Project Management: Critical Success/Failure Factors, Lessons Learned, Recommendations, Reflection on Developing Career in Project Management

This report discusses critical success/failure factors, lessons learned, recommendations, and reflection on developing a career in project management. It also includes a case study on universities planning to perform face-to-face educational practices after COVID-19.

Project management
(Assessment 2)

Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY..................................................................................................................................4
Critical success/ failure factors....................................................................................................4
Lesson learnt................................................................................................................................5
Recommendations........................................................................................................................6
Reflection on developing career in project management and skills required in order to be a
successful project manager..........................................................................................................7
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................9
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................10

INTRODUCTION
Project management is considered as key approach which is helpful in development of a
project. With the help of project management, an effective synchronisation of key elements
associated with project development (Hair and Sarstedt, 2021). It is one of the major roles of a
project manager to focus on increasing an effective approach in managing a project in order to
ensure systematic and precise operations. In the recent times, importance of project management
has increased and also involving key factors which are helpful in increasing competitive strength
of the project. This report will include description of critical failure and success factors which are
playing a key role in project management. This report will also include analysis of lessons learnt
during completion of project. This project will also include recommendations on how the project
can be executed and prepared in order to achieve key objectives and goals. This project will also
include a reflection to consider a career path in management of a project and various skills which
are required to become a successful manager. This report is based on topic “Universities
planning to perform face to face educational practices after COVID-19”.

MAIN BODY
Critical success/ failure factors
In the management of a project, it is essential to focus on all major success and failure
factors. The failure factors create negative side for project development and also makes it harder
for a project manager to cope up with key needs. It is essential for a business to focus on failure
factors in order to learn different lessons. In the development of project related to offline starting
of education in universities, resource gathering was a major approach which failed. In order to
collect resources for the project, there was a need for project manager to develop an effective
approach in research gathering. The main duty of project manager was also to develop
effectiveness in utilising all major resources in an optimum manner (Kim, Chang and Castro-
Lacouture, 2020). This is one of the major duty of project manager to look for best alternatives in
selecting most appropriate resources for the project. Time management was one of the main
factors which impacted functioning of whole project. In order to manage time, project manager
should focus on formulating effective time table which is essential for project development. The
project manager should analyse whole problem associated with the project and manage all
activities on timely basis. It is ethical duty of project manager to analyse key goals and
objectives of project and formulate time table according to requirement. To manage time in a
systematic manner, it is major role of a project manager to take support of a time-table.
Arrangement of human resources which are suitable for the project is another major factor which
failed during the project. It is necessary for a project manager to focus on analysing in depth key
factors and elements while arranging human resources like labour for the project.
In the era stiff competition between companies, it is crucial for a project manage to also
analyse major success factors which are important for project growth. The risk management
associated with the project was a major successful factor which play a key role in expansion of
project. The project manager developed a risk contingency plan in order to eliminate the risk
associated with the operations. It is also one of the major role of a project manager to focus on
growth and development of a project while managing risk. Another major success factors which
is associated with managing project was communication. The communication plays an important
role in increasing coordination between different employees associated with the project. Project
manager used information and technology based tools and techniques to develop precise and

effective communication (Lai, Deng and Chang, 2019). The manager of a project should also focus
on analysing importance of advanced computer system and software to improve focus IT based
communication. The management of team was also one of the major success factors, which was
faced by project manager. In order to establish effective communication, it is important for a
project leader to take into consideration effective ways of doing verbal and non- verbal
communication.
Lesson learnt
During the development of project, there are key lessons which are learned by project
manager. The team also developed a good experience while working for completion of the
project. Main lesson learned by project leader is related to leadership management, in the
completion of project all major dimension of leadership was considered. Leadership is a key art
which helps in increasing management approach (Lai, Deng and Chang, 2019). The management
approach developed and formulated by leadership helps a project leader to manage key team
members. It is essential for a leader to choose best leadership style in order to manage employees
associated with the project. The democratic leadership style is best and most suitable approach
which is beneficial in increasing team member’s participation. Decision making is also
facilitated by democratic leadership in order to develop effectiveness in key practices. Another
major lesson learned from this project includes cost management associated with the project.
Cost management is an effective way of allocating funds to the right task or function, associated
with the project. In order to manage cost associated with the project, it is essential to develop
budget. The budget developed during this project was helpful in allocating funds for right task.
This is one of the major roles of a project manager to prepare budget according to needs and
tasks of project. The disaster or uncertainty based on a project should be considered by a project
manager in order to avoid any uncertainty. The main task of a project manager is to avoid
uncertainty associated with the project in order to perform successful management practices.
Another lesson learned from the project is related to development of a focused approach which is
beneficial in increasing strength of project (Mavi and Standing, 2018). Team members of a project
should focus on following instructions by the project manager in order to lead the competition. In
a particular situation, the application of situational leadership is beneficial in increasing strength
of a project manager as he takes assistance of decisions according to situation.

