01What it is
This Level 4 NVQ in Project Management is aimed at individuals working in a project management role. Competence is developed in areas such as leading a project, managing team performance, and preparing requirements specifications. Learners will also develop skills in creating work breakdown structures.
These are the units Open University Awarding Body registers against this qualification. It is a catalogue, not a syllabus. Which of them you take depends on the combination the qualification requires, and that is set by the awarding body rather than by us. Every unit here is regulated. Zavmo teaches towards them on your own work, and work done here is recognised as prior learning under the agreements we hold.
Zavmo is not an awarding body, is not an approved centre, and is not affiliated with Open University Awarding Body. It does the teaching and the mapping. Open University Awarding Body sets this qualification and awards it, and a qualified human assessor makes the assessment decision.
02The units
What each unit actually teaches you to do
Co-ordinate, monitor and control project schedules Real unit · Open University Awarding Body
You'll learn to co-ordinate, monitor, and control project schedules. The unit covers scheduling principles, resource allocation, identifying deviations, implementing corrective actions, and reporting on schedule performance to maintain project timelines.
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the fundamental principles of project scheduling, including critical path analysis and resource allocation
- Co-ordinate project schedules, ensuring alignment with project plans and stakeholder expectations
- Monitor project schedules to identify deviations from the planned timeline
- Control project schedules by implementing corrective actions to address delays or other issues
- Report on project schedule performance, providing regular updates to stakeholders on progress and potential risks
Comply with regulatory requirements Real unit · Open University Awarding Body
You'll gain an understanding of regulatory requirements relevant to organisations. The unit covers accessing regulatory information, demonstrating compliance in the workplace, and identifying breaches to ensure adherence to legal and organisational standards.
What you'll be able to do
- Understand relevant regulatory requirements applicable to the organisation and its activities.
- Access up-to-date regulatory information from recognised sources.
- Comply with regulatory requirements in the workplace.
- Identify breaches of regulations and report them according to organisational procedures.
Control hand-over of responsibility for the project Real unit · Open University Awarding Body
This unit covers the control of project handover processes to ensure continuity. You'll prepare for handover by gathering relevant documentation, manage the handover process effectively, and understand legal and organisational requirements associated with handover.
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the importance of handover procedures for ensuring continuity and minimising disruption.
- Prepare for handover, including gathering relevant information and documentation.
- Control the handover process, ensuring a smooth transition of responsibilities.
- Document the handover, including key information, outstanding tasks, and contact details.
- Understand legal and organisational requirements for handover, including data protection and confidentiality.
Develop a detailed schedule for the project Real unit · Open University Awarding Body
This unit covers project scheduling methodologies and task identification. You'll estimate task durations, sequence activities considering dependencies, create detailed project schedules, and monitor progress to support effective project delivery.
What you'll be able to do
- Understand project scheduling methodologies and their application.
- Identify project tasks required to achieve project objectives.
- Estimate task durations based on available resources and complexity.
- Sequence project tasks to determine dependencies and critical paths.
- Create a project schedule that outlines timelines and milestones.
- Monitor schedule progress and identify potential delays.
Develop a work breakdown structure for the project Real unit · Open University Awarding Body
It teaches you to create a work breakdown structure (WBS) for project planning. You'll understand the purpose and benefits of a WBS, define project tasks and activities, and estimate task durations to support effective project management.
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the purpose and benefits of using a work breakdown structure (WBS) in project planning.
- Create a comprehensive work breakdown structure for a project, breaking down deliverables into manageable components.
- Define specific project tasks and activities required to complete each element of the WBS.
- Estimate the duration of individual tasks and activities within the work breakdown structure.
Develop contractual arranagements Real unit · Open University Awarding Body
This unit provides knowledge of contract law essentials and the development of contractual arrangements. You'll be able to negotiate contract terms, manage legal risks, and ensure contracts comply with organisational and legal requirements.
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the legal aspects that relate to the formation and enforcement of contracts.
- Develop contractual arrangements that meet organisational needs and comply with legal requirements.
