Professional Practice: Week 10 Portfolio Tasks, Reflection, and PDP

This assignment, completed for a Professional Practice course, encompasses several key tasks centered around leadership and professional development. The first task involves summarizing the key reasons for IT project failures, highlighting cost overruns and poor planning. The second task requires a reflective commentary on a session, focusing on the most interesting aspects, such as case study analysis, and identifying areas for improvement, particularly in drawing conclusions and suggesting solutions. The final task involves a personal development plan (PDP), where the student identifies development needs related to case study analysis and problem-solving skills. The PDP includes steps for skill development, such as self-auditing, strategy formulation, and practical application of the learned concepts. The student aims to enhance these skills to improve their ability to manage and contribute effectively in a professional setting. The assignment also includes references to support the student's analysis and self-assessment.

Professional Practice Week 10 Portfolio Tasks
Task 1
Read the article Why Big IT Projects Crash (in the Portfolio Tasks folder) and summarise the
key reasons for failure.
Remember to summarise the text using your own words. Focus only on key reasons.
You should write approximately 120 words
One of the most salient reason found was, that the IT projects were crossing forecast costs
and were generating more costs which has been the most horrendous reason of their failures.
Further, it was found that from so long, IT projects tried a lot yet did not make any
improvement despite spending much. It has been seen that there are some mistakes form the
side of planner, they are overestimating IT projects benefits and underestimating IT projects
cost, which is hindering their way (Mukingambeho, et al. 2019)
Some specialists found that the sector is carrying wast uncertainty which is affecting its
performance. As the study carried out by Nicholas Nassim Talem, said that these projects are
generating over three times cost as estimated cost.
Task 2: Reflective Commentary (300-500 words)
Answer the following questions on this week’s sessions. You may choose to answer the
questions one at a time or write in paragraphs.
Which aspect of today’s session did I find most interesting? Why?
I found the most interesting part of the session was reading case study and drowning
conclusions. It has offered me a wide window to use my ability of tracing the areas with
errors in order to go for problem solving. It has been the most charming thing I learnt since it
made soft fissures and developed my interest in the task.
One thing I learnt
The best part I learnt was ability of reading a case. It can be sited as an art to read the case
and then pointing out some fruitful things. It made my competence higher. It has been always
a tough nut for me to crack, but the session made it handy for my and augmented my
confidence with regard to case studies.
I’m not sure about...
I am not sure about a few things such as how to make better conclusions. It depends on the
individuality factor to a longer extend so there is need to perceive it. At the same time the
another area I found the most challenging was suggesting solutions for the problems figured
out by case study.
I might have learnt more if ....

Professional Practice Week 10 Portfolio Tasks
If I had better understanding of reading comprehensions then might have learnt better. Case
study and then problem solving are the tasks which needs deeper understanding of
comprehensions related skills, what I did not have stronger. I found that this shortcoming not
only hindered my way to perform on merit but also affected confidence level. So it can be
concluded that the presence of better comprehensions reading skills might have made me
learnt more.
Things I want to do now...
I want to strengthen my skills with respect to articulate the ideas in more intensive way by
reading cases. Developing personal ability of case study and problem solving is essential and
now I am striving to develop these realms. With this regard I want to take some instant
actions to incentivize my skills and shaping up better career.
3. Personal Development Plan
Think about the results of the questionnaire you did and the information from today’s lesson.
What have you learnt about yourself and your skills? Are you satisfied with your results? Is
this an area that could be improved? If so, consider making this topic one of your
Development Episodes.
Complete the PDP below by answering the questions fully with specific details. Remember
that it is normal for your ideas and PDP to change as the course continues and your priorities
alter.
STEP 1: Identify Your Development Needs
A. Why are you seeking development at this time?
I think, now this is right time to enhance my skills with respect to case study and drowning
conclusions. Ability of problem identification and solving is the skill which is quite essential
at this time. A better career can not be expected with such types of lacunas (Martinez, 2022)
B. What are you seeking to develop at this time?
I am seeking to develop my skills with respect to case study and sorting out the pointed out
problems. The problem solving approach is needed to be improved at this point of time.
C. Emphasis: What do you need? What is your specific goal?
I need to improve my ability of deciphering cases and then reaching to irrefutable
conclusions. My overall goal is to enhance this calibre in myself so can inculcate it on my
workplace.
STEP 2: Identify Your Development Options
D. What steps could you take to develop the new knowledge, skills and behaviours?
E.g. read more about the topic? Watch some videos about the topic? Practise the skill

