MNG00785: Project Management Self-Reflection Report

This report presents a student's self-reflection on a project management assignment involving the renovation of a beachside cottage. The report details the project's initiation, planning, and execution phases, including the development of a communication plan to engage stakeholders and a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) to divide the project into manageable tasks. It explores the use of RACI charts for assigning responsibilities, project scheduling using AoN and Gantt charts, time estimation techniques, and critical path analysis. The report also covers resource and budget management, project reporting using Earned Value Management (EVM), and risk management strategies. The student reflects on the challenges faced, the strategies employed, and the lessons learned throughout the project, concluding with a discussion of project closure and the key skills that contributed to its successful completion within the allocated timeframe and budget. The report highlights the importance of effective communication, time management, teamwork, and proactive risk mitigation in achieving project goals. The assignment also includes a reflection on the use of various project management tools and techniques.

Running Head: Project Management
SELF REFLECTION
Name of the student:
Student ID:

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Project Management
Table of contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................2
Discussion....................................................................................................................................2
Communication plan....................................................................................................................2
RACI............................................................................................................................................3
Project Schedule..........................................................................................................................3
Time Estimation...........................................................................................................................3
Critical Path.................................................................................................................................4
Gantt chart...................................................................................................................................4
Resources and Budgeting............................................................................................................4
Reporting.....................................................................................................................................4
Risk Management........................................................................................................................5
Project Closure and conclusion.......................................................................................................5

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Introduction
The management of the activities of initiation of project works, planning the tasks,
controlling budget and timeline in order to get a project accomplished on time within the
allocated resources is called project management. Our team and I were asked to conduct and
manage the project of renovation of the beachside cottage. This report portrays my reflection on
the project of the beachside cottage. The budget was fixed and we had to accomplish the project
within two weeks from 1st June. This reflective essay includes the communication plan that I had
developed to address all the stakeholders. The Work Breakdown structures, Project schedules,
Critical paths, timelines, project-reporting tools used in the project are included in the study. I
had drawn reflection the activities of project closure in this essay.
Discussion
Communication plan
Effective Communication is a significant tool to engage the stakeholders and exchange
information within the people related to the team. I had identified the stakeholders, developed the
effective strategies to communicate with the stakeholders, and placed the stakeholders in the
Stakeholder’s priority matrix in accordance with their precedence in the project. The owner,
Contractor, both the apprentices were identified as the project stakeholder. My team had
effective communication skills, listening skills, and clear in terms of conversations. These key
attributes made easy to conduct meetings, face-to-face discussions with the members. In the
meetings, the project plans were developed, documentations were performed, strategies were
created. I face a little difficulty in communicating with apprentice II, as he was unable to
understand facts from the symbols and statistics or charts, where as he acquired good
communication skills. The communication included the mediums of emails, meetings and
discussion. Communication brings team collaboration, which immensely helped me to make the
project successful.
WBS

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Teamwork goes successful when the teams members equally divide there works and
accomplish each task with efficiency (KLOPPENBORG, ANANTATMULA, & WELLS,
2019).I divided the whole project in 5 broken down tasks, the tasks included with numerous
activities. My team members acquired the skill of collaboration and cooperation. The Work
Break Down Structure (WBS) tools helped me to carry out each work separately within the
allocated time. The WBS tool contained the broken down tasks in a sequence, my team members
followed the strict deadlines and performed the activities allocated to them. I had experienced the
ease to have account of the tasks without any miss. The team members cooperated with me and
performed in accordance with the provided instruction.
RACI
I had had trouble to prepare the RACI chart as I needed to analyze the capabilities of
individual team members. I allocated both the apprentices with same work. My experience says
this would be better and time saving if I would have divided the tasks within the apprentices. I
developed the RACI chart after breaking down the activities. The RACI chart helped me to have
an idea that task is allocated to whom, and who is to be charged for which activity. I had
experienced easiness to smoothly control the team and check the staffing levels.
Project Schedule
Project schedule helped me to record the project’s objectives, milestones, and
deliverables with the timelines. This tool helped me to arrange the tasks in accordance to the
timeline. I developed the project schedule with the help of AoN and Gantt chart. The team
members cooperated to finish the tasks on time. I had learnt that the team members need to be
active, hard working and be able to perform the tasks with smart strategies. The Aon Chart was
used to connect the tasks related to each other with graphical representation. The apprentice II
was unable to chalk out the tasks from the chart, the apprentices I cooperated him to understand
what activities are to be done in which sequence.
Time Estimation
I managed the tasks to complete within two weeks with the help of the time estimation
table. I recorder the broken down activities, calculated the maximum time of each activities and

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adjusted the times to finish the project within the allocated time. In order to complete the tasks
on time, I compromised with the timing of repairing the wooden floor. I understood that timeline
is not adequate to finish project, this is also important to have the skill of time management. Both
the apprentices applied their time management skills and managed to repair the wooden floor
within 3 hours. The attribute of time management had a great contribution to complete the
project on time.
Critical Path
This tool helped me to maintain the sequence of works. I had recorded all the activities
from initiation to closure in the CPM.
Gantt chart
This tool represents the project tasks in accordance with the timelines through graphical
representation. I experienced that the tasks become easy to complete within timeline with the
help of Gantt charts. This tool is time saving enough to assess the tasks accordingly with the
timelines.
Resources and Budgeting
Adequate resources and controlled budgeting is immensely required to conduct a project
with maintaining quality. I had identified the required resources and then allocated each of the
resources in appropriate tasks. The budget was limited; I had to divide the amount of capital for
individual broken down tasks. I adjusted and tried to spend minimum amount of money in the
meetings, and approval of plan as I had to spend more to purchase high quality of materials of
construction. My team members performed their tasks on time and wasted very few materials.
This assisted me to control the project cost.
Reporting
I used EVM to record and report the status of the project to the clients and the
stakeholders. I had experienced from the project that regular assessment and monitoring of
project is very essential to keep the idea of the project tasks.

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Risk Management
I strategized to identify the probable project risks and planned how to face the risk
factors. This empowered me to have control on the project activities and tackle the tasks as well
as the risks. I had identified the risks of loan sanction and procurement phase. My effective
strategies and cooperation of stakeholders guided me to deal with the challenges.
Project Closure and conclusion
With the aim to maintain the quality of the project deliverable, I strategized to purchase
the materials of superior quality and preserve the quality of work. My team members showed
proficiency in performing tasks and completing the work on time. As the performance quality
were standard, the outcome was also satisfactory. I had developed the strategy to conduct the
parallel works to precede the project faster. My team members were supportive enough; they
supported my decision to work hard for the project. After the completion of the project, I closed
the project clearing the payments and hand0overed it to the owner. The skills of time
management, communication, listening, hard work, and collaboration helped me to accomplish
the project.

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References
KLOPPENBORG, T. J., ANANTATMULA, V., WELLS, K. N., 2019. Contemporary project
management: organize, plan, perform. Australia, South-Western Cengage Learning.