- Negotiate contract terms to achieve favourable outcomes for all parties involved.
- Understand risk management principles and their application to contracts, including identifying, assessing, and mitigating potential risks.
Develop operational objectives for the project Real unit · Open University Awarding Body
You'll understand how to develop operational objectives aligned with organisational strategic goals. The unit covers translating strategic aims into measurable objectives, communicating these effectively, and monitoring progress to ensure project alignment.
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the organisation's strategic objectives and their relevance to the project.
- Translate strategic objectives into measurable operational objectives.
- Develop operational objectives that align with the project's goals.
- Communicate operational objectives to the project team and stakeholders.
- Monitor progress against operational objectives and report on performance.
Develop solutions to project problems Real unit · Open University Awarding Body
This unit develops learners' understanding of problem-solving techniques in project management. You'll analyse project problems, identify and evaluate potential solutions, implement chosen solutions, and monitor their effectiveness to resolve issues efficiently.
What you'll be able to do
- Understand problem-solving techniques applicable to project management.
- Analyse project problems to determine their root causes.
- Identify potential solutions to project problems.
- Evaluate solutions based on feasibility, cost, and impact.
- Implement solutions to address project problems.
- Monitor solution effectiveness and make adjustments as needed.
Ensure quality in the implementation of the project Real unit · Open University Awarding Body
You'll study quality assurance principles and standards relevant to project implementation. They will gain skills to monitor project activities, identify quality issues, and implement corrective actions to maintain project quality and success.
What you'll be able to do
- Understand quality assurance principles in the context of project implementation.
- Know quality standards and procedures relevant to the project.
- Monitor project implementation against quality standards.
- Identify quality issues arising during project implementation.
- Implement corrective actions to address identified quality issues.
Ensure the completion of project activities Real unit · Open University Awarding Body
You'll gain skills to ensure the completion of project activities by monitoring progress against timelines and milestones. The unit covers identifying potential delays, taking corrective action, and communicating project status to stakeholders.
What you'll be able to do
- Understand project activities and their importance in achieving overall project objectives
- Monitor project progress against agreed timelines and milestones
- Identify potential delays or issues that may impact project completion
- Take action to ensure project completion, including implementing contingency plans and escalating issues as necessary
- Communicate project status to stakeholders, providing regular updates on progress and any challenges encountered
Estimate and specify resources required for the project Real unit · Open University Awarding Body
This unit covers resource estimation techniques such as analogous and parametric estimating. You'll develop the ability to estimate resource needs accurately, specify resource requirements clearly, and document these specifications to support effective project planning.
What you'll be able to do
- Understand different resource estimation techniques and their application in project planning
- Specify resource requirements clearly and comprehensively, including technical specifications and performance criteria
- Estimate resource needs accurately, considering project scope, schedule, and budget
- Document resource specifications in a clear and concise manner, ensuring they are readily understood by stakeholders
Evaluate projects Real unit · Open University Awarding Body
You'll study project evaluation methodologies and success criteria to assess project performance. The unit develops skills to identify areas for improvement and recommend corrective actions to enhance future project outcomes.
What you'll be able to do
- Understand various project evaluation methodologies and their suitability for different project types
- Know the established success criteria for a project and how they are measured
- Evaluate project performance against defined success criteria, using appropriate methodologies
- Identify areas for project improvement based on evaluation findings and recommend corrective actions
Identify and analyse hazards and specify actions to control risks to people, property and the environment Real unit · Open University Awarding Body
This unit equips learners with the ability to identify workplace hazards and analyse associated risks to people, property, and the environment. You'll specify appropriate control actions, consider relevant legislation, and evaluate the effectiveness of risk controls.
What you'll be able to do
- Identify hazards in the workplace that could pose a risk to people, property, or the environment
- Analyse risks to people, property and the environment, considering the likelihood and potential severity of harm
- Specify actions to control risks, prioritising measures based on risk assessment findings
- Understand relevant legislation and guidance relating to health and safety and environmental protection
- Evaluate the effectiveness of control measures implemented to mitigate identified risks
Identify perceived risks and evaluate options for their control Real unit · Open University Awarding Body
This unit covers the principles of risk management, including the identification of perceived risks and evaluation of control options. You'll learn to document risk assessment findings and understand the importance of ongoing risk monitoring.
