Post Mortem Analysis
There are many critical factors that are contributors to the success of a project. In my opinion, the most critical element to the success of the project is
COMMUNICATION.
In order for a project to start is a communication catalyst must take place. This can in the form of a key-off meeting which usually is the starting point. During this time the project manager, stakeholders, management, and project team receive pertinent information about the project. Key activities that take place during this time include:
- Overview of the project
- Project Plan
- Deliverables
- Work breakdown structure
- Communication Channels
These are just a view tops that will more than likely be covered during this initial phase of the project. This type of meeting/information is essential to the success of the project. Weekly or bi-weekly status meetings are usual for the project team because it helps to keep everyone abreast on the project details.
PLANNING
Planning is also another crucial element to project success. A thorough project plan needs to be developed. In my recent project, a minimal focus has been placed on work break down structures. We are usually provided with the task that we are assigned and the target due date. This is why planning needs to take place during the beginning of the project. This allows for everyone involved on the project to be accountable for key activities and milestones.
Communication, ahhh, the key to success in anything that we do. Effective Communication is even more prevalent. Your key activities are the outline to a successful project. I have never been a lead on a project, but reading your key activities gives me the groundwork to lead a project. As I read over the Sample Work breakdown structure today, I can understood why you included it as a key activity. Of course without Planning, there will never be a successful project, not without excessive cost.
ReplyDelete~Chuck~
Hi Brittany,
ReplyDeleteI agree with your assessment that communication is critical to the success of a project. Chuck made a good point as well that effective communication is even more important.
I would take it a step further and say that communication can only be effective in a project setting if it is two-way communication. In other words, project managers cannot merely create a Project Charter (or Statement of Work) and communicate the details to the team. Instead, deliverables, timelines, and milestones need to be decided upon by using a two-way, consultative approach. Each team member brings a unique perspective to the project and needs to be consulted before major decisions are made.
Ryan
Communication, communication, communication I agree most important in all that we do. Effective communication is key. We must be mindful that what we assume is effective communication may not be very effective. Close attention to communication means and resources will dictate the effectivenss of anything
ReplyDeleteI agree that planning is a crucial element. Portny, Mantel, Meredith, Shafer, Sutton, and Kramer (2008) warn against “jumping directly from the conceive phase to the perform phase” (p. 105). A project manager may think it will save time to skip the planning phase, but in the long run it is detrimental to the project’s success because no clear objectives have been defined. This is the type of situation that leads to conflicts further down the road, as different opinions about the desired outcomes are developed by different stakeholders. Portny et al (2008) further state that “any plan should be reviewed and approved in writing before beginning work on the project” (p. 79). The goal is to minimize risk by preventing future conflicts that could derail the project before completion.
ReplyDeleteI wondered at first how project management would relate to instructional design, but I see now that the two go hand-in-hand. Allen and Hardin (2008) assert that “project management does not replace the instructional design process” but instead provides “a well-reasoned framework of principles and activities that supports the instructional design process” (p. 77). This support is essential for success, particularly when the project involves multiple stakeholders and is large in scope.
References
Allen, S., & Hardin, P. C. (2008). Developing instructional technology products using effective project management practices. Journal of Computing in Higher Education, 19(2), 72–97.
Portny, S. E., Mantel, S. J., Meredith, J. R., Shafer, S. M., Sutton M. M., & Kramer, B. E. (2008). Project management: Planning, scheduling, and controlling projects. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.