focused environments.

Professional and Ethical Context of Project Management

Project management extends beyond technical coordination; it involves professional integrity, accountability, and adherence to ethical standards. According to the Project Management Institute (PMI, 2021), ethical practice underpins all project activity through honesty, fairness, respect, and responsibility. Professional conduct requires managers to balance stakeholder interests, maintain confidentiality, and ensure transparency in decision-making.

For instance, in public-sector projects, ethical responsibility may relate to the fair allocation of resources or the protection of user data. In software projects, managers must ensure compliance with GDPR and accessibility standards. As noted by Müller and Turner (2017), ethical awareness enhances project credibility and strengthens stakeholder trust, ultimately improving project sustainability.

Social and Commercial Context of Project Management

Project management does not occur in isolation but within broader social and economic frameworks. Projects can have significant community, environmental, and economic impacts. Managing these requires social responsibility and consideration of sustainability goals. The United Nations (2015) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) emphasise the need for ethical innovation and responsible consumption, both of which influence project design and delivery.

In commercial terms, project managers must align outcomes with business objectives such as profitability, customer satisfaction, and competitive advantage. For example, an Agile-based software development project focuses on customer collaboration and iterative improvement, supporting business adaptability in fast-changing markets. By contrast, PRINCE2 provides a controlled environment for managing public-sector projects where documentation, compliance, and governance are essential (Bentley, 2018).

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