Lessons Learnt in Project Management: Leadership and Team Building

This document discusses the lessons learnt in project management, specifically focusing on leadership and team building practices. It explores the importance of reflective practice and the role it plays in developing creative skills and improving engagement in the working process. The document also includes strategies for gathering and documenting lessons learnt, as well as improvement strategies for addressing the identified lessons.

PPMP20008
2019 TERM 1 ASS_3
LESSONS LEARNT
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1. INTRODUCTION
Reflective practice refers to a process of learning through our own experience and to advance
new insights of our own understanding (Baiden et al., 2006).
It plays an important role for graduates to form creative skills and improves engagement of an
individual in his/her working process.
From my own experience of being a graduate in Master of Project Management, I am
experienced with different key learning areas. In this discussion, I would critically focus on
sharing my personal experience about two critical areas of project management namely,
leadership and team building practices in project management. Leadership and team building
processes play a critical role in any project to ascertain defined goals and objectives.
2 LESSONS LEARNT: FRAMEWORK
2.1 How I planned to gather and document lessons learnt
.
When…
I planned to identify and collect
lessons learnt
Who…
I planned to involve in the
process of gathering lessons
How…
I planned to document lessons
I planned to identify and
collect lessons learned from
basic project portfolio
program and lifecycles
including agile project and
domain specific System
Development Lifecycle
(SDLC0. Moreover, I also
gathered information from
PMBoK and Prince 2
principles.
I planned to involve in a
process of gathering
knowledge from relevant
theoretical concepts and
frameworks (Schieg, 2006).
Theories associated with
portfolio management
project lifecycle helped me to
increase my perception about
the importance of
frameworks to streamline
project management
practices. In addition,
concept and model of Prince
2 principles has also played a
significant role to expand my
skills and abilities in project
management.
I planned to document
lessons from the relevant
team management
framework in order to
identify problems that restrict
members to deliver their full
potential and determine the
best possible solutions to
address them. Moreover, I
also focused on identifying
issues relating to
communication processes
among the team members
(Cavusgil et al., 2015). I found
from the evaluation that lack
of collaboration among the
team members as well as
their inadequate
performance in each given
role driven the existing
problem in the project.
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2.2 What actually happened?
When I compare how I had planned to gather and document lessons learnt versus what
actually happened? Complete the table below.
When...
I identified and collected lessons
learnt
Who…
I involved in the process of
gathering lessons
How…
I documented lessons
When I identified and
collected lessons learnt from
the project versus what
actually happened, I came to
know that misrepresentation
or insufficient knowledge and
skill led the members to fail
in delivering their
responsibilities. I realised that
inappropriate communication
process among the team
members led the existing
issues of team performance.
In addition, inadequate share
of knowledge and skills or
ideas among the team
members also crafted major
obstacles for members to
successfully deliver their
given roles and
responsibilities.
I involved in the process of
gathering lessons from the
fundamental team building
and management theory.
Moreover, I also focused on
gathering knowledge about
the possible issues that
managers often face when
developing team or
improving performance of
the team members. The
framework and relevant
theoretical concepts helped
to document issues and plan
for new solutions to address
the team building and team
performance management
issues.
I documented lessons
through separating factors in
accordance with their link
with the team building and
team performance
management. The process of
documenting issues
associated with
communication helped me to
identifying gaps in interaction
between members.
Additionally, determining
factors relating to employee
performance helped me to
identify basic requirements of
skills and capabilities of the
team members. In such
process, the implementation
of knowledge creation
framework also provided a
major insight in terms of
planning for implementation
of practices and address the
issues effectively.
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3. LESSONS
3.1 Lesson 1
NOTE: This is about reflection and reflective practice – not about the topics you have
learnt. To receive full marks, you need to have demonstrated ‘deep reflection about the
learning process.
1. Situation – (Describe a situation that happened within PPMP20008)
2. The situation made me feel… (Describe your feelings when the situation occurred -
were you frustrated, angry, confused, happy, relieved etc. What impact did this have for
you or others?)