What you'll be able to do
- Understand risk management principles, including risk identification, assessment, and mitigation strategies
- Identify perceived risks that may impact project objectives and outcomes
- Evaluate options for risk control, considering factors such as cost, effectiveness, and feasibility
- Document risk assessment findings, including identified risks, potential impacts, and proposed mitigation measures
- Understand the importance of risk monitoring and review in ensuring the ongoing effectiveness of risk management strategies
Lead the project Real unit · Open University Awarding Body
You'll develop knowledge of project leadership principles, including communication, delegation, and motivation techniques. The unit also covers project planning, resource management, progress monitoring, and issue resolution to support effective project leadership.
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the core principles of project leadership, including communication, delegation, and motivation.
- Plan a project effectively, including defining scope, setting timelines, and allocating resources.
- Motivate a project team to achieve project goals, including building rapport, providing feedback, and recognising achievements.
- Manage project resources effectively, including budget, equipment, and personnel.
- Monitor project progress against the project plan, including tracking milestones, identifying risks, and reporting on status.
- Resolve project issues effectively, including identifying root causes, developing solutions, and implementing corrective actions.
Maintain communication with project stakeholders Real unit · Open University Awarding Body
You'll examine stakeholder communication methods and their effectiveness. The unit develops skills to maintain communication with project stakeholders through appropriate channels, adapting styles to suit different audiences and ensuring engagement throughout the project.
What you'll be able to do
- Understand various stakeholder communication methods and their effectiveness in different situations.
- Maintain communication with project stakeholders through regular updates, meetings, and reports.
- Identify project stakeholders and their communication needs.
- Understand the importance of stakeholder engagement in project success and building positive relationships.
- Adapt communication styles and methods to suit different stakeholders and their preferences.
Maintain the performance of the team - providing feedback on the team's performance Real unit · Open University Awarding Body
This unit develops learners' ability to maintain team performance through effective monitoring and feedback. You'll understand factors influencing team performance, provide constructive feedback, and identify areas for improvement using various feedback methods.
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the importance of team performance in achieving organisational goals
- Monitor team performance against agreed targets and standards
- Provide constructive feedback to team members, recognising achievements and addressing areas for improvement
- Identify areas for team improvement and suggest strategies to enhance performance
- Understand different feedback methods and their effectiveness in various situations
Manage the performance of teams and Individuals - agree objectives and work plans with teams and individuals Real unit · Open University Awarding Body
This unit focuses on performance management principles related to agreeing objectives and work plans. You'll learn to set SMART objectives with teams, create individual work plans, communicate effectively, and understand the importance of aligned objectives.
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the principles of performance management, including setting objectives, providing feedback, and conducting performance reviews.
- Agree objectives with teams that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART).
- Agree work plans with individuals that align with team and organisational objectives.
- Communicate objectives effectively to teams and individuals, ensuring clarity and understanding.
- Understand the importance of team and individual objectives in driving performance and achieving organisational goals.
Manage the performance of teams and Individuals - assess the performance of teams and individuals Real unit · Open University Awarding Body
This unit covers performance assessment methods for teams and individuals. You'll assess performance against objectives using various techniques, provide constructive feedback, and understand the importance of fair and balanced performance evaluations.
What you'll be able to do
- Understand performance assessment methods, including objective measures and subjective evaluations.
- Assess team performance against agreed objectives and standards.
- Assess individual performance against agreed objectives and standards.
- Provide constructive feedback on performance, both positive and negative, to support development.
- Understand the importance of fair assessment in motivating employees and ensuring equitable treatment.
Manage the performance of teams and individuals - allocate work to teams and individuals Real unit · Open University Awarding Body
You'll explore principles of team and individual performance management, focusing on effective work allocation. They will develop skills to allocate tasks based on skills and workload, set clear performance expectations, and monitor task distribution within teams.
