Personal reflective report

Value group 1

Value group 2

Value group 3

Value Group 4

Value group 5

Knowledge

Popularity

Ambition

Perfection

Reliability

Power

Calmness

Mindfulness

Generosity

Ethics

Observation

Challenge

Dedication

Optimism

Stability

Success

Motivation

Intelligence

Achievement

Commitment

Consistency

Peace

Being the best

Excellence

Proactivity

Zeal

Passion

Cooperation

Recognition

Happiness

Credibility

Advancement

Development

Enthusiasm

Humour

Risk Taking

Motivation

Wisdom

Honesty

Self-Control

Simplicity

Teamwork

Advancement

Understanding

Credibility

Passion

Responsibility

Passion

Expressiveness

Level of importance

Value

1st (Most important)

Knowledge

2nd

Commitment

3rd

Excellence

4th

Wisdom

5th

Understanding

Yes, my values have drastically changed. All the values are easy to describe in words, but on-field experience is totally different. When you mustdeal with different situation and different people, there are some qualities that do not help. The values cannot be set on priorities as well. My personal experience taught me that, every value has their own worth and are most worth at certain time and situation only. I would say that, initially my perspective to look at some things was different; however, I heard a different story from every different person I met who was homeless. I developed more emotions and compassion towards every person. To get the best of different value, I placed myself in their position to understand what they are suffering from.

Not competent

Somewhat competent

Uncertain

Competent

Highly Competent

Agile practices

Data gathering and modelling

Earned Value Management

Governance

Lifecycle management

Performance management

Requirements management and traceability

Risk management

Schedule management

Scope management

Time, budget, and cost estimation

Other

(if adding another skill type what it is here)

_______________________

My Technical Project Management competence has changed a lot. After finishing this project, I

realized much more about my true skills and values. Furthermore, the values which I considered I

have, is not actually in me. The real-life experience shows the true reflection. Such as when

discuss with homeless people their life experiences. It is humbling and shows me how small it is

from safety and security of a home environment to a life without a home. On the other hand,

there are some skills which I have, but I never realized about them. However, the real-life

situation show me my true qualities. For example, at first, I was repelled by approaching homeless

people, but when I was shown by my friend from the Salvation Army then I could appreciate

much more. So, I realise that the same applies in Project Management it is easy to get lost in

technical skills and miss out on soft people skills. A project is a mixture of technical and human

and cannot be one or the other (Shankar, 2014).

Not competent

Somewhat competent

Uncertain

Competent

Highly Competent

Benefits management and realisation

Business acumen

Business models and structures

Competitive analysis

Customer relationship and satisfaction

Industry Knowledge and standards

Legal and regulatory compliance

Market awareness and conditions

Operational functions (e.g. finance, marketing)

Strategic planning, analysis, alignment

Other

(if adding another skill type what it is here)

_______________________

After working with different business to convince them with my project idea and dealing with homeless people I realized that, the theoretical knowledge about business and real-life application are two different things. Real-life application needs confidence and attitude which cannot be learn from the books. Previously I used to make a direct contact with the businessperson, while living my routine such as buying a coffee from any shop. However, now as I was a part of the project, and I was representing CQU, I had to be very careful about what I was speaking. From my dressing sense to my behaviour. Thus, the responsibility and the brand value of CQU changed me a lot(Schuler, 1992).

Not competent

Somewhat competent

Uncertain

Competent

Highly Competent

Brainstorming

Coaching and mentoring

Conflict management

Emotional intelligence

Influencing

Interpersonal skills

Listening

Negotiation

Problem solving

Team building

Other

(if adding another skill type what it is here)

_______________________

My leadership skill is improved a lot after my real-life on field experience. I learned how listening is important to understand the problem of people with curiosity and interest. My negotiation skill and interpersonal skills are significantly increased due to this project. Initially, I used to be a stubborn type of person, however, after this project, I understood the value of feedback, and I developed the tendency to accept the feedback and act upon it, no matter which person is giving me that feedback. Rather than considering the designation of a person, I started to give the human value and to listen everyone carefully with all due respect. I learn that, being a leader, I must leave a trail for my followers on which they can walk easily. In real-life, I should do such task that decrease the load on my team-members, therefore, I handled all the major task such as representation to different universities and travelling along with meeting with homeless people(Dewan & Myatt, 2008).

