Plan and run scientific or technical projects for workplace activities
Overview
The standard covers competences you need to plan and run scientific or technical projects for the workplace activities in accordance with approved procedures and practices. You will be required to demonstrate that you can plan and run scientific or technical projects using meticulous planning involving management, colleagues, customers/clients and a wide range of resources. You will meet objectives, deadlines and targets in accordance with workplace procedures. The activity is likely to be undertaken by someone in a science related work setting, including individuals working in hospitals, scientific laboratories, schools and universities
Performance criteria
You must be able to:
P1 ensure that your work is carried out in accordance with
workplace procedures
P2 use safe practices and the appropriate personal
protection equipment (PPE) where scientific or technical
activities are performed
P3 identify and agree the business and scientific or
technical requirements of your role in the workplace
P4 establish processes that deliver scientific or technical
outcomes based on organisational goals and aims
P5 evaluate available information and consult with others to
prepare project plans for the delivery of scientific or
technical activities
P6 submit proposed projects to the relevant people in the
organisation, for approval and to assist the overall planning
process
P7 use the agreed project plans to start, monitor and
control delivery of scientific or technical activities
P8 evaluate variances between what was planned and
what actually happened on the project
P9 take prompt corrective action, obtaining agreement from
the relevant people if required, to delivery the critical project
outcomes
P10 propose revisions to the project plan, if necessary, in
response to variances and/or significant or unforeseen
developments, and discuss and agree the revisions with the
relevant people in the organisation
P11 provide ongoing information on performance against
the project plan to relevant people in your organisation
P12 gather information from implementation of the project
plan to assist in the preparation of future project plans
P13 present the results of the work done to the appropriate
people, in accordance with departmental and organisational
procedures
Knowledge and Understanding
You need to know and understand:
K1 the health and safety requirements of the area in which
you are carrying out the scientific or technical activities
K2 the implications of not taking account of legislation,
regulations, standards and guidelines when conducting
scientific or technical activities
K3 the scientific or technical techniques and processes you
must use correctly in the workplace.
K4 the importance of wearing protective clothing, gloves
and eye protection for scientific or technical activities
K5 the importance of correct identification, and any unique
workplace coding system
K6 the organisational requirements for maintaining the
security of the workplace and keeping confidential
documents
K7 the workplace business aims and goals and the
planning process
K8 the workplace organisational structure, its values and
culture
K9 how your scientific or technical activities add value
through delivering workplace products, services and
processes
K10 the lines of communication and responsibilities in your
department, and the links with the rest of the organisation
K11 the limits of your own authority and to whom you
should report if you have problems that you cannot resolve
K12 how to identify and assess the scientific or technical
requirements of your work role
K13 the different ways in which you are set your agreed
personal work objectives
K14 the different perspectives and approaches that are
important when exercising autonomy or judgement about
scientific or technical activities used
K15 the types of investigation initiated and used to review
the effectiveness or appropriateness of methods, action
and results of your scientific or technical work
K16 the consequences of breaches of quality procedures
K17 how to identify hazards and what action to take
K18 what systems are used to ensure quality within the
workplace and the projects delivered
K19 the methods used to plan projects and the activities
and tasks associated with them
K20 what standards and workplace procedures are
appropriate to scientific or technical projects
K21 who are the project customers, and how to elicit and
confirm their requirements
K22 how to develop and monitor detailed project objectives
from plans
K23 how to clarify and agree project objectives with the
customer
K24 why it is important to explore and evaluate alternative
project plans
K25 who needs to be consulted when planning and
resourcing project plans
K26 how to write the project plan, incorporating all
necessary detail into the plan
K27 how to make efficient use of resources
K28 how to evaluate variances between plans and what was
actually being delivered on the project
K29 the range of corrective actions that can be used when
delivery of the critical outcomes may be under threat
K30 how to update and revise project plans in response to
variances and/or significant or unforeseen developments,
and who should be consulted
K31 how to provide information/reports on performance
during and after projects
K32 the document control and reporting procedures that
should be used
K33 the reasons why effective communication is important,
and the methods used for communicating effectively
Scope/range
- prepare a project plan for scientific or technical activities
that:
1.1 can deliver outcomes in line with workplace goals and
aims plus all of the following:
1.2 identifies and explores alternative strategies for delivery
1.3 take into account the views of the project team and any
other relevant people
1.4 incorporates all relevant time, cost and delivery
measures/milestones
1.5 makes efficient use of available resources - devise project plans with two of the following
components:
2.1 multi stage/activity operations
2.2 high level of skill/experience needed
2.3 multitasking requirements
2.4 constraints (e.g. resources, regulatory)
2.5 multi-parameter or control factors
2.6 critical path dependencies - consult two of the following people during the preparation
and running of projects:
3.1 supervisor
3.2 team leader
3.3 teacher or trainer
3.4 manager
3.5 head of department
3.6 customer
3.7 the project team
3.8 health and safety officer - confirm project objectives are all of the following:
4.1 specific
4.2 measurable
4.3 achievable
4.4 realistic
4.5 time bound - quantify four of following resource requirements for
projects:
5.1 materials
5.2 equipment
5.3 financial
5.4 time
5.5 personnel - deliver projects with two of the following critical
outcomes:
6.1 specified output quality
6.2 within defined budget
6.3 against fixed timescale - record and communicate details of the work done, to the
appropriate people, using:
7.1 verbal report plus one method from the following:
7.2 written or typed report
7.3 computer-based record
7.4 specific workplace documentation
7.5 electronic mail