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the principles of team and individual performance management, including setting objectives, providing feedback, and conducting performance reviews
- Allocate work effectively, considering individual skills, team dynamics, and project requirements
- Allocate tasks to team members based on their skills, experience, and workload
- Set clear performance expectations for team members, ensuring they understand their responsibilities and objectives
- Monitor work allocation to ensure tasks are completed on time and to the required standard
Manage the performance of teams and individuals - provide feedback to teams and individuals on their performance Real unit · Open University Awarding Body
This unit focuses on performance management principles, enabling learners to provide constructive feedback to teams and individuals. You'll monitor performance against objectives, address issues appropriately, and understand relevant legal and organisational requirements.
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the fundamental principles underpinning effective performance management within organisations.
- Provide constructive feedback to teams and individuals, ensuring it is specific, timely and actionable.
- Monitor the performance of both teams and individual team members against agreed objectives and standards.
- Address performance issues promptly and fairly, following organisational policies and procedures.
- Understand the relevant legal and organisational requirements related to performance management, including data protection and employment law.
Manage the performance of the team - agreeing objectives and work plans Real unit · Open University Awarding Body
You'll study team performance management principles, including agreeing objectives and work plans. The unit develops skills to monitor team performance, provide constructive feedback, and apply motivational techniques to enhance team effectiveness.
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the core principles of team performance management and its impact on overall organisational success.
- Agree clear, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) objectives and work plans with the team.
- Monitor team performance against agreed objectives and identify areas for improvement.
- Provide regular and constructive feedback to the team on their performance, both positive and negative.
- Understand various motivational techniques and how to apply them to enhance team performance and engagement.
Manage the performance of the team - allocating work Real unit · Open University Awarding Body
This unit provides knowledge of team performance management principles and strategies for effective work allocation. You'll be able to allocate tasks fairly within a team, monitor performance, and provide constructive feedback to support team effectiveness.
What you'll be able to do
- Understand team performance management principles, including setting objectives, providing feedback, and monitoring progress
- Allocate work to a team effectively, considering team skills, workload, and project requirements
- Allocate tasks effectively to team members, ensuring a fair distribution of workload and responsibilities
- Monitor team performance against agreed objectives and identify areas for improvement
- Provide constructive feedback on work allocation, addressing any issues or concerns raised by team members
Manage the performance of the team - assessing performance Real unit · Open University Awarding Body
You'll explore performance management principles centred on team assessment. They will learn to set SMART performance expectations, monitor team progress, provide feedback, conduct appraisals, and identify development needs to enhance team performance.
What you'll be able to do
- Understand performance management principles and their importance in team performance.
- Set performance expectations that are clear, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART).
- Monitor team performance against established expectations.
- Provide feedback to team members on their performance, both positive and constructive.
- Conduct performance appraisals to evaluate individual and team performance.
- Identify development needs based on performance appraisals and feedback.
Monitor and adjust activities, resources and plans Real unit · Open University Awarding Body
This unit develops learners' ability to monitor and adjust activities, resources, and plans to meet targets. You'll understand the importance of monitoring progress and resource usage, and implement adjustments while considering their impact on project outcomes.
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the importance of monitoring activities to ensure targets are met.
- Monitor resource usage to ensure efficiency and prevent waste.
- Adjust activities to meet targets, taking into account available resources and constraints.
- Adjust plans based on monitoring data and feedback, ensuring alignment with overall objectives.
- Understand the impact of adjustments on other activities, resources, and stakeholders.
Monitor income and expenditure Real unit · Open University Awarding Body
You'll gain knowledge of methods for monitoring income and expenditure within an organisation. The unit develops skills to record financial transactions accurately, analyse financial data, and identify discrepancies in financial records.
What you'll be able to do
- Understand methods for monitoring income and expenditure within an organisation
- Accurately record financial transactions in accordance with organisational procedures
- Analyse income and expenditure data to identify trends and patterns
- Identify discrepancies in financial records and report them appropriately
Monitor risks and review the effectiveness of measures for controlling them Real unit · Open University Awarding Body
This unit covers risk management principles, teaching learners to monitor identified risks and review the effectiveness of control measures. You'll update risk assessments and report on risk status to support ongoing risk control.
