Lessons Learnt Report for PPMP20008 - Semester 1, 2019

This report presents a student's reflection on the PPMP20008 project management course, focusing on lessons learned throughout the semester. The student employed a 'Lessons Learnt Framework' to document experiences, feelings, and improvement strategies. Two key lessons are highlighted: the importance of systematic time management to avoid last-minute rushes, and the necessity of a comprehensive risk management plan from the project's outset. For each lesson, the report outlines specific improvement strategies, including documentation of project activities and cross-checking requirements with a project manager. The report concludes by emphasizing the value of these learnings for future project management endeavors, equipping the student with enhanced managerial skills. References include academic sources on project management and risk management.

1. INTRODUCTION
The initiation stage is the first phase of the project management life cycle. The
process entails setting up a new project, which commence by defining a new project
objectives, its purpose, scope as well as deliverables that are to be achieved. During this
stage, the project hires the project team, reviewing the project team and setting up the
project office in order to get approval to progress to the next phase of the project. Indeed,
the initiation phase is the most critical stage in the project life cycle because it is the stage
that defines the project scope and other factors. Accordingly, initiation is the most
essential stage toward delivering a high-end project in an effective way (Kerzner, H., &
Kerzner, H. R. 2017). It is during the project initiation where a project is approved and
acknowledgement made to the business case with regard to whether the requirements
align with the project goals. The next step is governance and planning that sets the project
into motion. The initiation stage consists of several steps such as defining project goals,
scope and other project details. In the context of this project course PPMP20008, I
planned to document every learning that I came through from the beginning of the
semester until the end. I made the decision to document all the practices similar to how a
project is undertaken so that in case I come across a similar project in future I could use
the documentation as a guide (Harris, Roussel, Dearman, & Thomas, 2018). The “Lesson
learnt framework” is a documentation of the situation that I experienced while developing
PPMP20008 project, my feeling after encountering various situations and the
improvement strategy that I will apply to avoid the situation I went through.
2. LESSONS LEARNT: FRAMEWORK
2.1 How I planned to gather and document lessons learnt
When
I planned to identify and
Who
I planned to involve in the
How
I planned to document

collect lessons learnt process of gathering lessons lessons
I planned to identify and
gather lessons learnt by
writing down all the
activities that I went through
in the project.
I planned to involve a friend
who we were taking the
same course.
I planned to document the
lessons learned in my
PPMP2008 project
notebook.
2.2 What actually happened?
When
I identified and collected
lessons learnt
Who
I involved in the process of
gathering lessons
How
I documented lessons
I decided to identify and
collect the lessons learned
by the completion of the
course as it is the
appropriate time to analyse
all the issues that one has
experienced (Sharp, Peters,
& Howard, 2017).
I involved a friend we were
taking the same course so
that in case I had forgotten
any issue that we came
across they would remind
me and help in analysing the
issues.
I documented the lessons
learnt towards the end of the
course at around week 12.
3. LESSONS
3.1 Lesson 1
1. Situation 2. The situation made me
feel
3. What I learnt from
reflecting on the situation
In the course of the semester I
has an experience of writing a
project . As a result, I had to
research and look for
information using different
academic resources such as
journals, articles and
academic books. I had to
research and write much
information and references
The situation made me feel
depressed and confused
because time was not on my
side and I was to submit my
project report.
I learned that when conducting
any task one should do it
systematically not to wait till the
last minute to avoid last minute
rush confusion.
Instead, one should plan early
enough and complete one task
before moving to the next task
so that in the end the whole
project will be completed.

about the relevant data to the
project. In the process I was
left with less time
approximately three days to
the assignment deadline. I had
to strive analysing data that I
had written. In the process I
faced a lot of confusion
regarding the right data that I
was to use for my project
assignment.
3.1.1 IMPROVEMENT STRATEGY 1
(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
The
improvement
strategy is to
document each
project activity
lessons learned
during when
learning the
course to avoid
last minute rush.
I would measure
the strategy by
documented the
date I learnt each
lesson during the
project progress.
The strategy is
achievable
because it is
systematic
hence easy to
follow the
progress of the
project.
The relevance
of this strategy
is that it save
on time during
the time of
compiling the
whole reports.
The strategy
can be
implemented at
the start of the
project that is
during the first
week of the
course until the
last week.
3.2 Lesson 2
1. Situation 2. The situation made me
feel
3. What I learnt from
reflecting on the situation
After starting, the project I
realised that I had no risk
management plan in place to
help in identifying risks likely
to affects the smooth running
I was really discouraged and
felt like giving up
I learnt that it is significant to
check and ascertain that the
project has met all the
requirements before
commencing any activity. This

of the project (Chapman,
2016).
help to avoid experiencing
inconveniences in the course of
the project like the one I faced
for not having a risk
management plan.
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
Before kicking
off a project I
will always
check to ensure
that all the
retirements have
been addressed
in detail to avoid
missing out any
requirement
(Kerzner H., &
Kerzner, H. R.
2017).
To measure if
the strategy
work I involve a
project manager
to cross-check
my project
requirements to
confirm I have
all the needed
requirements in
place.
The strategy is
achievable
because it is
easier to find a
project manager
to help in
confirming the
project
requirements.
This strategy is
relevant to
addressing my
lessons
because it will
help me to plan
for each
project activity
before starting
the project.
This strategy
will be
implemented
during the
initiation stage
in the first week
of the course.
CONCLUSION
The above report documentation is the learnings that I collected during my developing
of project PPMP20008. Indeed, this learning will play a major role in my future management
of project. The situation that I experienced has equipped me with better managerial skills for
managing any type of project in future (Meredith, Mantel Jr, & Shafer, 2017).

References
Chapman, R. J. (2016). The rules of project risk management: Implementation guidelines for
major projects. London: Routledge.
Harris, J. L., Roussel, L. A., Dearman, C., & Thomas, T. (2018). Project planning and
management. Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Kerzner, H., & Kerzner, H. R. (2017). Project management: a systems approach to planning,
scheduling, and controlling. John Wiley & Sons.
Lock, D. (2018). The essentials of project management. London: Routledge.
Meredith, J. R., Mantel Jr, S. J., & Shafer, S. M. (2017). Project management: a managerial
approach. John Wiley & Sons.
Sharp, J. A., Peters, J., & Howard, K. (2017). The management of a student research project.
London: Routledge.