This module is designed to provide students with an appreciation for the challenges involved in managing large public infrastructure systems in the 21st century at any stage along the developmental and technological spectrum.

The module aim is to introduce students to the concepts and practices associated with Infrastructure Management including methods, tools, and techniques needed to comprehensively manage a civil infrastructure portfolio through change and uncertainty.

Students will develop the necessary knowledge to manage macro and project specific factors that impact major infrastructure projects.

(LO1) Understand how infrastructure projects interact with society and the environment;

(LO2) Consider  sustainability  impact factors ( financial, environmental and social)  and management approaches  involved in infrastructure projects

(LO3) Appreciate the multi-stakeholder interests of various governmental agencies and other groups involved and reconcile these with technical constraints.

(LO4) Evaluate and select  appropriate public/private financing scheme for a project

(LO5) Prepare and plan appropriate contingencies for natural and economic disruptions

(LO6) Understand how to balance the need for securing vital infrastructure and providing cost effective services for the public

(S1) Communication Skills: Students will have opportunities to develop written communication skills through group discussions and assignments.

(S2) Problem Solving and Decision Making: Students will be challenged to think critically about organisational issues and dilemmas. They will do this by gathering and synthesising information, analysing alternative perspectives and options and presenting a considered opinion or programme of action in their course assessment.

(S3) Information and Communication Technology Skills: Students will have opportunities to improve their ICT skills. Students will demonstrate skills in the use of software applications including word processing, visual presentations, data bases, spreadsheets and using the internet for information searches in the course.

(S4) Time management. This involves planning scheduled work and meeting assessment deadlines. This will be evident in the students’ independent management of their assignments and coursework and by meeting coursework deadlines.

Teaching Method 1 - Online Discussions
Attendance Recorded: Yes
Notes: Number of hours per week, per student expected in the virtual classroom in discussion, dedicated to group work and individual assessment is 7.

Teaching Method 2 - Non-classroom hours (for online modules)
Attendance Recorded: No

Infrastructure:
Significance and challenges: Analyse the impact of infrastructure projects on society; Analyse the challenges in implementation of infrastructure projects;

Issues in infrastructure procurement: Assess the impact of corruption on infrastructure procurement; Evaluate efforts to address corruption in infrastructure procurement; Analyse additional issues in infrastructure procurement;

Infrastructure projects:
Stakeholder management: Explain the importance of stakeholder involvement to the implementation and governance of an infrastructure project; Identify constraints in stakeholder management; Evaluate approaches to manage stakeholder constraints; Assess the skills required from an project manager for success in relational project delivery arrangements; Public-private partnerships and other financing options for infrastructure projects: Analyse financing options for infrastructure projects; Analyse a public-private partnership;

Sustainability in infrastructure projects: Analyse the sustainability of an infrastructure project; Evaluate sustainability approaches for an infrastructure project;

Infrastructure asset management: Evaluate essential processes and activities of asset management methodology; Evaluate asset management methodology for efficient and cost effective service;

Contingency planning for natural and economic disruptions: Analyse strategies for infrastructure contingency planning and response; Analyse a real-life infrastructure project from multiple perspectives; Recommend methods to improve project management performance for a real-world infrastructure project;

Infrastructure security and operational safety: Analyse security challenges to critical infrastructure; Recommend solutions for security challenges to critical infrastructure; Explain safety management strategies; Evaluate your professional development with regards to the management of integrated infrastructure projects.