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the fundamental principles of risk management, including identification, assessment, and mitigation.
- Monitor identified risks regularly to track their status and potential impact on project objectives.
- Review the effectiveness of control measures implemented to mitigate identified risks.
- Update risk assessments based on monitoring and review findings, adjusting control measures as necessary.
- Report on the current status of risks to relevant stakeholders, including potential impacts and mitigation strategies.
Monitor the risks and review contingency plans and actions Real unit · Open University Awarding Body
You'll study risk management principles, including risk identification and assessment. The unit teaches you to monitor risks, review contingency plans, evaluate the effectiveness of contingency actions, and understand the importance of ongoing risk monitoring.
What you'll be able to do
- Understand risk management principles and their application in the workplace.
- Monitor risks, including identifying potential threats and assessing their likelihood and impact.
- Review contingency plans to ensure they are up-to-date and effective.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of contingency actions in mitigating risks.
- Understand the importance of risk monitoring and its role in continuous improvement.
Obtain and evaluate feedback on project performance Real unit · Open University Awarding Body
You'll explore the importance of obtaining and evaluating feedback on project performance from various sources. The unit develops skills to use feedback effectively to improve project outcomes and stakeholder satisfaction.
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the importance of project feedback in improving project performance and stakeholder satisfaction
- Obtain feedback on project performance from various sources, including team members, clients, and stakeholders
- Evaluate feedback on project performance to identify areas for improvement and best practices
- Use feedback to improve project outcomes, implementing changes to processes, procedures, or strategies as needed
- Understand different methods of gathering feedback, including surveys, interviews, and focus groups
Prepare the specification of requirements Real unit · Open University Awarding Body
You'll learn to prepare clear and accurate requirements specifications by gathering and documenting stakeholder needs. The unit covers defining measurable criteria and validating specifications to ensure completeness and accuracy in project and software development.
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the purpose and importance of requirements specifications in project management and software development.
- Gather and document requirements from stakeholders using appropriate elicitation techniques.
- Define clear and measurable specification criteria to ensure requirements are testable and verifiable.
- Validate requirements specifications with stakeholders to confirm accuracy and completeness.
Recommend and agree the type and conditions of control Real unit · Open University Awarding Body
You'll study various organisational control mechanisms, analysing their strengths and weaknesses. The unit teaches you to recommend appropriate control measures based on risk assessments and agree control conditions to support organisational objectives.
What you'll be able to do
- Understand different types of control mechanisms used in organisations, including their strengths and weaknesses.
- Recommend appropriate control measures based on an assessment of risks and organisational objectives.
- Agree control conditions with relevant stakeholders, ensuring clarity and mutual understanding.
- Understand the importance of control in organisations for achieving objectives, managing risks, and ensuring compliance.
Recommend the means of procuring resources for projects Real unit · Open University Awarding Body
This unit provides learners with knowledge of resource procurement methods and project resource requirements. You'll recommend appropriate procurement means, justifying their choices based on project needs, costs, risks, and other influencing factors.
What you'll be able to do
- Understand different resource procurement methods and their applications
- Know the specific resource requirements for a given project, including quantity, quality, and timing
- Recommend appropriate procurement means based on project needs and constraints
- Justify procurement recommendations with clear and concise reasoning, considering cost, risk, and other relevant factors
Review and select tenders Real unit · Open University Awarding Body
This unit provides knowledge of the tendering process and evaluation methods. You'll review tenders against pre-defined criteria, select suitable tenders for projects, and document the tender selection process to support transparent procurement decisions.
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the key stages and activities involved in the tendering process
- Review tenders against pre-defined criteria and specifications
- Select tenders that best meet the project requirements and organisational objectives
- Document the tender selection process, including rationale and justifications for decisions
Specify activities for project schedules Real unit · Open University Awarding Body
You'll explore project scheduling techniques focused on specifying activities. The unit covers identifying project activities, breaking down complex tasks, defining durations and dependencies, and documenting activity specifications to support schedule development.
