Overview

Over the course of the Workplace Project Management module series, you learned that in order to efficiently manage a project, you must employ several skills, including teamwork, leadership, planning, goal setting, problem solving, flexibility, and critical thinking.

Project management theory provides us with a toolkit that we can use to navigate projects at any scale and in any context. It is up to each of us to learn about the context of our organizations and the best approaches to tackling our projects.

Let's recap each lesson:

Teamwork and Leadership
Goal Setting and Planning
Flexibility, Problem Solving, and Critical Thinking

Teamwork and Leadership

In the lesson on Teamwork and Leadership, we explored project team roles (stakeholders) and examined the five phases of team development.

We discussed the team charter - the project management document that outlines the way a team works together.

When exploring leadership, we considered the difference between managers and leaders, then proposed that effective project managers should have both technical skills in management and demonstrate leadership qualities. We learned that leaders should understand how their teams are motivated and demotivated. Leaders hold power, but not all power is the same; we considered types of power and how they can impact a team differently.

We noted that leaders should effectively manage conflict in ways that are contextually appropriate. We investigated leadership styles (both your own and those of others you have observed) and encouraged you to reflect on your own leadership tendencies and the impacts of leadership on a team.

Goal Setting and Planning

In the lesson on Goal Setting and Planning, we recognized that, on average, people do not spend enough time on planning processes.

There are many activities within the planning phase that are essential to a project - starting with the project charter and the process of collecting requirements and determining your project's scope. To avoid potential pitfalls and to understand your project's "destination", you must define clear objectives and success measures and know your "definition of done"; one way to do this is by determining your key performance indicators (KPIs).

Once you have your goals, do not underestimate the value of communicating these goals clearly to relevant stakeholders.

A clear understanding of your resources and the way that the triple constraints (time, scope, and cost - along with quality) impact your project will help you to create a detailed plan, and to schedule your project using tools such as Gantt charts.

The use of time management tools and techniques will ensure that you can track progress and maximize your time, and manage project tasks effectively. Prioritization will give you the power to make tough decisions when it comes to your project. Decomposing activities by developing a work breakdown structure will help you identify specific details and needs for your project, which will provide a strong foundation for estimating time, cost, and quality, as well as managing your resources wisely.

Flexibility, Problem Solving, and Critical Thinking

In the lesson on Flexibility, Problem Solving, and Critical Thinking, we acknowledged that these allied skills are necessary for keeping projects on track.

You will find that flexibility is especially pertinent to the monitoring and controlling phase of a project, demonstrated by "living" project management documents such as the Requirement Traceability Matrix (RTM). Living documents are regularly reviewed and updated. Change will occur and so we should engage in processes that allow us to anticipate and welcome it; you can do this by creating a change management plan.

Sometimes circumstances may arise that alter the direction of your project in positive ways (opportunities) and in negative ways; these are "risks". You should anticipate as many risks as possible by monitoring your project closely, and plan for these risks according to their level of impact and likelihood of occurrence.

Problem solving is a process and, with practice, you can navigate the steps to solving a problem quickly and effectively. This involves defining the problem, discovering its root causes, developing ideas for a solution, selecting the most appropriate response, and putting the solution into action.

Sometimes, you will get "stuck". If this is the case, be sure to examine your situation before asking for help. In your request for help, be specific and provide context. Much like this, you should be thinking critically about your project; reflection is the key to learning and growth.

Reflection

What are your key takeaways from the Workplace Project Management module series? How do you think the concepts that you have learned and the skills that you have developed in these lessons might be connected to your future work terms?

Are there any points of confusion? Are there any questions you have regarding any of the content covered in these modules? If so, feel free to contact your instructors.