Time Management: Aspects of Project Management - Case Study Example

Executive summary Project management within any organization is the soul for productivity and expansion of the organizational objectives. Project management usually comprises of planning, implementing, organizing and executing of organizational goals through the selected managers to lead the company’s objectives. Within the organization there is the need to develop team work, organizational norms, time managing procedures, come u with effective and efficient strategies and finally motivate the employees working towards achieving the goal. More so, there are instances that slow down the process of project management and thus it is the requirement of every project manager to monitor and try to make things work in accordance. It is also critical to find solutions to the problems that may affect the growth and expansion of the organization What were the issues you found out in each case/simulation/exercise? The issues I found out in the case about Terry Tate are about time management, motivation, team work, problem solving and communication. In this aspect, members of the organization lack the motivation power in the sense none of the individual works in accordance to company expectations. Time management is not used appropriately by the members since they lack manager’s consent to the fact that the C.E.O of the company realizes and brings in Terry to monitor the employees performance. Team work is the other aspect that is lacking within the members. This is shown through how services are done, none of the members is responsible for the other and no one is available for solving the company’s problems through trying to achieve company’s goals and objectives. Communication is also an aspect whereby members do not try to enlighten the other on the aspects that will provide effective and efficient services to making the company productive (Shenhar and Nofziner, 2004). In the case about the lessons for accident profession issues of conflict, strategic management and failure have been highlighted. It is through having great strategic management that the organization moves ahead. By having experienced, skilled and managers adds up to having strategic management in the organization. It is thus critical to develop strategic management among the project management for this assist them in understanding organization goals and objective that will provide efficient and effective services to the organization. The manager further requires developing the use of new organizational strategies and abandoned the use of old models of bureaucratic hierarchies. Failure is the other aspect that the project managers should try to understand and learn through it since this is the stepping stone to development and it helps the organization move to a greater level of satisfaction. The managers should understand that it is through failure that they opens up their minds and thus gets opportunities which reflects where they might have failed in the past and thus try to take appropriate measures to correct these mistakes. It is through this failure that the project manager understands to shun from unfruitful management practices that might have caused failure in the past since through failures their present strength is for implementing the projects. In the case of case three about Young, it is important as a project to avoid mismanaging work relationship and thus share the crucial problems that the organization is encountering. Through avoiding such case this will help the manager in avoiding minor mistakes that might bring problems in the organization. It is also important for the manager to be an open-minded and have find out ways of implementing things rather than deleting crucial files aimed at asserting company goals. Norms in the organization are also very vital in the sense that, this motivates them since they would be aware that it is normal making mistake but also very worse if one never said the mistake done. Culture issues is the other aspect in the sense that if the members of the organization are not working towards the same goal then prior to culture of the organization the goals will not be achieved. What were the most valuable lessons you have learned? The lessons I learned in project management are of time management, culture, norms, motivation, communication, teamwork and problem solving. The case first case about Terry teaches of being time conscious in order to achieve the company objectives. It is thus appropriate for every individual in the organization to manage time for effective and efficient production of company goals. Leadership quality in Terry is also a vital aspect since through the introduction of Terry into the organization there was increase in productivity and profitability that led into high profits of about 47%. Also, team work is a vital thing in any organization. Going by the case of Terry team work that was brought in by Terry helped the company achieve highly through the motivation that he introduced to the staff (Larson and King, 2001). Culture and norms are the other aspects that make the organization grow like in the case about Young. Here we understand that through having effective norms in the organization it helps project managers to avoid mistakes that may lead to failure of executing organizational objectives. However, communication helps in solving out problems since it acts as an intermediary to understanding the problems and issues that are affecting the organization. Nonetheless, members of the organization gets aware of the problems and further try to solve without involving their sponsors and directors. Problem solving is the other thing that I have learnt in the case about the lessons for an accident profession. This aspect have helped me understand that if members of the organization through the project manager assists in creating a smooth working environment that is fit for all the employees within any organization. Can you apply what you have learned to your studies, or to any other aspect of your life (past, present or future)/ How? Time is the currency used to buy prosperity and according to the case one we can see that being able to use time properly and as team will lead to high productivity which will increase the team morale and company profitability. Having a clear culture help in creativity meaning that the employee and management can make mistakes but instead of being victimized they are encouraged to