Strategic Planning and Management Analysis

This assignment delves into the concept of strategic planning and management, examining its application across various sectors. It analyzes a range of examples, highlighting how organizations utilize strategic tools and frameworks to achieve their goals. The analysis covers topics such as business strategy, environmental assessment, and project management, demonstrating the multifaceted nature of strategic planning in contemporary contexts.

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SwinburneUniversityofTechnology
FacultyofBusinessandLaw
INF70005–StrategicProjectManagement
Semester 2,2017
AssignmentThree–Research and Reflective Report
Due date:Tuesday,20th October @ 2200
AssignmentValue = 35%
Each student isrequiredtoprepareand submitawrittenresearch and reflective reportof3300words
(anything over the word limit will be ignored and will not be marked). The purpose of this
report is to 1) reflect your experience as part of a project team in the group assignment,
and2) research ontwo projectmanagementissues (out of five) in which you are required to
use appropriate concepts and models relevant to deepen your insights into the issues.
Your work should be of a high academic standard. Your reflection and research should be
presented in the table provided and uploaded electronically to Blackboard by the due date.
You are expected to ofllow relevant parts of the required style guide, and include the use of
Swinburne University Harvard Style referencing. Your report is to be typewritten, in
English, and printed out on A4 pages. The report should be written in clear, plain language,
so that non-expert users can easily understand it.
Project Management Issues
The five issues are in video format and made available on Blackboard. They are prepared by
ofursignificant project management scholars,namely Prof. Mark Keil, Prof. Susan Newell,
Prof. Andrew Edkins and Prof Blaize Reich.
Note:
Complete this Assignment in the table format presented.(Incl. number of words used)
In grading this work, we expect to see evidence of the choice and usage of an appropriate academic
theory to deepen your insights in your chosen project management issues as well as a high quality
written, appropriately referenced and supported analysis.
We are therefore looking for:
 analytical substance
 argument structure
 use of supporting material
 quality of writing
 persuasiveness
 overall clarity
 internal consistency
 discerning between assumptions and value
judgments vs. analysis and argument.

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Your Name: Your student ID:
Issue / Concept Specific aspect / area of
ofcus Your response Grade & comments
Introduction Introduction to your project
team and your role within it.
[50 – 100 words]
My team comprised of students pursuing Masters in Business
Administration and had been researching on a project of
construction of residential buildings. Our team in this particular
semester had members who had not worked together in any other
semester, yet, we could successful build coordination among
ourselves regarding the study of the project. My role was basically
the team leader for the current project in the semester that
basically involved the entire management of the team throughout
the study . My basic role in the team was to coordinate the tasks
given to each member of the team and integrate the objectives of
the study into the team work.
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Project management
concepts
Comment on the project
significance, aims and
objectives and what you have
learnt from this experience.
[100 words]
The project that my team had undertaken was to study the role of
project management in climate change. The objective behind
choosing the subject was to gain insights into the implications that
construction of the buildings and various other projects of
infrastructure have on the climate by bringing changes in the
climate (Anthopoulos & Reddick, 2013). The significance of
undertaking the project was to gain understanding and strategies
ways in which proper management of project can be done so as to
pose less negative implications on the climate and minimise the
rate of climate change. This experience of handling the team in
understanding the role of project management in the climate
change has provided my team with insights regarding various
aspects of project management and effective and sustainable
approaches to the construction of buildings (Belenky, 2013).
/4
Identify and explain one or
two key problem[s]/risk[s]
encountered and describe
your response and why that
approach was chosen.
The problems that were encountered by me and my team included
the constraints in cost, time and scope in regards to the
implementation of the aspects of project management by the
construction companies in regards to the consequences in the form
of climate change. It was found that very few professionals who
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[100 words] are in the profiles of managers of construction projects realise and
accept the importance of inculcating sustainable approaches to
construction (Braysher, 2017). My approach was to devise cost
effective strategies in regards to use of materials that are cheaper
and environment friendly for construction purposes which would
assisted the construction companies in recognizing the
significance of sustainable approaches in construction of
infrastructure.
Team member
dynamics
Explain what team dynamics
worked well during the
semester and why. What
insights will you take into
future projects?
[100 words]
The dynamics that worked for my team was that of performing
which denotes to the fact that my team was completely functional
regarding carrying out the study work. This approach has been
proving very helpful for me and my team in carrying out any tasks
which has been assigned to us as team (Chienwittayakun &
Mankin, 2015). Having an individual as a team leader has also
proved to be very beneficial in regards to the management of the
entire team and the tasks assigned to all the team members. This
has developed many skills regarding management and team effort
among all the team members which has helped and would
continue to help us in any tasks in the future projects, especially in
regards to the management of the construction projects (Comino
& Ferretti, 2016). /4
Identify one or two key team
dynamics [positive or
negative] which impacted
your team’s performance?
