6/30/2008
PROJECT MANAGEMENT
“REFLECTION ON TOTAL EXPERIENCE ON THE COURSE- YOU MAY SUPPORT THE REFLECTION JOURNAL WITH THE LEARNING THEORY”
Present By: Munazza Akhter Zakaria Subject: Project Management Dated: 30/06/2008
Table of Contents Introduction of project management................................................................................................. 2 Part 1: Concept of Reflection and Importunateness ........................................................................... 3 Reflective reaction on learning the process of PM ......................................................................... 4 Part 2: How project Management theories reflect on my learning capabilities ................................... 6 Stage 1: Description of the event:............................................................................................... 6 Stage 2: Feelings: ....................................................................................................................... 6 Stage 3: Evaluation: ................................................................................................................... 6 Stage 4: Analysis: ....................................................................................................................... 7 State 5: Conclusion: ................................................................................................................... 8 State 6: Action: .......................................................................................................................... 8 What result I receive from this PM subject and how I can improve more ....................................... 9 Conclusion....................................................................................................................................... 11 References ...................................................................................................................................... 12 Bibliography .................................................................................................................................... 12
1
REFLECTION ON TOTAL EXPERIENCE ON THE COURSE- YOU MAY SUPPORT THE REFLECTION JOURNAL WITH THE LEARNING THEORY Introduction of project management
The means, techniques and concepts used to run a project and achieve its objective is the definition of Project management. Alternatively, a formal discipline has been developed to manage projects (Richard Newton (2005). The Project Management Institute defines project management as “The art of directing and coordinating human and material resources throughout the life of a project by using modern management techniques to achieve predetermined objectives of scope, cost, time, quality a participant satisfaction� (David I. Cleland, Ph.D. (1994), (Brochure, Project Management Institute, P.O. Box 43, Drexel Hill, PA). In simple words we can explain that project management is a set of processes, presumption and techniques, which are correlated with complexities of works to achieve its unique results. In this project management assignment, we have to prepare a reflection journal about the entire learning process of PM. In this circumstance, I divided my reflection journal report into two parts; in the first part, I am going to represent the academic concepts of reflection of the PM and in the 2nd part, I am going briefing my own reflection on my learning capacities.
2
Part 1: Concept of Reflection and Importunateness
Reflection is a reflective action of your performances. In this case, we have to describe the imperative meaning of the reflection. Another way reflection can be a word for learning, which reflects your learning abilities for your passing experience. Reflection can provide students the changes to do an examination about their beliefs, opinions, values and gripping their knowledge. Our six senses, ideas, facts, fascinating about knowing things and experiences together develop the new meaning and new knowledge. It is also a learning cycle. “Reflection is studying one's own study methods as critically as one studies the subject and judgment about a learning task after you have done it- Rowntree (1988)” (Practice based learning.com [Online]). The most important point of reflection is we have to identify the main aim of reflection in teaching and learning and make connective combination with your working place, study and even in your project work. During attending project management course, in my Management consultancy course I learnt how effective way I could use our all project management tools in real project works. This I can call reflection of my learning cycle. In 1987, Schön classifieds there are two types of reflection; these are reflection in action (thinking on your feet) and reflection on action (retrospective thinking).
Figure 1: Types of Reflection
3
He descried that practitioners use reflection when they encounter situations that are unique, and when individuals may not be able to apply known theories or techniques previously learnt through formal education. (Educ. queensu. CA [Online]).
Reflective reaction on learning the process of PM
Kolb’s 1984 define the learning process of reflection, he describes that reflection is the procedure whereby knowledge is generated through the renovation of experience. The “transformation” is reflection (Learning and teaching. Info [Online]). Kolb’s represent the learning cycle into four stages, they are concrete experiencing, reflect an observation, conceptualization and active experimentation. Concrete experience Do something or Take a movement
Active experimentation Apply new learing to changing situations
Reflect observation Consider event and its consequences
Conceptualization Relate to concepts and theories to aid development
Figure 2: Kolb's Learning Cycle (1984)
Gibb’s (1988) introduced another reflective cycle, which is signified as a Gibbs reflective cycle. He divided his stages into six stages; they are described, feeling, evaluation, analysis, and conclusion and action plan.
4
Description what happend Action plan Feeling What where you thinking and feeling
What you do if it happen again or if it happened again what would you do?
Conclusion What alternative did you have or what else could you have done
Evaluation What was good or bad about the experience Analysis How can you make sense of what happened
Figure 3: Gibb's Reflective Cycle (1988)
In the above part, we provide some theoretical explanation of reflection; however, in 2nd part now I am going to try to draw a logical combination about my learning knowledge on Project management and my personal reflection.