Recommendations
It is essential for a project manager to follow certain recommendations which are helpful in
increasing overall strength of project. Project manager should also follow key considerations in
order to manage project in more systematic. The recommendations which are to be followed by a
project manager are mentioned below:
 Strategic and planning framework- It is very much essential for a project manager to
focus on development of plans and policies. The project manager should also take into
consideration application of strategic and planning framework to lead the competition. It
is essential role of team members also to follow all major instructions given to them by a
project leader. The development of planning and strategic framework will be also suitable
in eliminating risk attached with the project. Many project managers focus on increasing
approach towards strategic framework and planning. In order to develop an effective
approach in managing a project, leader should formulate risk free planning. In order to
increase the efficiency and effectiveness of a project, it is important for a project leader to
develop crucial ways to deal with the risk
 Risk management- Management of risk is essential for the project manager on timely
basis in order to gain effective edge. The analysing of risk and its assessment are two
important functions of a project manager which helps in development of effective
approach. In order to minimise risk, a project manager can take support of risk
minimisation models and techniques (McLaren and Loosemore, 2019). This is one of the
key roles and responsibilities of a project manager to lead the risk management based
approach in order to serve the project development. Team members and planning related
to them, should be also developed with the help of risk management theories and
approaches to gain desired success in project management. To manage risk associated
with key operations, a project manager should consult top level management and plan
accordingly.
 Focus on goals and objectives- The manager of a project should be goal and target
oriented in order to achieve all objectives on time. With the help of project’s objectives
and goals, it is important for a project leader to develop key focus on major aspects. The
team members associated with management of a project should also consider goal centric
approach to deal with different issues and consequences.

 Fulfil needs and requirements of whole project- It is very much necessary for a project
manager to fulfil all major requirements and needs of whole project in order to achieve
set targets. The team member’s requirements and needs should be fulfilled in a well-
defined manner to achieve set targets and goals. If the team member’s needs are not
fulfilled, then it put a negative impact on the performance of whole team. The project
manager should also take help of team member’s advice in order to fulfil needs of
project.
 Motivation- The motivation is one of the most crucial factors which needs to be essential
quality of a project manager. With the help and support of motivation, a project manager
can encourage employees to achieve targets. It is also important for a project manager to
take into consideration different theories of motivation like content and process theories
to gain competitive edge (Obradović, Todorović and Bushuyev, 2018). This is one of the
major roles of a project manager to develop intrinsic motivation in self in order to
perform key targets and goals. If the team members are motivated, then it will directly
impact on their performance as well as it will improve the output of employees. The
motivation is one of the most major factors which is also supportive in development of
emotional intelligence and perception of team members. The key focus of a project leader
should be on motivation in order to achieve desired goals and objectives.
Reflection on developing career in project management and skills required in order to be a
successful project manager.
The career in project is most important opportunity for a candidate in the career related
life. Professionalism is considered as major approach which is helpful in development of career
path in managing a project. I consider that I will be able to manage a project in a precise manner
as I have developed several skills related to the same. I will also take into consideration
implementation of key approaches which are effective in management of project. This is one of
the major role of a project manager to analyse key strengths and capabilities and modify them
according to contemporary surroundings. I will develop career in the field of project
management with the help of supervision and monitoring based approach. This is one of my key
role to act in an ethical manner for development of project based approach. The ethical approach
will help me in managing my project in a desired manner (Saltz, et. al. 2018). I will definitely take

