Scientific View of Creativity - Case Study Example

Introduction Today’s changing technology and increasing pressure is making it imperative that managers understand their role. Their role has grown and with changes taking place it is bound to increase. Project managers have a big responsibility as an execution of a project lies in their hand. They have various roles to play which will help to define the manner in which an organisation is able to deliver. This makes it important that Planner R Us determines the management of the project in a manner that ensures miximum efficiency and minimum cost. Roles of project manager The role of the project manager is to schedule the projects. The project manager needs to prepare a schedule which shows when a task will be accomplished. To ensure that it is done accurately the project manager prepares a Gantt chart and necessary changes are made depending on the progress of a particular process (Chapman, 1997). For example, Planner R Us which is looking towards having a festival by the name Rocks & Bands need to ensure that the festival is held within 10 weeks making it imperative to complete the project on time. Project manager needs to ensure that a team is developed which performs the functions of the organisation to ensure that production is carried out without problem. Here, the project manager needs to solve conflict and motivate them. (Self Directed Teams, 2010) This will follow the process of forming, storming, norming and performing which will itself act as a motivating guide. Project managers to ensure efficient leading process should see that the task are completed by the employees, the employees have been categorized so that future responsibilities can be shared by them and records maintained (Brownie, 2010). This will help the manager to ensure that he is able to use the correct motivational tools for each employee. Project Schedule The following is the table which highlights the manner in which Planner R Us can look towards working so that the project is completed on schedule and in the minimum cost possible Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Week 7 Week 8 Week 9 Week 10 A1 A1 A1 E1 G1 K1 K1 K1 K1 K1 C1 C1 H1 H1 H1 J1 J1 J1 J1   D2 F1 F1 F1 F1 I1 I1 I1 I1 I1     B1 B2 B2 L1 L1       The above chart shows that Planner R Us will be able to complete the roject within 10 weeks and at the minimum possible cost. Further, having a schedule spread over 10 weeks provide some space for Planner R Us in case of contengencies. This will thereby ensure that the project is completed on time. Purpose of group work in project team Group work provides a lot of advantage which was in Planner R Us. Since it involves brainstorming it thereby helps to come up with various new ideas and the best one can be chosen based on the requirements of the company (Tim, 2005). This improved flexibility as group thinking involves better coordination between me and the other group members. This thereby develops the decision making process and helps to find members from the group who can add towards he project goal and entrust them with more responsibilities. Problems encountered in project team Group work also brings negativity as it delays the decision making process. Time is consumed to arrive at a decision as we in our group had problems related to different behaviours demonstrated by each member who makes it difficult in situations which require quick decision. (Smith & Robert, 1994) Belbin’s Team Test The task and maintenance roles highlight the importance of individual behaviours that shapes the manner in which the project team functions. Belbin Team test is a tool which will facilitate the manner in which work is carried out in a project team and how can different responsibilities be assigned to different members in the project team. Belbin team tool test each employee on different ten parameters and points are assigned to each and based on the total point the area where the member is good is found out (Belbin & Meredith, 1983). This helped us to identify the role of each member in the team and assign them those roles so that conflicts reduced. It also ensured that we were able to demarcate the line of work but still certain problems related to the behaviour arose. Tuckman Group Development Model The Tuckman model for development is another tool which will help to shape the behaviour of the project team and will help them achieve the objectives. This will act as a guide to transform the individual behaviour into team effort. The tool starts with forming where different members come together to work as a team and then moves towards storming where team members are assigned different roles and here Beblin Model can help to define the roles which moves to norming where members get accustomed to their roles and perform their individual roles and finally ends by adjourning which happens when the final task is accomplished. (Atherton, 2003) This tool helped us to decide the process in which the team work for the project is to be directed to achieve the task in hand. This still led to some conflicts of interest between me and the team members which delayed the project completion time and also put additional pressure on all team members. Recommendations Based, on the above understanding and the manner in which individual behaviour shapes the behaviour of the team the following recommendation will help to shape the manner in which our team performs. Firstly, by making each member identify their roles and communicating clearly to them the manner in which they need to work. (Mind Tools, 2010) This will help to shape the behaviours and integrate the work culture there by enabling to achieve the group goals. This will thereby help to reduce conflicts as demarcating the lines will serve the purpose and don’t enter into someone else working domain. Secondly, having a process of continuous feedback will ensure that deviations are notified. (Mind Tools, 2010) This will us to identify the areas of strength for each team member and also helps to develop my relationship with the other members resulting in better performance. Conclusion Thus, we see that group phenomenon adds advantage and it out weighs the negatives thereby making more organisations to use it. This is bound to grow as it helps to come with better ideas and improve the efficiency. Thus identifying the individual behaviour and shaping it in such a manner that it improves the behaviour of the team will help to ensure that the team is able to perform efficiently on the project thereby ensuring success References Atherton, J. 2003. Tuckman’s model of group development. Group development, UK, Retrieved on November 1, 2011 from http://www.dmu.ac.uk/~jamesa/teaching/group_development.htm Brownie, M. 2010. Four Functions of Management. Retrieved on November 1, 2011 from http://buyessay.org/four-functions-of-management.html Belbin & Meredith, 1983. The Belbin Self Team. A self perception inventory, Heinemann, London Chapman, T. 1997. Project Schedule Estimating. Retrieved on November 1, 2011 from http://www.hyperthot.com/pm_sked.htm Mind Tools. 