3. What I learnt from reflecting on the situation – (Make sure this is written as a lesson)
Complete the table below
1. Situation 2. The situation made me
feel…
3. What I learnt from
reflecting on the situation
The situation of managing
activities linked with hard and
soft skills of a project
manager was a critical
challenge for me. Hard skills
such as ability to manage
budget, schedule, scope,
resources, risks and issues
along with technical industry
specific knowledge are the
key areas I faced problems in
the project initiation and
execution stages.
Although I have strong level
of soft skills, but team
building, leadership, trust
building, conflict
management and decision
making were few major areas
that I needed to focus.
For a project manager, team
building and managing
performance of each
member is the foremost
responsibility (Kottler &
Carlson, 2009). Moreover,
lack of communication
among the team members
further led the members to
lose their self-confidence
(Schein, 1992).
Therefore, the problem of
ineffective leadership practice
had imposed major hurdles
among team members to
maintain clarity in sharing
skills, ideas, opinions or any
other information related to
the project activities.
From the situation, I came to
learn the fundamental role of a
project manager/leader. In this
context, I came to realise that a
manager or leader should
strongly focus on building a
competent team by delivering
appropriate training and
development initiatives.
Moreover, the leader should
also focus on encouraging team
members in building
collaboration among members
through emphasising clear
communication process among
them (Bourdieu, 1990).
Moreover, the leader should
also provide detail and clear
instruction about the
significance of building
collaboration though
communicating with other
individuals within the team.
3.1.1 IMPROVEMENT STRATEGY 1
(a). The specific improvement strategy is…
(b) I would know the strategy was working as I could measure…
(c) This strategy is achievable for me because…
(d) This strategy is relevant to lesson 1 as it will (address/minimise/leverage) …
(e) I will implement this strategy by (add date/timeframe).
Complete the table below
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(a)
Improvement
strategy
Explain what the
specific strategy is
that you will
implement to
address the lesson
identified above
(b)
Measurement
How to measure if
the strategy works
(c)
Achievable
Why the strategy is
achievable
(d)
Relevant
Explain the
relevance of
strategy to
address the lesson
(e)
Timing
When the strategy
will be
implemented
In response to
the situation, a
started to
improve my hard
and soft skills
using different
project
management
theories and
frameworks.
A strategic
communication
approach can be
a primary
solution for the
project manager
or leader. Hence,
I decided to
critically improve
the interaction
processes of the
team members
with other
subordinates and
leaders. I strongly
focused on
providing
communication
training to each
member and
strengthen
collaboration
among each
individual in the
team.
The
implementation
of the strategic
communication
plan can be
measured
through
examining the
level of
coordination and
collaboration
among the team
members.
Moreover, it has
also helped to
determine the
knowledge or
idea sharing
process of the
members and
mutually gain
skill to deliver the
best result.
The strategy is
achievable as it
can help the
team members
to easily
understand the
concept and
importance of
clear
communication
while operating
as a team.
Moreover, the
communication
strategy among
the team
members also
comprises
appropriate
training and
development
programs which
has further
contributed the
team members
to gain their
confidence and
leverage the
significance of
communication.
The strategic
communication
plan
encompasses all
aspect of
communication
and behaviour of
team members.
Hence, it is
relevance to
nurture the
interaction skill
of the members
and improve
their idea or
knowledge
sharing ability
with other
members. In
addition, the
situation also
helped the
members to
improve their
ability to
perform and
deliver
responsibilities
with quality and
within stipulated
time.
The strategic
communication
plan for the team
will be
implemented
shortly as the
problem may
increase major
obstacles on the
project to
successfully
accomplish its
goals. Moreover,
the
implementation
of the
communication
strategy will also
be conducted in
accordance with
the further need
of the team
members.
