PROJECT MANAGEMENT PRACTICUM

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PPMP20018 2020 Term 1 - Reflective 2: Part B

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1 Reflecting on your experience in the unit

1a Reflect on what you achieved by participating in this unit PPMP20018.

Your discussion should demonstrate deep self-reflection, critical analysis and insights of the implication to your project management practice.

1b Go back to your baseline submission from the start of the term, cut and paste your response to section “ 1.4 What would you like to achieve from this unit?”

[Insert your response from section 1.4 of the bassline submission here]

1c Reflect on and critically analyse the comparison of your what you stated you wanted to achieve in your baseline submission to what you have achieved.

Your discussion should demonstrate deep self-reflection, critical analysis and insights of the implication to your project management practice.

2 Experiencing challenges in projects

This unit was designed so you will experience several challenges that project managers face. These include tight timeframes, diverse teams and requirements that are not necessarily well defined. Being challenged places us under stress, to a certain point this increases performance. However, as stress increases it will start to diminish our performance. The challenging nature of the unit may have raised differing emotions, you may have felt overwhelmed, excited, frustrated, or a sense of achievement. You may have felt different emotions at different stages of the unit, this is perfectly normal when managing projects.

COVID-19 restrictions added to the complexity of the unit, social distancing resulting in workshops being moved online and added further implications to the delivery of our projects. The pandemic will have had personal implications as well.

Reflecting on how we each react to stress is important. It enables us to recognise when we are under stress and how we can manage our reactions effectively.

Experiencing challenges of project management in the university context, although uncomfortable enables us to be better prepared for the realities of industry. For example, this unit allows you to make mistakes that are better experienced for first time at university than in industry. Can you think of something you wish you handled better this term?

We only gain value if we reflect on our experiences and understand how we can utilise these learnings to better manage future situations that we may find ourselves in.

Complete the following table:

Challenge	Situation Share your self-reflection on your experience of the following concepts in the context of the unit.	Your Reaction Critically analyse your reaction (both feelings and actions) to the challenges	Industry readiness Share your insights and implications to you project management practice and how this experience better prepares you for working in industry.
2.1 The pressures of extremely tight timeframes and limited resources
2.2 Team dynamics including members having differing expectations and commitment.
2.3 Completing a project based on a social issue.
2.4 Engaging with external stakeholders
2.5 The impact of COVID-19 restrictions

3 Reflection on Design thinking

In week four you participated in a design thinking workshop. The workshop was based on the Stanford d.school design thinking process which has the following five components:

This was not the only area where you experienced these concepts, the first five themes align to the components of the design thinking process.

Reflect on each of the five components of the design thinking process and how you have used these components during your time in the unit.

Use the space below to share your self- reflection. Your discussion should demonstrate deep self-reflection, critical analysis and insights of the implication to your project management practice.

4 Action and Next Steps

During the unit you were asked to embrace an action mindset. We are challenging you to do the same. This task requires you to engage with someone in the Industry you want to work in after graduation.

Either by phone or email, contact the person and ask them a series of questions that you have developed. The questions should reflect what you would like to know about moving into the industry of your choice OR if you already work in that industry, your questions can relate to the next step in your career.

You should aim to contact someone from the organisation you mentioned in your baseline, however, if not possible, then the same industry.

4.1 Preparing for Action

List five questions that you could ask this person and the reason for each.

Questions	Why you want to ask them the questions

4.2 Take Action

Provide the details of your communication with the person.

These may be used to verify that the communication has taken place.

Name of the person
Industry person works in
Organisation (if applicable)
Contact details Include both phone number and email. These may be used to verify with the person that the communications took place.
Date of communications Include each date if this was multiple e.g. you may have had to contact them to make a time to ask questions, then another date/time to ask the questions etc.

Provide the notes that you took of the conversation below or copy and paste the email where they have responded to your questions.

[insert notes or email here]

4.3 Reflect on your action

Reflect on your experience of contacting a person from industry and use the space below to capture your self-reflection.

Reflective prompts:

· What Industry did you say you wanted to work in when you submitted your baseline?

· What were your initial feelings about contacting someone you do not know? Were you confident, nervous, why?

· Was your first plan to identify and contact someone successful or did you have to change and adapt your strategy?

· What did you learn from the person?

· What do you think is the value of expanding your network in your chosen industry?

· Are you more likely now to reach out to people you do not know, for example, asking someone to be your mentor?

· Based on your experience and what you have learnt by contacting this person, what are the next steps for you? What action will you take next?

Your discussion should demonstrate deep self-reflection, critical analysis and insights of the implication to your project management practice.

OPTIONAL – email contact Provide an email address that will be active in the next 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).

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PPMP20018 2020 Term 1: Reflective 2 Part B