Blog Assignment: Communicating Effectively

This week’s resources state that effective communication among all project team members is essential for a project’s success.  "The Art of Effective Communication" illustrated this week shows how you communicate with different stakeholders is of equal importance to what you communicate and can influence how your message is interpreted.  There were three different modalities: written text, audio, and video.

How did your interpretation of the message change from one modality to the next?

My interpretation of the message to Mark, from Jane after reading, listening and viewing it changed each time.  Reading it gave me a sense of “annoyed.”  Jane is not happy about Mark not completing the report which contains data she needs for her report and she could miss her own deadline.  Listening to the same email message gave me a sense of “frustration.”  And viewing the email gave me a sense of “come on Mark, get this report done because I need data from it.”   

What factors influenced how you perceived the message?

Factors that influenced how I perceived the message are sight and hearing.  By seeing the message and hearing the messages, I was able to decide on Jane’s tone in each modality.  I was able to also get a sense of her mood, and attitude.  I was able to perceive Jane’s tone similarly in each.   

Which form of communication best conveyed the true meaning and intent of the message?

The form of communication that best conveyed the true meaning and intent of the message would be the video.  By seeing and hearing and watching Jane’s facial expressions and her tone in her voice relaying the message convinced me that she really needs the completed report from Mark for the data for her report in order for her to meet her deadline.  I also thought the audio message was convincing since Jane’s tone in her voice seemed stressed and desperate for Mark to complete his report for the data in her report.  

What are the implications of what you learned from this exercise for communicating effectively with members of a project team?

The implications of what I learned from this exercise for communicating effectively with members of a project team are that tone, attitude, visuals make a big difference when trying to get a point across and a job done.  There needs to be open communication.

 

Reference:

Laureate Education, Inc.  (Producer).  (n.d.): "The Art of Effective Communication".  [Multimedia].  Retrieved from http://mym.cdn.laureate-media.com/2dett4d/Walden/EDUC/6145/03/mm/aoc/index.html

Blog Assignment: Learning from a Project "Post-mortem"

What processes, project artifacts, or activities did you include in the project that contributed to its success?  What processes, project artifacts, or activities did you not include in the project that might have made the project more successful?  This was a tough one for me since I have not worked in 16 years.  I really cannot remember any “post-mortem” project s I was working on before I stopped working.  I do know that projects require organizing, planning, budgeting, scheduling, resources, team members, communication, progress documentation and final evaluation.  According to our textbook, Project Management: Planning, scheduling, and controlling projects, “a project is a temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product or service.  It is specific, timely, usually multidisciplinary, and always conflict ridden.  Projects also vary greatly.”  (Portny, Mantel, Meredith, Shafer, Sutton, & Kramer.  2008.  P. 2)    

There are many aspects of a project:

• “Projects may be large or small.
• Projects may involve many persons or just one.
• Projects may be planned formally or informally.
• Projects may be tracked formally or informally.
• Projects may be performed for external or internal clients and customers.
• Projects may be defined by a legal contract or an informal agreement.”  (Portny, Mantel, Meredith, Shafer, Sutton, & Kramer.  2008.  P.  2-3)

“Project management is the process of guiding a project from its beginning through its performance to its closure.”  (Portny, Mantel, Meredith, Shafer, Sutton, & Kramer.  2008.  P.  3)  Part of the project management process is planning, organizing and controlling.  In order for a project to be successful; outcome, schedule, and resources are essential.

In order for a project to be defined, project managers need to know the background, scope, and strategy of the project.  Project managers should have strategies and objectives laid out.  A project strategy is “the general approach project mangers plan to take to perform the work necessary to achieve a project’s outcome.”  (Portny, Mantel, Meredith, Shafer, Sutton, & Kramer.  2008.  P.  34)  A project objective is “results to be achieved through the performance of a project.”  (Portny, Mantel, Meredith, Shafer, Sutton, & Kramer.  2008.  P.  34)  Project objectives include a statement, measures, and performance targets. 

In addition to strategies and objectives, a project requires a Statement of Work (SOW).  A SOW is a “written confirmation of what a project will produce and the terms and conditions under which the project team will perform the work.”  (Portny, Mantel, Meredith, Shafer, Sutton, & Kramer.  2008.  P.  42)  Also, a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) is equally as important.  A WBS is “an organized, detailed, and hierarchical representation of all work to be performed in a project.”  (Portny, Mantel, Meredith, Shafer, Sutton, & Kramer.  2008.  P.  86)

All key elements need to be incorporated in a project in order for its success.  No one wants a project to fail.  There are a lot of people involved in a project and all must work together.  Keeping the lines of communication open are also key. 

 

Reference:

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