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3.2 Lesson 2
1. Situation 2. The situation made me
feel…
3. What I learnt from
reflecting on the situation
The situation of
implementing the strategic
communication approach
made me confused if it will
work for the betterment of
the team. I was also confused
whether the approach will
increase collaboration among
the team members.
The situation made me feel
relaxed after ensuring that
each member of the team
maintaining appropriate
collaboration when
interacting with other
individuals. Moreover, I was
also satisfied that the
members share their opinion,
ideas and information to each
other for attaining the given
milestones of the project.
The main things that I have
learnt from the situation a
leader should strongly focus on
building collaboration and
coordination among members
within a team. The processes of
integrating appropriate
leadership styles and guidelines
to improve performance level of
the team members. In this
context, adequate focus on
employee motivation, T&D as
well as performance appraisal
of the team members have
provided major support in
leadership practices.
3.2.1 IMPROVEMENT STRATEGY 2
(a)
Improvement
strategy
Explain what the
specific strategy is
that you will
implement to
address the lesson
identified above
(b)
Measurement
How to measure if
the strategy works
(c)
Achievable
Why the strategy
is achievable
(d)
Relevant
Explain the
relevance of
strategy to
address the lesson
(e)
Timing
When the strategy
will be
implemented
In order to
successfully
address the
existing issue, I
determined to
execute
situational
leadership style.
The leadership
style generally
The efficacy as
well as
significance of
situational
leadership style
can be measured
by evaluating
performance of
each member
within the team
The
implementation
of the situational
leadership
approach is
achievable as it
includes a clear
process of
identifying the
situation and its
In accordance
with the current
issue witnessed
within the team,
the
implementation
of a situational
leadership
approach will be
an ideal model.
With reference to
the rising
complexity due
to the
inadequate team
performance, the
implementation
of the situational
leadership will be
implemented
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includes strong
focus on
strengthening
skills and
competency level
of the team
members in
accordance with
the situation.
(Northhouse,
2015).
Additionally, the
measurement
process will also
include
significant focus
on motivational
aspects that
create
willingness to
each member
within the team.
intensity and
finally develop
appropriate
solution (Kaifi et
al., 2013). In this
context, the
steps in this
leadership style
will include
identification of
the key factors
that led the
problem and
determining
their appropriate
solutions.
The model is
concerned with
dealing with
situations by
evaluating range
of relevant
factors that
driven the
problem.
Moreover, it also
helps leaders to
develop the
most
appropriate
solutions.
with an
immediate effect.
The
implementation
of the approach
with immediate
effect can help
the project to
strengthen
engagement and
performance of
each team
member and
improve their
skills and
abilities.
6. CONCLUSION
The process of practicing self-reflective assessment has delivered a major experience to
understand the self-awareness of the way through which I can perform. According to the self-
assessment process, I came to learn range of frameworks and approaches that can help me to
build a strong and competent team which can deliver expected result in my future projects. The
assessment further strengthened my knowledge about the implementation of strategic
communication framework and situational leadership skills that can provide extensive support to
deal with any uncertain challenges associated with the team coordination and performance of the
team members.
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7. REFERENCES
Baiden, B. K., Price, A. D. F. & Dainty, A. R. J. (2006). The extent of team integration within
construction projects. International Journal of Project Management 24(2006) 13–23.
Kaifi, B. A. & et. al., (2013). The Importance of Situational Leadership in the Workforce: A Study
Based on Gender, Place of Birth, and Generational Affiliation. Journal of Contemporary
Management, 29-40.
Kenny, C. (2010). Publishing Construction Contracts and Outcome Details, Policy Research Working
Paper 5247. The World Bank, Sustainable Development Department, Finance, Economics and
Urban Division.
Kottler, J. A. & Carlson, M. E. (2009). Learning Group Leadership: An Experiential Approach. SAGE
Publication Inc.
Schein, E. H. (1992). Organizational Culture and Leadership. 2nd ed. Jossey-Bass Publishers.
Schieg, M. (2006). Risk Management in Construction Project Management. Journal of Business
Economic and Management., 7(2), 77-83.
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