5
Part 2: How project Management theories reflect on my learning capabilities
As we can explain that, in simple words, project management is a set of processes, presumption and techniques, which interconnect with complexities of works too, achieved its unique results. When I was doing my first assignment, the writing the project report of “Cypriot Tradition & Art Revival”, I was learning how making a completed project management report by using all theoretical methods. In this assignment, I am going to explain my own reflection about my learning capabilities. Let draw the picture of my learning cycle, here I am going to draw pictures when I was trying to do “Cypriot Tradition & Art Revival” project report. Stage 1: Description of the event: In this stage, I had to describe the detail event I am
reflection on. For instant: where were I am, why were I am there, what were I am doing, what were other people doing, what was the result. When I was making my “Cypriot Tradition & Art Revival” project for my assignment I was questioning myself where were I am, did I understand the whole concept of PM, how other my close friends doing their assignment and what was the outcome. Stage 2: Feelings: In this stage, I try to remember and survey the things that were
going on inside my heard i.e. why this stick in my mind. For example, how I was feeling when I was attending the presentation of “Cypriot Tradition & Art Revival”, how I was feeling when the event started, how did it reflect on me, what I am thinking about now. When I was presenting my presentation I feel I was didn’t a done my homework properly, so it's quite like a yell but I was confident enough which help me to answer the question logically. Stage 3: Evaluation: In this stage, I have to evaluate or make a judgement about
what has gone on. What was good about the experience and what was bad about the experience or did not go so well? When I was presenting my presentation I feel I was didn’t a done my homework properly, so it's quite like a yell but I was confident enough which help me to answer the question logically. In the circumstance, I
6
evaluate weak and strength point of my presentation that will help me to improve my weakness.
Action plan I should I have to take immediate action plan on my weakness and manage my timetable more professionally to gain more knowledge about PM for using it is in professional fieldwork
Description what happening in my “Cypriot Tradition & Art Revival” project work? Feeling My feeling about my project “Cypriot Tradition & Art Revival”
Conclusion During this stage, I should ask myself what I could have done differently.
Evaluation Evaluate weak and strength point of my presentation Analysis Doing SWOT analysis to improve myself
Figure 4: My Own Reflective Learning Cycle for PM
Stage 4: Analysis: In this stage, I have to break down my events into its component
parts so they can be seeing the sights independently. I may need to do more home task of recovering my strengthens, weakness, opportunities and threatens or doing a SWOT analysis. I have to ask myself question what went well, what did I done well, what did other done well, what went wrong or did not turn out how it should have done and what way did you or others contribute to this. At this stage when I was writing my report I found a bit weak on my theory part of the PM, especially the numeric project model part, cause collecting financial data for “Cypriot Tradition &
7
Art Revival”, really harder and complicated and more difficult part was doing an analysis of networking and using Microsoft software. State 5: Conclusion: In this stage, totally differs from the fourth stage, here I had to
investigate the issue from a different point of view and have a lot of in sequence to base my judgement. It is here that I have to develop my own self and other people’s behavior in terms of how they contributed to the outcome of the event. Keep in mind the purpose of reflection is to learn from a practice. During this stage, I should ask myself what I could have done differently. For example “Cypriot Tradition & Art Revival” project is totally different kind of project report which I was first time introduce to my teacher, It quietly highly risk concern project with huge investment but a continuous running profitable project. State 6: Action: In this last stage, I should think myself forward into encountering the
event again and to plan what you would do – would you act differently or would you be likely to do the same. I believe one word the more you read the more you learn, if you didn’t get anything once time try harder to read it twice time to get key results. For that reason I, should I have to take immediate action plan on my weakness? I have to manage my timetable more professionally to gain more knowledge about PM for using it is in professional fieldwork. Here the cycle is tentatively completed and suggests that should the event occur again it will be the focus of another reflective cycle After analysis the learning cycle picture on my reflection of PM theories, I am trying to figure my outcomes and the basic ways that I can improve my experience of writing more presentation that is professional and project report. If I feel that, I have enough efficient knowledge’s, skills, and abilities about PM, I will concentrate on PM consultancy jobs or opening pm consultancy firm.