Compare and discuss your answers to (a) and (b). Is there a difference between the two? What are the potential causes of any difference or similarity?

How does this made you feel?

What lessons I have learnt about myself from this experience?

There is a very big visible difference between the answers of (a) and (b). Rather than the theoretical knowledge I expected, I gained the practical knowledge, real-life lessons and the realization of which qualities I have, and I thought I have but I don’t. The causes of this difference are the teaching style of present academics in the current education system. Whenever I heard about any management subject it always consists of the 10 project management areas. Or the business methodologies and the strategy about business and management. However, this subject is so beautifully crafted that a student learns many things which a theoretical subject cannot teach. This is the first subject that taught me about the real-life personal lessons and the realization of my qualities.

I am feeling very confident as now I have the strong bases about the qualities I have. Now, I know myself better than before. I know about the qualities I have, and I don’t therefore I can maintain my confidence level while using those qualities. I am feeling peaceful and happy for the materialistic things I have after comparing myself with homeless people. I tried to give some share to homeless people as well from whatever I have.

After learning the life lessons, I believe I have become wiser than before and I have developed the qualities such as patient, listening and presence of mind as well. The overall output is so positive from this subject.

There are so many lessons I learnt from this subject. However, punctuality, decision making, thinking about the consequences, always find a win-win situation for all people, compassion towards everyone, time and cost management are some of the biggest lessons.

Utilizing available resources to solve any issues is on of my major strength. I used this strength to solve the issue of homelessness by using the available resources. Instead of developing new infrastructure, I used the already built resources to solve the issue of homelessness. I firmly believe that time management and punctuality are also one of my major strength. On the other hand, my ability of real-life management is also my major strength. I utilized this strength for the allocation of homeless people in already established resources such as universities.

The developed idea of using universities as accommodation in the vacation time is the perfect example of my strength of utilization of available resources. I used already established infrastructure to provide shelter to homeless people rather than creating new ones. The universities stay closed for a long period of time which can be used to provide shelter to the homeless people. Once giving the permission of university, the allocation of homeless people is a big task. However, management of real-life problems is also one of my strength and so I can do it very effectively.

Furthermore, the travelling I did in order to find homeless people and other universities to represent my idea was so efficient. Initially, I made mistakes and wasted time in random activities, however, I realized it very soon and then without wasting time I performed all the activities. Before going to any places, I check for the maps and all available transport facility. I calculate the expected time to be spend at certain places and accordingly I plan my further activities and planning. In order to better time management, I tried to ask for the necessary permissions via emails and thus I saved my time doing the same process in person.

Challenge

Situation

Describe your experience of the following conceptsin the context of the unit, including whether you found this challenging or not.

Your Reaction

How did you react (note both feelings and actions) to the challenges?

Industry readiness

How does having this experience better prepare you for working in industry?

3.1Dealing with the pressures of extremely tight timeframes and limited resources.

The travelling from one place to another to find homeless people and meetings with different universities were extremely stressful. I was about to meet university officials and on the same time I was representing the CQU as well. No matter what happens but I cannot be late to other universities while representing CQU. The public transport is not a liable option and in some critical situations I may get late as well.

For the first time, I was about to meet homeless people and then a meeting was arranged with a university delicate. It too more time with homeless people and so I was late for the meeting. Initially, I was stressed as it was for the first time, I was facing a university delicate. The public transport was not the right option that time. As the CQU was about to represent via a student, so I considered all the situation. I stopped all the thoughts for some time and later came up with the idea of Ube sharing taxi. That way I saved my money as well and reached to the destination. My reaction was mixed as stressed and tensed but calming the thoughts helped me and I handled the situation.

Next time, while working in industry, I will more focused about alternative options so that at the end time, I do not need to get panic and I can complete my work with efficiency.

3.2Dealing with team dynamics when team members may be diverse, have differing expectations and commitment.

The selection of universities was the first issue I faced from my team. As some members were saying to chose only those Universities with larger infrastructure whereas other were demanding to go to all possible universities for maximum efficiency and better output.

