Microsoft Word - INF70005 Sem XXXXXXXXXXGroup Paper and Presentation Swinburne University of Technology Faculty of Business and Law INF70005 – Strategic Project Management Semester 1, 2018 Assignment...

Microsoft Word - INF70005 Sem 1 2014 Group Paper and Presentation
Swinburne University of Technology
Faculty of Business and Law
INF70005 – Strategic Project Management
Semester 1, 2018
Assignment Three – Research and Reflective Report
10 of 10
Your Name:             Your student ID:                                (use this template for Assignment 3)
    Issue / Concept
    Specific aspect / area of focus
    Your response
    Grade & comments
    Introduction
    Introduction to your project team and your role within it.
[50 – 100 words]
    The project concerned the designing and the documentation of a product blueprint to enhance the efficiency of automobile performance in terms of fuel efficiency and operational effectiveness. In this context, my role in this project was that of a project team member and to undertake product design activities.
    /2
    Project management concepts
    Comment on the project significance, aims and objectives and what you have learnt from this experience.
[100 words]
    The key significance of this project which aimed in designing and to document the product blueprint for enhancing the efficiency of automobile performance in terms of fuel efficiency and operational effectiveness concerns the strategic impact of product development with an aim to enhance the value delivery to end consumers and growth / expansions of the concerned organization. The key aims of this project is to undertake [i] detailed research internally in terms of the product features, capabilities, design, etc. organizational capabilities / feasibilities, [ii] detailed external research in terms of consumer expectations, technology / design trends, etc., [iii] design suitable product development, and [iv] document the product development design. The key learning from this experience has been the team synergy that comes from effective project environment and its impact on project outcomes.
    /4
    
    Identify and explain one or two key problem[s]/risk[s] encountered and describe your response and why that approach was chosen.
[100 words]
    Some of the key problems that were encountered with respect to this project included project scope encompassing many different activities that were wide ranging and required lot of collaborative activities creating significant challenge on how to address them effectively and complete all of them without any issues. Further, the short time schedule available given the complexity of the deliverables created significant challenge of resource conflicts. In this context, two specific project management tools were of significant help in addressing these issues. The first comprised the RACI matrix that we employed to ensure all of the activities had proper responsibility / accountability and other specific role dependencies, Secondly, the preparation of schedule, gantt chart and network diagram possible resource bottlenecks were noted in advance aiding in sufficient preplanning.
    
    Team member dynamics
    Explain what team dynamics worked well during the semester and why. What insights will you take into future projects?
[100 words]
    The important team dynamics that really worked comprised the effective and comprehensive breaking down of project tasks, assigning responsibilities to each of the tasks thereby avoiding any confusion and at the same time creating room for team collaboration as well as ideas sharing, team synergy, etc. The same made be clearly identify the intricateness of team dynamics wherein both flexibility and rigidity is required is optimal levels to ensure an eventual success. Further, in ensuring all of the project processes to be designed and planned around this team dynamics reality creates scope for consistent and effective outcomes.
    /4
    
    Identify one or two key team dynamics [positive or negative] which impacted your team’s performance?
Explain how these were managed. Describe your key learning outcomes?
[100 words]
    The important team dynamics that were of significance and had positive team performance concerned the identification, development, and maintenance of optimal balance between rigidity and flexibility in team participation with respect to the project activities. Secondly, the establishing of team goals and individual goals by way of team participation and transparent manner led to conflict free work experience. Overall the key learning outcomes concerned development of knowledge and understanding on what makes a team work to the best of the team member’s abilities as well as the use of various project management processes, tools, etc. to complement, sustain and maintain these team level dynamics.
    
    Team composition and process
    Identify one aspect that:
1. Worked well
2. Did not work so well.
Explain your choice using one illustration for each from your weekly progress reports to support your choice.
[100 words]
    One of the aspects that really worked for us a team and in undertaking the project concerned the excellent team dynamics and conflict free team work underpinned by optimal balance between rigidity and flexibility in team participation with respect to the project activities and establishing of team goals and individual goals by way of team participation and transparent manner. However one of the aspects that caused concern and required significant efforts / time to resolve concerned the effective control / monitoring of the project activities and it can be linked to oversight of not having a monitoring plan in advance. This was eventually found and resolved towards the project end.
    /2
    
    List clearly the two chosen project management issues from the chosen international speakers.. Explain why you choose them.
[150 words]
    The two videos identified for this study comprised the lecture titled “Project Management Made Simple but Difficult” by Merrow (2018) and that of the lecture titled “Project Status Reporting” by Keil (2017).
In the lecture by Merrow (2018), there is identification of various issues with respect to project management like conflicts of scope, etc. But one that of significance and of relevance from the team dynamics concerned the misalignment of the stakeholders while undertaking project management. The misalignment amongst the project stakeholders can lead to pretty severe outcomes and an effective management of the same is crucial for project success.
In the lecture by Keil (2017), there is a discussion of the project status reporting and amongst two challenges in this context that is highlighted, “mum effect” had closer resonance to me as I witnessed the same in various project contexts. The detailed assessment of the same shall be essential to enhance practical project management knowledge.
    /3
    
    For the first issue, identify at least one academic theory to deepen your insights into the issue
Briefly introduce [and reference] your chosen academic theory.
Justify your choice.
[400 words]
    Stakeholder theory refers to an approach of managerial nature as well as makes recommendation with respect to practices, structures, as well as attitudes which, taken in a combined manner, constitute the overarching philosophy of stakeholder management (Epstein et al. 2015; Eskerod et al. 2015; Epstein et al. 2017). Stakeholder theory is much more pertinent to business...