Project Management: Methodologies, Techniques, and Leadership

This report is a reflective journal analyzing project management methodologies, techniques, and leadership styles. The student faced challenges with project scheduling, specifically using project management software to allocate time, resources, and create dependencies. They overcame this by consulting experts and attending training sessions, mastering the use of Gantt charts and critical path analysis. The report discusses the importance of project management software, the three types of time estimates, and the application of different leadership styles such as democratic, autocratic, bureaucratic, and free-rein, in various project contexts including capacity building, bridge construction, and software development. The student identifies their strengths in applying theoretical models and their weakness in mathematical computations. They also advocate for participative leadership to foster teamwork and innovation. The report concludes with references to supporting literature.

Running head: Reflective journal 1
PROJECT MANAGEMENT METHODOLOGIES, TECHNIQUES, AND LEADERSHIP
STYLES
Student name
Affiliation
Supervisor’s name
Date of submission

Running head: Reflective journal 2
Project manager is required to employ project related techniques and methodologies to ensure
objectives are achieved (Hedman, 2013). One area in project management that I found difficult
to understand is in the planning phase of the project life cycle which is project scheduling using
project management software’s. Project scheduling involves a process of scheduling project
activities by allocating time, resources and creating dependencies (Kendrick, 2013). It was
difficult to understand because it requires knowledge in calculating desired timings and
indicating activities dependencies. I was able to deal with it by making consultations with
experts in construction projects who practically explained how it is done and it’s utility in
projects scheduling. In addition I was able to attend three week project scheduling training on
how to use the project management software to create Gantt charts and critical path analysis.
After learning the skill it has improved my planning approaches in project scheduling for the
three project constraints (time, resources and scope). I am able to schedule project activities for
different types of projects without any difficulty. The acquired skill included application of the
software to allocate time, resources and team lists in project activities. In addition learning the
skill as enable me to understand the three types of time estimates (pessimistic, optimistic and
most likely times) which are used in project planning and scheduling (Burke, 2013). Future
managers need to embrace use of project management software’s for planning purposes in their
projects. It improves efficiency and reduces redundancies and overlapping’s resulting from poor
scheduling techniques. The main strength as a project manager is on application of theoretical
models and frameworks in planning while my weakness is on applying mathematical
computations in decision making. I can easily understand theories used in project planning as
part of my strength but unable to apply mathematical concepts in decisions.
There are different styles of leadership that can be applied in projects. Democratic or
participative style of leadership involves project team members are freely allowed to actively
make decisions (Bourne, 2015). Autocratic or dictatorship involves a leadership style where
project team members are not allowed to make decisions the decision is centralized in a person.
Bureaucratic leadership involves using rules and procedures to govern project activities and team
members. Free-rein is another leadership technique where project managers allow total freedom
to the employees to perform on their own. There are different categories of projects (sector, time,
nature) that will result to projects like bridge construction, capacity building projects; software

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development projects (Kendrick, 2013). For capacity building projects participative style of
leadership is appropriate because it allows sharing of information. In bridge construction project
autocratic leadership is suitable because it allows work to be executed as per the management
plan. For software development projects bureaucratic style of leadership is suitable for it allows
procedures and standards to be followed. As a project manager the use of participative leadership
would be suitable in ensuring project success. The leadership style is appropriate because it
allows team work, innovation and sharing of ideas in solving and making decisions.

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References
Bourne, L. (2015). Making projects work:effective stakeholder and communication management.
New Delhi: CRC press.
Burke, R. (2013). Project management: planning and control tecniques. New Jersey: Wiley
publishers.
Hedman, K. (2013). Project management professional exam study guide. Indianapolis: Wiley.
Kendrick, T. (2013). The project management tool kit: 100 tips and techniques for getting the job
done right. . AMACOM Div: American management Assn.