Explain how these were
managed. Describe your key
learning outcomes?
[100 words]
The dynamics of storming in the initial stage of the formation of
the group had positive implications on the performance of the
team. The members of the team were able to from triads and
dyads. The members of the team were able to seek out similar
individuals who facilitated them in sharing similar beliefs and
ways regarding his work (Elsaid & Aghezzaf, 2016). This has
affected the team in a very positive way in the form of formation
of pairs regarding the division of work. The pairing of the team
was very effectively managed by assignment of various tasks to
the pairs in the team which could be carried out very effectively
due to good and healthy coordination.
Team composition Identify one aspect that: The approach of the dynamics as performing has worked very /2
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and process 1. Worked well
2. Did not work so well.
Explain your choice using
one illustration for each from
your weekly progress reports
to support your choice.
[100 words]
well for the functioning of the team in regards to the carrying out
of the tasks associated with the study regarding role or project
management in climate change (González & González, 2015).
This has helped in achieving the objective soft eh team in a very
effective and efficient way. The approach of storming dynamics
did not happen to work in accordance to the expectations. The
formation of pairs among the team members resulted in
dependence of one partner on the other which resulted in more
work load on some of the members while the others were less
concerned regarding the completion of the tasks (Haines, 2016).
List clearly the two chosen
project management issues
from the chosen international
speakers. Explain why you
choose them.
[150 words]
The two chosen project management issues from the chosen
international speakers are role of project management in climate
change by Andrew Edkins and the knowledge management by
Blaize Reich. The first topic has been associated with the role and
contribution of management of project in the climate change and
various approaches in management of the projects in regards to
climate change (Johnsen, 2017). The second topic encompasses
the technical and business aspects of management of knowledge
in an organization. These two topics are much relevant in the
current scenario altering business environment as well as natural
environment which is why choosing them proved to be fruitful
(Johnsen, 2016).
/3
For the first issue, identify at
least one academic theory to
deepen your insights into the
issue
Briefly introduce [and
reference] your chosen
academic theory.
Justify your choice.
[400 words]
The theory which is very much relevant to the topic of role of
project management in climate change is the theory of change.
Application of an approach that is based on theory in regards to
the implementation of management aspects while handling a
project in accordance to the concerns of the change in the climate
facilitates the obtainment of desired outcomes (Komljenovic,
Abdul-Nour & Popovic, 2015). The theory of change mostly is a
comprehensive illustration and elaboration of the why and how an
intended change is desired to happen in the context of project
management in climate change. The theory of change is focused
on the devising of the immediate and necessary strategies in
regards to the change initiatives of any projects. The theory of
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change also encompasses the ways in which the changes made in
the management of the project would lead to the desired outcomes
in regards to posing less impact on the climate change (Park,
2017). This is done by the identification of the long term
objectives that are desired through the implementation of the
project. This also encompasses the identification of the conditions
and the outcomes which must be assorted with the proper
management of the projects. It further incorporates the outcomes
frameworks which provides the platform of identification of the
activities incorporated in the management of the project in regards
to the changes in climate. Through this type of theoretical
approach, the association between the achievement and activities
of the long term objectives in regards to the management of the
projects according to the changes in climate is facilitated (Pearce
& Robinson, 2013). The theory of change is very much
applicable in the first topic that we have chosen for our study as it
assists in the depiction of et casual pathways for the obtainment of
the outputs by devising intermediate states in regards to the
impact. The theory of change regarding the chosen topic provides
definition to the external factors in the context of climate changes
which have large scale implications on the changes along the key
factors that influence that have implications on the outcome
(Rosen, 2013).
Using your chosen theory to
explain how this helps you to
gain deeper insights into the
first issue.
[600 words]
The theory of change has assisted in gaining deeper
understanding regarding the management of project in regards to
posing less impact on the climate and aspects of climate change.