2010. Project Schedule Development. Retrieved on November 1, 2011 from http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newPPM_71.htm Marcia Williams faces various problems which have become a hindrance to their work and even employing new technology like is rendering the construction of the conference hall to be ineffective. The reasons which caused problems in the construction process is as follows Firstly, a major problem faced by the company is in the manner in which responsibility was passed to a single body. The company has created this structure in such a way that they not concerned about the different aspect of the building and used a person who didn’t have the required experience. Secondly, there were problem associated with the manner in which work was carried out thereby creating doubts on the work culture. The company has adopted a stance where they thought that the engineer had all the knowldege and they didn’t need to consult others. This hampers the motivational level of Marcia Williams as it reduced the chances being heard thereby making it difficult to ensure that the project will be completed on time. Thirdly, the company has a long heirarchy which delays the process of passing information. This has resulted in the information being passed on from company to the architect so that the work could be completed on time. Having a long hierarchy has also resulted in the approval for a architect, its design, price, time of commencement and other things to be delayed. Thia has resulted in chaos as there is ambiguity in information making the employees unclear about the future prospects of a course. Fourthly, the company has a lack of proper planning and time management process. This has resulted in the conference hall to be out of shape and not have the basic necessities matching those of a five star hotel. Also, the fact that the architect didn’t follow a time frame has resulted in improper communication and lack of clarity in thought. This is creating a bad image as Marcia Williams despite raising her voice is unheard in the organization. Fifthly, the long process followed by the company and the architect to design the conference hall is resulting in the entire process go wrong. This is resulting in delays and incomplete information being passed on. Sixthly, the lack of coordination among the different departments is resulting is department blame each other for the decrease in students and the problems faced by company and the architect. Thus, there are a lot of problems which needs to be looked at but a major problem arises due to the present work structure followed by the company which has resulted in a creating a long hierarchy and lack of coordination. This makes it important that the architect looks towards creating an environment which brings creative thinking in the organization. Creative thinking is a process of identifying and developing new techniques and methods which helps to improve the overall effectiveness of the business (Torrance, 2005). It is a process which involves several steps and work at different frontiers to ensure that the overall effectiveness of the total process improves. Another study in the same direction states that creative thinking helps to bring relativity and helps to improve the effectiveness of the management process thereby benefitting organizations (Rothenberg, 1999) Businesses have identified different ways which helps to ensure creative thinking and creativity in the manner work is carried out. Some of them are Evolution: Creativity through this methods involves working on the previously created solutions so that the management process becomes more effective (Harris, 1998). For example the architect should look towards developing the conference hall in such a way that it ensure reduction in echo, and better facilities for the audience. Synthesis: It is a method which involves creativity by mixing two ideas to develop one idea (Harris, 1998). For example ensuring that the auditorium has better facilities for transmitting of information through the use of different audio visual arrangement. Revolution: Creativity develops through this process as the previous work gets completed changed by developing a new model (Harris, 1998). For example ensuring that they use a process of scheduling the work in such a way that it helps to compelte the project on time. Reapplication: develops creativity by making a complete change in the way the process was carried out previously (Harris, 1998). For example bringing a change in standards to compare the performance so that it matches the requirements of the five star hotels and has the basic facilities to ensure better execution of the project. Changing Direction: involves one problem highlighting the other problem which when solved will help to improve the total process (Harris, 1998). For example bringing a change in quality which reduces echo in the audotorium and brings about a change in the quality of sound. Thus, the different methods of creative thinking helps to bring about a change in the way business is conducted which helps business immensely in case of economic downturns. This makes it important that they look towards improving coordination among between the architect and the company so that the project gets completed on time. The company will be able to work together for a common goal which will ensure that the problems faced due to lack of coordination is looked after. A change in the structure will improve coordination through better group thinking. Group thinking provides a lot of advantage. Since it involves brainstorming it thereby helps to “come up with various new ideas and the best one can be chosen based on the requirements of the company”. (Tim, 2005) This also improves flexibility as group thinking involves better coordination among the employees. It makes employees realize the “importance of working in a team and this ensures that employees are motivated and feel a part of the organisation”. (Tim, 2005) This thereby develops the decision making process and helps to find employees who can take responsible position in the future and thereby helps in planning for the future. Thus they will be able to coordinate the efforts of the different department and improve their manner of working to ensur that the efforts are directed towards a common purpose and goal of the organization thereby improving efficiency. References Harris, R. 1998. Introduction to Creative Thinking. Retrieved on November 4, 2011 from http://www.virtualsalt.com/crebook1.htm Rothenberg, A. 1999. Einstein’s creative thinking and the general theory of relativity: a documented report. American Psychiatric Association, Volume 136, pp. 38-43 Torrance, E. 2005. Scientific View of Creativity & Factors affecting its growth. American Academy of Arts & Science, Volume 94, No. 3, pp. 663-670 Tim, B. 2005. Group Thinking. Critical Thinking on the web, Austhink Read More