Professional Practice Week 10 Portfolio Tasks
every day for 30 minutes? Organise the way you learn?
Think about your own learning preferences and adapt the task to suit.
I will be taking these steps to develop my skills of case study and problem solving-
 Firstly will carry out a personal audit.
 On the basis of audit will figure out strengths and weaknesses.
 Then would trace opportunities and threats.
 Fabrication of strategy for self development.
 Application of the strategy.
 Overlooking the progress.
 Taking remedial actions.
I will be solving more case studies in order to strengthen my skills. Every day will give it
around 1 hour. I prefer writing so will make some notes which is my learning preference.
E. Considerations arising from ‘why’, ‘what’ and ‘how’
Speed: How quickly do you need to develop the knowledge, skills or behaviours identified?
I need to improve this ability to be a good manager. So there is requirement to hike this skill
of reading cases then solving problems.
I am supposed to improve my case study and then problem solving ability (Thu, 2020)
For this purpose I would be fabricating a strategy for 2 months and then will work on that.
F: Identify Your Development Options
There are number of options such as-
By practising the tasks every day can get developed.
Visualization of the problem can be practised. It offers a wide window to development.
Researching skills are another area of development.
STEP 3: Plan for Development Activities
G. Write down the steps you will take to accomplish your task.
For enhancing ability of case study and problem solving these steps would be taken-

Professional Practice Week 10 Portfolio Tasks
 Fabricating strategy which is self efforts based.
 Then will be arranging resources.
 Application of the plan.
 Reviewing the progress of case study reading skills.
 Making changes if there are deviations.
What could go wrong with your plan?
There may be some perils due to time constraints. The plan is formulated to ace the needed
aim but limited time frame may take it to negative direction. This skill is quite sensitive and
needs sufficient time in order to accomplish bigger and better so it could go wrong.
What will you do if your original plan does not work well?
Then will be going with plan B. the new plan would be structured on the basis of the previous
plan. Some changes as per requirement are to be inculcated to the original plan then will
enforce it.
Think of an alternative way to achieve your goal.
If the self efforts based strategy does not work then will be taking expert advise for
enhancement and achievement of the plan.
STEP 4: Undertake Development Activities
H. List your development activities completed throughout the semester
Throughout the semester a range of activities were learnt such as- deciphering case studies,
encoding salient aspects, making deep research, doing brain storming, drowning conclusions,
then taking actions to cope up with problems.
STEP 5: Apply new knowledge/ skills/ behaviours in the workplace
How do you intend to use this new knowledge/ skills/ behaviour in the workplace?
The ability of problem solving would be helpful to be a good manger. In the workplace, this
skill can be used to eradicate potential trouble makers and providing soft way to the
organization in order to make it thrive.
STEP 6: Review and Repeat
Reflect on how this new knowledge/ skill / behaviour helped in your professional
development

Professional Practice Week 10 Portfolio Tasks
I have used this new skill on my workplace. It enabled me to deal with the day to day
problems the organization was facing. Being a manager my possessed position was entitled
me to suggest better alternatives so this skill helped me there.
Being in professional realm a professional person is supposed to have these skills to sort out
cases and suggesting better ideas for problem solving.

Professional Practice Week 10 Portfolio Tasks
References-
Mukingambeho, D., et al. 2019. Levels of Study Skills Among Undergraduate Students in
Rwanda: The Case for the National Police College. Interchange. 50(2). pp.221-
247.
Martinez, C., 2022. Developing 21st century teaching skills: A case study of teaching and
learning through project-based curriculum. Cogent Education. 9(1). p.2024936.
Thu, N., 2020. Communication skills and reflection practice in smart english teaching and
learning environment: a case study. International Journal of Emerging
Technologies in Learning (iJET). 15(17). pp.221-237.