University Project Management: PPMP20008 Assignment 3 - Lessons Learnt

This assignment, for the PPMP20008 course, focuses on reflecting upon project management experiences and identifying key lessons learned. The student utilized a double-loop learning framework to analyze situations involving communication gaps, conflict, and multiple tasks. For each lesson, the ...Read More

PMMP 20008 – Initiating and Planning Projects Assignment 3
PPMP20008
2019 TERM 2 ASS_3
LESSONS LEARNT
Name: Insert full name
Student Number Insert student number
Campus: Insert campus or distance
Tutor: Insert tutor name
Tutorial number: Insert tutorial number
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PMMP 20008 – Initiating and Planning Projects Assignment 3
1. INTRODUCTION
Reflective practice is the art of learning through various self-experiences and self-analysis to
ensure continuous learning over the course of life (Kotnour, 2000). The various lessons learnt
in process is to gain insights through reflection over the project completion and apply these
lessons in future projects. This assignment entails reflection on key lessons like conflict,
multiple tasks, etc.in project, strategies to improve the existing situations and through
implementation of strategy. (Thamhain, 2004)
2 LESSONS LEARNT: FRAMEWORK
2.1 Lessons learnt framework explained
One of the most widely used lessons learnt framework is double loop learning. The double
loop learning process is a powerful framework as it operates at both project level and
organization level (Schindler & Eppler, 2003)
Given that the fact that capturing lessons learnt is critical in every project, double loop learning
framework captures the major lessons learnt and the situation, value or parameters against
which the lesson was learnt during the course of the project. (Frank 2014) The framework
establishes the importance of the parameters under which a particular lesson was learnt as the
absence of the same can lead to poor decision making and failure of the lesson capturing
process.
2.2 Lessons learnt process: How I planned to gather, and document lessons learnt
STEPS WHEN WHO HOW
(i) Identify The lessons learnt
during the course of
the project will be
identified upon
successful project
completion
The lesson learnt
framework will be
developed by
engaging with the
various project team
members
I planned to identify
the major lessons by
reviewing the
strengthens, issues
faced, hurdles, etc.
during the course of
project
(ii) Document The documentation
will be kicked off
upon successful
identification of
lesson learnt, the
same shall be
documented
The lessons learnt
framework will be
documented by
communicating with
the project lead and
members
I intend to prepare a
10-pager report
capturing the
situations and lessons
(iii) Analyse After successful
documentation of the
lessons learnt, the
analysis of the
The document
analysis will be
undertaken by project
lead and team
In order to analyse
the document,
different situational
parameters analysis
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PMMP 20008 – Initiating and Planning Projects Assignment 3
lessons learnt will be
initiated
members will be performed
(iv) Store Upon successful
signing by project
team lead, the lessons
learnt document will
be stored
The project lead will
store the data.
The data will be
stores in both hard
and soft formats
(v) Retrieve When starting a new
project of similar
nature or similar
category, I would
retrieve the document
In order to retrieve
the data, I would
contact the project
lead
I will prefer
retrieving the
document in soft
copy format
2.3 Lessons learnt process: What actually happened?
STEPS WHEN WHO HOW
(i) Identify In reality, lessons
learnt from the
project was identified
months after project
completion
The lessons learnt
were identified along
with my project team
members
In order to identify
the lessons, various
project situations
were reviewed
(ii) Document The lessons learnt
was be documented
after successful
identification
The document was be
prepared along with
my project team
members
The document was be
prepared in a report
format covering all
details about the
project
(iii) Analyse After documentation
of all lessons learnt,
analysis was be
undertaken.
The analysis of
lessons learnt was be
undertaken by project
team and key
management
personnel
The analysis of
lessons learnt
document was done
through review of the
document along with
project
(iv) Store Upon successful
signing off the
document, the lesson
learnt document was
stored
The document was
stored by the Team
lead
The document was
stored in soft copy
format along with
hard copy
(v) Retrieve I plan to retrieve the
document when
pursuing new projects
In order to retrieve
this document, one
needs to contact Team
lead
The lesson learnt
document will be
retrieved only in the
soft Copy format
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PMMP 20008 – Initiating and Planning Projects Assignment 3
3. LESSONS
3.1 Defining lessons learnt (or learned)
Lessons learnt or lessons learned can be defines as the experiences gained through the course of
project. These lessons learn should be compiled properly and should be pro- actively applied in the
future projects. (Thamhain, 2004)
3.2 Lesson 1
3.2.1 What I learnt from reflecting on the situation
1. Situation 2. The situation made me
feel…
3. What I learnt from
reflecting on the situation
During this course, there were
multiple situations wherein
the communication gap was
evident leading to lack of
clear guidelines, timelines
and resources at disposal.
(Schindler & Eppler, 2003).
The whole situation really
disheartened me proper
communication is the key to
successful project completion
An important lesson learnt from
this situation it is critical to
establish clear communication
channels.