assistance of different skills and abilities which are required to complete a project with
effectiveness and efficiency.
The key approaches to management should be also considered by me in order to develop
effectiveness in project management. I will also take support of most suitable leadership style in
order to complete major requirements of project and manage team with advance tools and
techniques. This is one of my major roles in managing a project to select best and suitable
management styles. I will also take into consideration, the application of human relationship
management theory in order to develop healthy relationship between my team members. In order
to pursue my career in the project management field, I will take into account providing training
and development to employees.
Time management: I should know how I am going to manage all my time in response for
completion of project. If I don't know how to manage time, I won't be able to complete my
predetermined goals and objectives, which will fail me as a project manager. Timely
achievement of pre-determined targets will lead to increase in profits and thereby there will be
increasing reputation, goodwill for my projects.
Team management: I should be well aware about my team members and their needs and wants
that needs to be fulfil. Maintaining good relations with my team members will make a great
project manager (Sanchez, et. al. 2019). I should be knowing how my team should be handled and
what work should be given to whom for better results for entity.
Leadership: All managerial and leadership should be in knowledge to a project manager and
that person should know how, when, why and what leadership style should be chosen for greater
outcomes that will help the organisation in more value addition to firm and increase in
profitability ratios for our company.
Decision making skills: Being the project leader and manager, I should be able to make
decisions on my own, that should be resulting in complete achievement of pre-determined targets
and that should also result in greater sales and profits for my business entity (Zwikael and Smyrk,
2019). From the smallest to largest choices that are available in operations and other activities,
make decisions for the enterprise.
Problem solving skills: Being a leader, it is my responsibility to solve and address any problem
arising in the organisation for the smooth running and operating of working conditions and tasks
within and outside organisation.

CONCLUSION
From the above discussion it can be concluded that in the management of a project
development of strategic and planning framework play a major role. This project concludes key
role played by different skills in order to develop as a successful project manager. The project
management is also a major approach which helps a project manager to act and plan for
preparation of a project. This analysis concludes that it is important for a project manager to
focus on key strengths and abilities of himself and execute them in development of the project.
This analysis concludes the significance of plans and policies which are helpful in avoiding risk
and uncertainty associated with the project.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Hair, J.F. and Sarstedt, M., 2021. Explanation plus prediction—The logical focus of project management
research. Project Management Journal, 52(4), pp.319-322.
Kim, S., Chang, S. and Castro-Lacouture, D., 2020. Dynamic modeling for analyzing impacts of skilled
labor shortage on construction project management. Journal of Management in
Engineering, 36(1), p.04019035.
Lai, H., Deng, X. and Chang, T.Y.P., 2019. BIM-based platform for collaborative building design and
project management. Journal of Computing in Civil Engineering, 33(3), p.05019001.
Lai, H., Deng, X. and Chang, T.Y.P., 2019. BIM-based platform for collaborative building design and
project management. Journal of Computing in Civil Engineering, 33(3), p.05019001.
Mavi, R.K. and Standing, C., 2018. Critical success factors of sustainable project management in
construction: A fuzzy DEMATEL-ANP approach. Journal of cleaner production, 194, pp.751-
765.
McLaren, M. and Loosemore, M., 2019. Swift trust formation in multi-national disaster project
management teams. International Journal of Project Management, 37(8), pp.979-988.
Obradović, V., Todorović, M. and Bushuyev, S., 2018, September. Sustainability and agility in project
management: contradictory or complementary?. In Conference on Computer Science and
Information Technologies (pp. 522-532). Springer, Cham.
Saltz, J., Hotz, N., Wild, D. and Stirling, K., 2018. Exploring project management methodologies used
within data science teams. In 24th Americas Conference on Information Systems 2018: Digital
Disruption, AMCIS 2018. Association for Information Systems.
Sanchez, F., Micaelli, J.P., Bonjour, E. and Monticolo, D., 2019. A Step for Improving the Transition
Between Traditional Project Management to Agile Project Management Using a Project
Management Maturity Model. The Journal of Modern Project Management, 7(1).
Zwikael, O. and Smyrk, J.R., 2019. Project management: A benefit realisation approach. Springer.