learn from their mistake and that help them to be problem solver than waiting the management to come with solution and that enable freedom which in turn will enhance innovation in the way things are done in the company or organization (Larson and King, 2001). Motivation is said to be the fuel that drives productivity of an employee because research has shown or proven a motivated employee will in many case have high productivity compared to the employee with low morale so to me motivation should be a valuable way to boost productivity in personal life or even on company financial bottom line (Minas, 2000). What factors would prevent you from applying what you have learned? The factors that will prevent me from applying what I have learnt will be lack of culture, lack of communication channel, lack of team work and leadership styles. Through lack of culture, this will create or stifle productivity in my personal life since by having good culture in my work place will benefit me together with my fellow colleagues achieve organizational objectives. However, lack of communication channel within the organization creates a gap which may render the services lack meaning and avoid flowing more efficiently. Communication mostly involves open communication or closed one or what is normally called bureaucracy meaning employee are not permitted to make their own decision , thus making them lack on strategy and have low morale thus making them not to work as good team either being led or leading (Sayles, 2001). Have you come across the same lessons in other cases or regarding? Yes in the past I have come across such cases while working in a hotel industry. During my working period I experience different people from different back grounds undertaking different types of duties. However, I learned that people do not like being supervised by their managers since they want to work slowly in order to safe time and also attain more money since they will be required to come again and again. In addition, team work lacked in the organization where members worked in their own expense without following their leader’s requests. Also, not a single employee followed company norms and they also did not manage their time regardless of their tasks ahead. Most of the employees arrived late and later wanted to go home earl claiming of poor services and wages. It is through this that I understood that the company can fail if it is not structurally organized and that the managers are not well trained and concerned. Therefore, it would have been better if the manager intervened through calling meeting, organizing implementing and executing his priorities and for this the company would have moved to a greater level (Pinto and Kharbanda, 1995). Discuss the connections between the course learning and commercial work experience. Through learning project management articles as a student this motivates me since I understand the importance of hard work in order to achieve my goal. However, bybeing time manager it has helped me since I am able to cover every lesson that I had been taught in the past since I am revising it earlier before exams are around the corner. The other this is I have learned to develop management skills that have benefited me to act as a leader to myself and also to my friends whom we discuss together. In addition, project management has also helped me understand the importance of team work since through team work one understand and learns what he/she never knew and try to perfect so as to be like the other (Lewis, Weish, Dehler and Green, 2002). How have the sessions confirmed or changed your ideas about management? The sessions about project management have guided me to understand that project management involved an Act of using resources efficiently to achieve goals effectively. This process thus have helped me acquire knowledge of adopting team work since it creates an advancement of ideas in such a way that as a student I am able to achieve my final results through other people whom I am learning with in the same institute. I have also learned that, by being a time manager it is possible to achieve the intended goals since there is no barrier or late time rush because of lack of time. In addition, arranging and coming up with new strategies earlier help in undertaking thing in the future which will benefit me while achieving my set targets (Larson and King, 2001). Are there any gaps in your learning that require attention or some consideration in the future? Yes, there are a number of gaps that require attention. These gaps are for instance, keeping time, coming up with new learning strategies and problem of team work. Time has been a vital benefit in my life though most of the time I find myself getting in a dilemma of postponing my projects and assignment to the later date that is he final day of submission. I think it would be of benefit to understand that time is a very swift thing and it is better o tackle each assignment or project while there is time to avoid failing and to get enough time to do the research. However, it will be of benefit to adopt a culture that is open minded and self oriented since this will help me attain my goals perfectly. The other gap that I have is that of team work. Mostly I love reading and doing my thing alone without asking anyone for assistance. I think it would be of benefit if I would change and develop team work technique that will assist me attain and understand the things that I did not know earlier from my classmates and those who understand better through interaction (Shtru and Globerson, 2006). References Larson, E. and King, J.B., 2001. The systematic Distortion of information: An ongoing Management Challenge: Organizational Dynamics, 24(3) pp, 49-62 Lewis, M.W, Weish, G.E, Dehler and Green S.G., 2002. Product development Tensions: Exploring Contrasting Styles of Project Management: Academy of management Journal, 45(3) p 546-64 Minas, J.K., 2000. Attitudes towards Project Management: Englewood Cliffs. Prentice Hall Pinto, J and Kharbanda, O., 1995. Lessons for an accidental profession: Business Horizons, vol. 38, issue 2, pp41-50. Sayles, L.R., 2001. The working Leader: New York, Free Press Shenhar, A.J and Nofziner, H.J., 2004. A new Model for Training Project Managers: proceedings of the 28th Annual Project Management Institute Symposium Shtru, A and Globerson, S., 2006. Project Management: Engineering Technology and Implementation: Englewood Cliffs. Prentice Hall Read More