Lessons Learned in Project Planning - PPMP20008

This presentation reflects on lessons learned in project planning for PPMP20008. The importance of communication management and scheduling for successful projects is discussed. Two specific lessons are highlighted, along with improvement strategies for future projects.

PPMP20008
Lessons Learnt Presentation
Assessment 3 - 2018 Term1
Student name:
Student number:
Campus:
Tutor name:

Introduction
Project planning is very important for any project to be successful. The
planning for a project requires understanding all the metrics that would
result to project accomplishment. The purpose of this report is to reflect
and identify some of the lessons learned in the course, as well considering
some of the actions that I would take to improve future projects.

Framework
The lessons learned were collected from week 3 and week 5. Identifying
and capturing some of the lessons learned involved the use of the course
log and through brainstorming. During the lessons learned identification
process, all the group members were involved. Each group shared their
own experiences and we decided topic on the best lessons learned.

Lessons Learnt 1
Writing down my proposal paper did not appear to be a big challenge to
me. After we were provided with the format on how we should go about
writing the proposal, I decided to start working on the proposal immediately
aimed at accomplishing it on time. Within two weeks, I had completed my
proposal and presented it for evaluation (Hornstein, 2015). In the end, I
had to redo the proposal.

What I did
During the proposal writing process, I did not manage communication with
the coordinator. I ended up submitting a proposal on a topic that had been
assigned to another student (Hodgson & Cicmil, 2007).

How I Felt
This made me feel frustrated because I had wasted my two weeks
conducting research and typing and my proposal was rejected.

What I have Learned
I have learned communication management can easily be underestimated
during the process of writing an academic proposal. Hence, it is important
that communication is managed effectively. This involves keeping in touch
with the coordinator from the beginning phase of writing which involves
topic selection and should be maintained throughout the process.

Lesson Learnt 2
Preparing for a Math’s symposium may appear to be simple and thus not
requiring scheduling. I decided that I was going to prepare for the
symposium the night prior the symposium due date. On that night, I had to
go through the entire coursework as well as carry out research on the
internet to find out the best way to handle some calculations. I ended up
overworking myself and was very tired (de Carvalho, Patah & de Souza
Bido, 2015). My symposium’s results were very poor.

What I did
As I prepared for the symposium, I did not go to the library to gather
solutions to calculations because I had limited time.

How I felt
I was unhappy with my results because I could have performed better if I
had prepared early. I regretted not scheduling my preparation.

What I have Learnt
I have learned that it is easy to underestimate scheduling while performing
a project. It is thus essential to schedule all activities to allow enough time
to achieve all goals.

Improvement strategies
To ensure that my projects are successful in future, I shall ensure that in
the case of communication, is shall plan communications management,
manage and control the communication process when carrying out projects
(Flyvbjerg, 2013). Also, I shall ensure that I schedule the management plan
as an output aimed at successfully achieving the objective.

Conclusion
The lessons learned described were collected from lecture 3 and 5 where
all the group members were involved in brainstorming and used the course
log to identify lessons learned. The two lessons learned are:
communication management and scheduling for projects can easily be
underestimated in project planning. To improve in the areas, I shall ensure
to schedule management plan as an output and ensure I plan, manage,
and control communication.

References
de Carvalho, M. M., Patah, L. A., & de Souza Bido, D. (2015). Project management and its effects on project
success: Cross-country and cross-industry comparisons. International Journal of Project Management, 33(7),
1509-1522.
Flyvbjerg, B. (2013). From Nobel prize to project management: getting risks right. arXiv preprint arXiv:1302.3642.
Hodgson, D., & Cicmil, S. (2007). The politics of standards in modern management: Making ‘the project’a
reality. Journal of Management Studies, 44(3), 431-450.
Hornstein, H. A. (2015). The integration of project management and organizational change management is now a
necessity. International Journal of Project Management, 33(2), 291-298.