I stayed calm and tried to understand both views. I calculated the input resources in terms of time, cost and personal efforts. As we were not sure about which universities will say yes, so finally we came up with the conclusion to target all available universities.

At industry level as well I will follow the same method to calculate the input with the possible parameters and the expected output as well. After critically reviewing the consequences I will convince the opposite members to support me in my decision. This experience taught me to consider the views of all members, however, to take the right decision the input and output must be considered.

3.3Defining an innovative solutionfor a social issue that is not your primary area of expertise.

The issue of homelessness without a major input was my primary task to fulfil. I suggested the most innovative idea of using the already established infrastructure of government agencies and university infrastructure. It was my innovative solution which was not the primary area of expertise.

I thought a lot and observed the surrounding environment and resources. My observation led me to the decision of using University infrastructure as all major universities stay close for up to 6 months of time. During this time, the infrastructure can be used to provide accommodation to homeless people.

This experience taught me to look for the available resources first and then to demand for the new one. I also learned from this experience that the compatibility of the available resources should be in line with the desired output. I must not change, modify or manipulate available resources to reach to the goal.

3.4Achieving project delivery for a social issue that is not your primary area of expertise.

The delivery of sign boards and brochures to the business owners to support my business idea was something, I would say, out of my area of expertise. In my past life, I have never did any kind of work like this. I never convinced anyone for any sort of work at profession level. However, I delivered the marketing accessories to the concern people to help and support me for my idea.

Initially, I felt very low with no confidence, as I was about to convince other people without any profit for them. I was tensed as well, thinking they might reject my ideas and even laugh at me. So, I was tensed and scared and low confident. However, they realized that I was not doing any of this activity for my personal profit, I was helping other. As it wasn’t costing them personally in form, they started to support me in the good task. I started to get good response and then appreciation as well which boosted my confidence and I started to feel well about what I was doing.

I improved myself in a manner that, now onwards, I will care for other people what they are thinking of me, and how they will judge me. I will consider any task or job as job and I will finish it with my 100% dedication. The only thing that should matter to me is that what I am doing must not be wrong and then no matter what task or job I am doing but I will do it with my confidence and attitude.

3.5Engaging with and eliciting feedback fromstakeholders

In the case when we were discussing about, we should consider all homeless people as just homeless people and considering them all as one community or we should differentiate them based on their reason of homeless, their background, their addiction, behaviour or past history. Now, it was so important as if a women is homeless because of domestic violence but she was born and raised in good community, and there is a guy who is homeless because of drug addiction and his behaviour is very bad towards other. Here, it is not wise idea to keep them both together and form a single community with people of different background. Here, I had many views from all team members, they all gave me many feedbacks about what to do and what to not.

Before, I used to engage with only those feedbacks which seems good to me but nor right, however, after studying this subject, I don’t get carried away with what seems good to me, rather, now I engage with those decision which seems right to me. I used to do personal favours to the people who support me, knowing that I am wrong, however, now I stopped doing personal favours to anyone, instead I check that what is right and what is wrong regardless my personal relations with anyone. Now, I engage or elicit only those decision which are universally right and not good or bad under my personal influence.

My reaction was to think again and again on every feedback considering them all as feedback with equal worth. They all were right from some perspective and wrong as well from different perspective. The ultimate aim of our project was to create a single society and dividing them internally was breaking the moral of the project. However, at some situation it was necessary as well, because being homeless was a choice of some people while for others it was a forceful condition. Therefore, we chose the middle way, again a win-win situation. I chose to keep them together on certain conditions as no member will be ever allowed to do any kind of addiction in any form. On the violation of this rule, they will be moved from the community to rehabilitation centre.

Before studying this subject, I used to be a scared person while interacting with a stranger or low confident while performing some activities in front of others, however, now, I have developed amazing confidence and I am not feeling low as well with stranger. As I did many encounters with many people, I am feeling free and normal while dealing with a stranger or even with a very high-profile personality.

At industry level, I may face same situation where, the feedback of the team member will be different, and every feedback would have equal value. In this case, critical thinking would be the best option to elicit or engage with any feedback. This subject improved my quality of critical thinking and to look after the consequences so that every situation gets equal justice.