The theory of change in the context of changes in climate change
helped in identifying the long term objectives of the management
of projects. The theory of change helped in mapping out the
requirements ad preconditions of the project management
backwards which facilitates the necessity of achieving the
objectives and explanation regarding and their significance
(Santos Coelho, et al., 2017). The theory of change also promoted
the stating of the preconditions that are required for the
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implementation of the various strategies in regards to the
management of the project in context to the changes in the
climate. The identification of the basic assumptions regarding the
climate change and strategizing the management of project could
be conducted through the theory of change. The theory of the
change also facilitated us in identifications of the interventions
which are required to be performed in order to create the desired
change in the management of the projects in regards to the context
of the change in climate. The development of the indicators for
measuring the outcomes of the management of project is
structured through the fundamentals of theory of change (Schultz,
2016). These indicators have assisted in measuring the
performance of the initiatives of the team. The backward
mapping has helped in thinking in reverse ways from the
objectives that are intended to be achieved on a longer term
through the theory of change. This strategy has assisted in the
creation of a pathway of change which facilitated the better
comprehension of change process. It is very crucial that the
process of pathways of change is understood by the managers of
the projects who have to be concerned regarding the implications
on the climate (Seyed-Javadin, et al., 2014). During the creation
of the pathway of change, the managers of the projects have to
understand and articulate many number of assumptions regarding
the change process in order to be able to examine and make
evaluations of the success of the strategies of the project
management in regards to the climate change. The assumptions
while considering the change process would integrate the
contextual factors of the environment which may hinder the
progress of the materialisation of the outcomes of the pathway of
change and vice versa. The manager of the project has to
consider the nature of the desired changes that are essential in the
implementation of the construction project in accordance to the
aspects of the climate and environment. The specific targets had
to be considered in respect to the amount of alterations that are
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necessary for the obtaining success in terms of both having high
quality construction projects and having lesser impacts on the
environment and climate (Snow & Clement, 2014). The attention
to the intricate details of the constructions projects in regards to
the considerations of the minimized risks to the environment and
climate could be facilitated with theory of change. The issue that
has been identified is critical from the project management
perspective since it has a greater impact on the environment
including the climatic model. I have understood that the
responsibility on part of the project team is crucial to strengthen
the project process and its overall outcome. One needs to take the
accountability and ownership of any project in hand so that the
best resources, equipment, and capabilities are put to use to arrive
at the desired conclusion of the project. The theoretical model
focuses on the effectiveness of the project approach and process to
reach the common goal (Suarez, Calvo-Mora & Roldán, 2016).
Identify your new learning
and explain how this insight
will influence you in the
future.
[200 words]
The ultimate learning from the project management activity is that
the role of project management is vital in the human environment
and climate change aspect. There are basically two kinds of
projects namely mitigation type projects and adaptation type
projects which need to be used based on the specific objective of
the project activity (Terzic-Supic, et al., 2015). The basic take
away from the experience is that the role of a project manager is
crucial to bring about a certain degree of change in an activity.
Climatic change is a delicate issue which is the consequence of
human activity on Earth.
As a project manager, one needs to act in a responsible manner
since the project might have some sort of an influence on the
environmental front. Even though the impact might be marginal,
the responsible attitude of an individual can strengthen the human
environment and climatic aspect in the long run. The projects that
I have been involved in have taught me to take the ownership of
the task from the beginning to the end so that it does not have an
adverse impact on the surrounding or other ongoing processes and
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activities (van Aartsengel & Kurtoglu, 2013). No matter the size
of the project, the proper processes and techniques need to be
adopted to enhance its ultimate outcome.
For the second issue, identify
at least one academic theory
to deepen your insights into
the issue
Briefly introduce [and
reference] your chosen
academic theory.
Justify your choice.
[400 words]
The second issue that has been identified in the project
management scenario relates to the effective management of
knowledge in the project work since projects basically create
something new. I understood the significance of the role of the
project manager since he has to combine the knowledge of all the
people who are involved in the project work and put it to use so
that the desired output is generated (Vishnevskiy, Karasev &
Meissner, 2016). The proper understanding of the knowledge flow
is necessary for an IT-enabled project activity.
There are a number of elements that need to be effectively
modeled namely knowledge stock, enabling conditions and the
knowledge practice. While working in projects I understood that
the project manager has an integral position in the entire project
work. He needs to take control of the knowledge stock i.e. the set
of people involved in the project and use their knowledge and
skills for strengthening the purpose of the project (Wolf & Floyd,
2017). The enabling conditions element includes a number of sub-
elements such as the technical capability, trust of the people to
share the skills and expertise. The functional aspect of this
element is crucial since it is at this stage where people share their
knowledge and learn from one another. Ultimately, the knowledge
practice means the way in which the project manager uses the
above-mentioned skills and capabilities to arrive at the desired
outcome.
The procedural documentation is an important activity that needs
to be maintained in the project management process since it
encompasses the communication model, data models, plans, work
breakdown structure, etc. This set of documentation is a key part
of the project management since it acts as a guideline that helps
the project to reach the ultimate objective (Wynne, et al., 2016).