What you'll be able to do
- Understand project scheduling techniques, including critical path analysis and Gantt charts.
- Identify project activities and break down tasks into manageable components.
- Specify activity durations, taking into account resource availability and potential delays.
- Define activity dependencies, identifying the relationships between tasks and their impact on the schedule.
- Document activity specifications, including task descriptions, durations, dependencies, and resource requirements.
Verify contract arrangements are in place Real unit · Open University Awarding Body
You'll understand the importance of contract arrangements and develop skills to verify their presence and completeness. The unit covers identifying missing documentation and reporting contract status in line with organisational policies.
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the importance of contract arrangements in ensuring organisational objectives are met
- Verify contract arrangements are in place and compliant with organisational policies
- Identify missing or incomplete contract documentation and take appropriate action
- Report on contract arrangement status to relevant stakeholders, highlighting any issues or concerns
03The standards
The national standards these units are built against
What the job actually needs, in the words employers and awarding bodies already use for the work itself.
- Standard
Assess performance in health and social care services
- Standard
Carry out software requirements engineering
- Standard
Communicate and liaise effectively with suppliers and other stakeholders
- Standard
Coordinate and control project schedules
- Standard
Develop a schedule of project activities
- Standard
Develop technical specifications to build immersive products
- Standard
Develop the solution for the project
- Standard
Ensure an effective approach to project and process evaluation Legacy
- Standard
Estimate and specify project resources
- Standard
Evaluation and Assessment of Future Projects
- Standard
Gather and disseminate information about compliance requirements in your organisation
- Standard
Gather, collate and provide information & guidance to meet organisational compliance
- Standard
Identify and analyse project stakeholders
- Standard
Manage and lead transport planning teams
- Standard
Manage and quality assure work in your team
- Standard
Manage the project management team
- Standard
Monitor and review project progress
- Standard
Monitor and review project risks
Showing 18 of 31 standards these units map to.
04Where it leads
The jobs these credits are mapped to
A qualification is never a dead end here. Each of these is a job record this qualification is a mapped route into.
- 1 record
- 1 record
- 2 records
- 1 record
- 1 record
- 1 record
Showing 6 roles, drawn from 53 job records mapped to this qualification. Near-identical records are folded together, and each row says how many it stands for.
Where this can lead
Lead Industry-Specific Compliance Specialist
This role can lead to director-level compliance work, a chief compliance officer role, or a head of risk and assurance position.
See the whole journey05The credits
The credits, and who awards them
Level 4 credits are regulated, and they are awarded by Open University Awarding Body rather than by Zavmo. They don’t vanish when a subscription ends or a website closes. They travel to any employer, and Zavmo keeps the map of what you have covered and what is next.
What you would be collecting
Co-ordinate, monitor and control project schedulesComply with regulatory requirementsControl hand-over of responsibility for the projectDevelop a detailed schedule for the projectDevelop a work breakdown structure for the projectDevelop contractual arranagementsDevelop operational objectives for the projectDevelop solutions to project problems
Each one is a real unit registered against this qualification.
What you leave holding
The standards this credential builds, in the shape the product keeps them
Nothing here is marked learned. There is no learner on a public page, so the map shows what the qualification covers rather than what anybody has done.
OU Level 4 NVQ in Project Management
- Assess performance in health and social care services
- Carry out software requirements engineering
- Communicate and liaise effectively with suppliers and other stakeholders
- Coordinate and control project schedules
- Develop a schedule of project activities
- Develop technical specifications to build immersive products
- Develop the solution for the project
- Ensure an effective approach to project and process evaluation Legacy
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This qualification is no longer awarded.
Ofqual lists it as no longer awarded, so it cannot be started today. The last day to be awarded it was 31 December 2013. It is here because people still hold it.
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The title, level, credits, guided learning hours and unit learning outcomes on this page are taken from the Ofqual Register of Regulated Qualifications. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Where this data comes from.