3.2.2 Improvement Strategy One
(a)
Improvement
strategy
(b)
Measurement
(c)
Achievable
(d)
Relevant
(e)
Timing
Improvement
strategy entails
establishment of
clear
communication
channels like
emails, meetings,
tele conferences
to improve
communication
between players
The strategy can
be verified by
confirming from
the team
members whether
they are clear
about project
guidelines
The said strategy
is easily
achievable as it
Strategy is
achievable
because ensures
project success at
minimum
investment.
(Kotnour, 2004)
The strategy is
relevant as it
establishes
proper flow of
critical
information
pertaining to
project, tasks,
etc.
The
improvement
strategy will be
effectively
implemented by
31st April, 2019
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PMMP 20008 – Initiating and Planning Projects Assignment 3
3.3 Lesson 2: Dealing with conflict
Project managers often deal with situations involving conflict, including with difficult stakeholders
and problematic staff. As a student completing PPMP20008, reflect on when you experienced some
kind of conflict.
3.3.1 What I learnt from reflecting on the situation (2.5 marks)
1. Situation (involving
conflict)
2. The situation made me
feel…
3. What I learnt from
reflecting on the situation
The different team members
had different perspective and
ideas on the project to be
submitted leading to conflict.
The situation made me
stressed as the team was
fighting among themselves
Conflict management is
quintessential for successful
project initiation.
3.3.2 Improvement Strategy Two: Dealing with conflict
(a)
Improvement
strategy
(b)
Measurement
(c)
Achievable
(d)
Relevant
(e)
Timing
Conflict
management can
be achieved by
increasing
collaboration
between team
members.
The same can be
measured through
the progress
made by the
team. (Wu, Liu,
Zhao & Zuo,
2017)
Collaboration
strategy is
achievable as it
involves team
members
rapport.
Collaboration
techniques will
expand team
members horizon
to accommodate
each other’s
thought process.
(Frank, 2014)
The same can be
achieved by 1st
June 2019
3.4 Lesson 3: Dealing with multiple tasks
In their demanding role, project managers deal with multiple tasks. Reflect upon your experience
as a student in PPMP20008 when you needed to deal with multiple tasks.
3.4.1 What I learnt from reflecting on the situation
1. Situation (involving
multiple tasks)
2. The situation made me
feel…
3. What I learnt from
reflecting on the situation
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PMMP 20008 – Initiating and Planning Projects Assignment 3
As the project team lead, I
had multiple tasks ranging
from completing my part,
compiling other’s part,
communicating with
stakeholders, etc.
The situation made me
stressed but happy at the same
time as I was learning a lot.
Multiple taking is efficient with
proper time management.
3.4.2 Improvement strategy three:
(a)
Improvement
strategy
(b)
Measurement
(c)
Achievable
(d)
Relevant
(e)
Timing
Efficient time
management
strategy is to be
adopted.
The strategy will
enable
completion of the
multiple tasks
within the
specified period.
The strategy
entails adopting
a disciplined
approach
towards work,
thus increasing
efficiency.
Time
management
strategy will help
to assess the task
at hand and
dedicate proper
time to it.
The same shall
be effective by
30th June 2019.
4.1 CONCLUSION
The key lessons learnt was effective communication, conflict management and time management.
These lessons will help me to communicate effectively, broaden my understanding and enable me
to multiple tasks. This will help me be a better team player in the future projects that I will be
undertaking.
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PMMP 20008 – Initiating and Planning Projects Assignment 3
4.2. REFERENCES
# REFERENCES
1. Kotnour, T. (2000). Organizational learning practices in the project management
environment. International Journal of Quality & Reliability
Management, 17(4/5), 393-406.
2. Schindler, M., & Eppler, M. J. (2003). Harvesting project knowledge: a review of
project learning methods and success factors. International journal of project
management, 21(3), 219-228.
3. Thamhain, H. J. (2004). Linkages of project environment to performance: lessons for
team leadership. International Journal of project management, 22(7), 533-544.
4. Frank Cervone, H. (2014). Effective communication for project success. OCLC
Systems and Services: International digital library perspectives, 30(2), 74-77.
5. Scott-Young, C., & Samson, D. (2008). Project success and project team management:
Evidence from capital projects in the process industries. Journal of Operations
Management, 26(6), 749-766.
6. Wu, G., Liu, C., Zhao, X., & Zuo, J. (2017). Investigating the relationship between
communication-conflict interaction and project success among construction
project teams. International Journal of Project Management, 35(8), 1466-1482.
7. De Dreu, C. K., Evers, A., Beersma, B., Kluwer, E. S., & Nauta, A. (2001). A theory‐
based measure of conflict management strategies in the workplace. Journal of
Organizational Behavior: The International Journal of Industrial,
Occupational and Organizational Psychology and Behavior, 22(6), 645-668.
8. Rahim, M. A. (2017). Managing conflict in organizations. Routledge.
9. González, V. M., & Mark, G. (2004, April). Constant, constant, multi-tasking
craziness: managing multiple working spheres. In Proceedings of the SIGCHI
conference on Human factors in computing systems (pp. 113-120). ACM.
10. Misra, R., & McKean, M. (2000). College students' academic stress and its relation to
their anxiety, time management, and leisure satisfaction. American journal of
Health studies, 16(1), 41.
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