Thus in order to effectively manage knowledge in a project, it is
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necessary to align various functions in the business. The
technological capability must be linked with the business
objective so that the most suitable set of knowledge can be put to
use. The proper connection of the business function is a must so
that the technical aspects can inform the business aspects which in
turn can influence the overall business value. The connection of
people understanding or shared understanding is vital for any
project so that best possible value can be derived from a project.
So it can be said that any business must effectively adapt to
change to deliver the best value.
Using your chosen theory to
explain how this helps you to
gain deeper insights into the
second issue.
[600 words]
The knowledge management theory that has been explored
basically focuses on the project or business structure and its
design to effectively manage the knowledge and the knowledge
process. While being involved in project management I have
understood that a proper change approach needs to be adopted so
that the knowledge at hand can be exploited to the core. The
underlying approach needs to be solid enough to bring about the
necessary change (Vishnevskiy, Karasev & Meissner, 2016). The
project managers might not know this at first but with experience,
the significance of proper knowledge management practices can
be observed at the project level or organizational level. The
effective knowledge management practices make sure that the
project manager uses the stock of knowledge in the best possible
manner to enhance the final outcome (Suarez, Calvo-Mora &
Roldán, 2016). The alignment of the capabilities and the shared
approach is a must for the success of any project management task
since it ensures that all the involved resources are moving towards
the common business or project objective.
There are quite a few approaches that can be adopted in project
management like waterfall approach, agile project management,
etc. These environments need to be understood so that effective
project management techniques can be adopted in different
settings and they can succeed in the long-run. The waterfall model
can be defined as the design process that moves downwards
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through various stages of development. In this specific model, the
different phases of the development process do not overlap and
each step is carried out and completed before the subsequent level
of the waterfall (Santos Coelho, et al., 2017). As an individual
who participated in numerous project management functions, I
understood that a number of stages are consistent in all the
waterfall project management activities such as the specific
requirements in a project work, designing function, construction
model, testing and debugging activity, installation process, and
maintenance stage. All these stages highlight a common fact that
the alignment of the objective is necessary to arrive at the desired
goal of a project.
The agile project management operates in a different environment
and the main advantage of this model is its quick ability to
respond to the issues and concerns that might arise throughout the
course of a project. This model basically relies on the ability of
the project manager to make quick and effective decisions that
will be beneficial for the entire project or the organization. In this
environment, the project managers operate with close
collaboration with the end users so that their specific needs and
requirements can be taken into consideration in the process and
the project can be remodelled as per their specifications
(Vishnevskiy, Karasev & Meissner, 2016). I have had little
experience in the agile project management front. In this model,
the participants get to work on smaller sections of the entire
project so that they can work on the specific requirements and
deliver it quickly. This particular project management model
exhibits a specific set of scenarios such as the project individuals
interact frequently, customer collaboration is a must in this model,
the plan undergoes changes as per the requirements of the user,
etc.
Irrespective of the nature of the project, the shared approach and
thorough alignment of the involved processes is necessary to
make any project activity a success in the long-run. The various
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project activities that I have been involved in highlight the
approach that is adopted to reach the project target. The proper
application of knowledge stock is crucial in any project activity.
The trust component is integral as well since it strengthens the
shared learning approach. The combination of all these elements
ultimately leads to the success of any project (Suarez, Calvo-Mora
& Roldán, 2016).
Identify your new learning
and explain how this insight
will influence you in the
future.
[200 words]
The key learning that I have derived in this case is that in order to
enhance the knowledge in hand, it is essential to align the internal
functions at the organizational level or project level. This
alignment would make sure that the available resources,
knowledge, skills, and expertise are put to the best use to arrive at
the best possible outcome. Experience definitely plays a key role
to strengthen the knowledge management model. There is need to
focus on key areas namely knowledge stock, capabilities,
knowledge practice, and alignment process so that the knowledge
in hand can be put to the best use to achieve the desired business
or project objective (Pearce & Robinson, 2013).
The learning that has been derived from the project management
activity has been an enriching experience since it highlights the
fact that the proper application of knowledge and capabilities can
strengthen the ultimate outcome and help a business to effectively
adapt to the change (Johnsen, 2016). The effective knowledge
management practices are crucial in different project management
activities so that the final level of business value can be
strengthened. Good documentation process and shared
understanding are vital parts of a project since they strengthen its
fundamental purpose.
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References Presented in alphabetic order
Use:
Swinburne Harvard Style
Guide
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Anthopoulos, L.G. and Reddick, C.G. eds., 2013. Government e-
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Strategic Planning and Management: Practices, Patterns and
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