Before I started this subject, I used to be a stubborn person, and the feedback of other people never mattered to me. I used to think that, I am right, and everyone is wrong. I got no value for feedback and suggestion of other people. However, now I understand the value and feedback of ever people as now, after studying this subject I have developed the maturity that feedback is not about who is right and who is wrong, but it is about delivering the most efficient output in any form. After studying this subject, I learned that, no one is perfect and always right, therefore, it is very important to consider the feedback of other people. I also learned that, I should not consider age of any person at industry level as well, instead I should go with the value of the thought of the speaker, regardless, he is younger or elder to me. I must care about the human values of every person.

Demonstrated Hard Skill

Computational Skill.

This is not the same thing I wanted to improve; this is a different skill. I choose the skill of certificate in previous assignment; however, I did not earn any certificate in this unit, but I improved the computational skill. As the conversation on emails, meetings schedule on email and allocation of time and cost using the project management software, planning and all the other activities I did in the project falls in the computational skill. I never wanted to improve this hard skill as I already had enough knowledge of this skill for a normal life. However, the email conversations, using of maps, use of software for better management of time and cost made me advanced in this skill. I firmly believe that I should develop this skill more and more as it is very efficient while working with project management.

Situation

Engagement with number of universities and government agencies was mostly done by email. It is not advisable to directly make an in-person approach; therefore, I started the conversation with emails. Later, in order to efficiently utilize the sources with all team members we used the software like spread sheet and Microsoft project. I personally believe this software very helpful to me and helped us to stay organized.

Task

Sending the e mails and use of software for time and source management.

Action

I registered for the BIM software; my course will start in the mid of July.

Result

As a result of using this software, our efficiency was improved, we worked in an organized manner and we had statistics of utilized time, cost and resources.

Demonstrated Soft Skill

Problem solving abilities.

In the first assignment, I chose the critical thinking ability as a skill to improve in the unit. However, I made good progress in my problem-solving abilities. The task given to us was to solve the issue of homelessness, and after thinking a lot I came up with a brilliant idea of using already established infrastructure of universities and government agencies to provide shelter to the homeless people.

However, this is not the only task where I utilised my problem-solving ability. When being late, change my transport to cost-effective transport was also a part of my problem-solving ability.

When I could-not find the homeless people at certain places, I quickly took help of initial few homeless people to find others.

Situation

While finding an alternate option for homeless people to provide accommodation was the first situation where I used this ability.

While finding more homeless people by creating the link from the known homeless people.

Task

I solved the real-life problems of managing my time and other resources by using my presence of mind.

Action

I changed my mode of transport several time to reach to my destination on time.

Result

I reached on time for every meeting by changing mode of transport in emergency situation and saved my impression along with CQU.

Option decided:

Apply for a job

Option 1

Apply for a job

Option 2.

Build your profile

Option 3.

Improve your industry exposure and networks

Action

Being a civil engineer, I would like to start my first job as a professional civil engineer where I can use my technical and management skills together. I will use the life lessons I learned form this subject along with theoretical knowledge of another subject as well.

Action

LinkedIn Profile

Action

Learn from those in industry

The following page lists three tasks for each option.

You will need to complete all three tasks to be eligible for complete marks.

Complete the following tasks

Option 1 Task 1

Complete the following tasks:

Option 2 Task 1

Complete the following tasks:

Option 3 Task 1

Option 1 Task 2

Option 2 Task 2

Option 3 Task 2

Option 1 Task 3

Option 2 Task 2

Option 3 Task 2

a)Building your CV

Work / career related action to add to yourCurriculum Vitae (CV).

Once I finish my study, I want to complete the software training for Building Information Modelling (BIM). It is an intelligent 3D model-based process that gives the civil professionals the insight and tools to plan, design, construct and manage building and infrastructure efficiently.

b)Finding Balance

Fun / exciting activity that you have never done before (does not need to be work related)

Before coming to Australia, I heard about Pink Lake of Australia, which is at Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia. I always wanted to see it as I have never seen such kind of lake before anywhere. Thus, visiting this place is in my bucket list.

The second place I want to go is Snowy Mountains, as I have never seen snow before in my life. Therefore, once I finish my study, these two places are my priority.

OPTIONAL – email contact

Provide an email address that will be active in six months if you wish to receive a follow-up email(note if this is your last unit the CQU email may not still be active).