8
What result I receive from this PM subject and how I can improve more
The result is the last stage of every action plans. I try to means result is the solution of each occurring problem. As I believe that problem, come into our life to finding the solution of it, in the same way every action has its reaction. The reaction can be positive or negative. When I was attending my PM classes I was a bit confused caused I was not able to catch every single theories. Some seem to be easing some seem to me difficulties. Main difficulty I was facing, to make a connection with my project work with theories prospects. Reason is that some project firms don't use all methods, tools, techniques and planning process for doing their project work. In this situation, I was facing difficulty to select an approval method to draw my project patterns. One of the most apparent things about a project is its outcome results. Indeed, it is so important that many of us fall into the trap of thinking that it is the only feature of a project. For that, reason four important questions will be occurring in our minds, they are: How much did it cost? How long did it take? What technical performance capability will it provide? How will the project results fit into the design and execution of organizational strategies? Alternatively, does that outcome do what we wanted it to? The key dimensions or features of all projects, they are- Time, Cost and Performance. We have to remember that Uncertainty and risk both are interconnect to our projects. To
reduce this uncertainty and risk measurement ranking score from any project, we need to do three following things, they are: Recognize the type, level and source of expectable risk Cut down or eliminate that risk Make your mind up whether or not we will accept the remaining risk. (Phil Baguley, (1999) Above points I was discovering quickly when I read the books several times to understand and try to arrange key points about my project. However, there are two basic
9
types of selected models, once is known as a numeric and another is non-numeric. (Jack R. Meredith and Samuel J. Mantel, Jr. (2000). In “Cypriot Tradition & Art Revival� projects I was trying to analysis the payback period time of the projects, the average rate of return, discount cash flow (NPV) and internal rate of return and cost budgeting. Overall, the basic guidelines of those theories help me to take a truthful decision about my selective project. Moreover, the theories of managing a project team, commutation tools and cultural elements provide me excellent ideas about how effective way really project worked through. In improvement time, I need to arrange more time for reading case; article, journal and try to involve myself for attending really project work in working fields. If I draw a SWOT analysis diagram on my whole learning process, I can identify six major points, they are: 1. Lack of knowledge 2. Shortage of Time arrangement 3. Lack of Reality experience skills 4. Lack of back forward and up forward supporters 5. Lack of Reflection of Learning cycle 6. Lack of practicing Project software Therefore, in shortage period of time it is really challenging and quite unreality project knowledge I was able to gain. At this point of view, I am able to learn the theories pattern but still I feel I have a huge lack of experience. Overall, my action will be if I get the chance again to do this kind of assignment or any really project work I try my 100% to overcome my negative points.
10
Conclusion
“There is only one corner of the universe you can be certain of improving, and that’s your own self” – Aldous Leonard Huxley (kirijasto.sci.fi.com [Online]) After drawing up my own reflection on my learning abilities, I realized that reflection learning method is helpful to develop your own self, like a Personal Development plan. To achieve my goals aims I have to be more confident about my goals, knowledge, I have to gain more experience in real fieldwork and I must have to be compromised with my goals but not to give up. Negative and positive attitude will help me to rubbing my career path equally then at least I might be able to reach my break-even target point. If I can stay in stable condition as if this way may in future, I might be able to open my own project management consultancy firms.
11
References Richard Newton (2005), “The Project Manager –Mastering the art of delivery”, first published in Great Britain, FT Prentice hall, financial time, page 11)
David I. Cleland, Ph.D. (1994), “Project Management Strategic design and implementation”, edition 2nd, McGraw-Hill, Inc, page 5. (Brochure, Project Management Institute, P.O. Box 43, Drexel Hill, PA 19026. Practice based learning.com [Online] (Cite June 26, 2008) Available from <URL: http://www.practicebasedlearning.org/resources/materials/docs/Reflection%20 Work%20Based%20Supervisors/page_04.htm> Educ. queensu. CA [Online] (Cite June 26, 2008) Available from <URL: http: //educ. queensu. ca/~russellt/how teach/schon87.htm>. Learning and teaching. Info [Online] (Cite June 26, 2008) Available from http://www.learningandteaching.info/learning/experience.htm#kurtlewin> kirijasto.sci.fi.com [Online] (Cite June 26, 2008) Available from URL: http: //www.kirjasto.sci.fi/ahuxley.htm
Phil Baguley, (1999), “Project Management”, first published in the UK, Hodder Headline PLC, page 10. Jack R. Meredith and Samuel J. Mantel, Jr. (2000), “Project Management- A managerial approach”, edition 4th, John Wiley & Son, Inc, page 39).
Bibliography Stephen Barker and Rob Cole, (2007), “Brilliant project management –what the best project management knows, say and do”, edition 1st, Prentice Hall Business.
12
Makridakis, S.G. (1983) Forecasting: Methods and Applications. 2nd Edition. Garrison, Ray H. and Noreen, Eric W (2005) “Managerial Accounting” (Tenth Edition), McGraw-Hill/Irwin Publishing Co. Inc. Law-of- attraction-and success.com [Online] (Cite May 12, 2008) Available from <URL: http://www.law-of-attraction-and success.com/WhatIsPersonalDevelopment.html.) rapidbi.com [Online] (Cite May 12, 2008) Available from http://www.rapidbi.com/index.html) Hodder & Stounghton (1999), “Business Checklists- Marketing & Strategy”, Institute of management. Roger Cartwright, MA (1999), “Mastering marketing management” (2002), Business series editor Richard Pettinger, Palgrave in association with St Antony’s Oxford. Bob Grarrat (1995),” Developing Strategic Thought- Rediscovering the art of direction-giving”, published by McGraw Hill Book Company
13