Analyzing Scope Creep

 

Week 6 – BLOG ASSIGNMENT

 

            I remember working on a group project in a past class and we needed to decide f when we would talk or communicate in order to complete the project. We needed to know what section was being completed by each group member so we can sort out any questions and if there would be any restrictions on anyone in the group. This project was for a major grade and I didn’t want to jeopardize that with anyone so I reached out to all the members by email. I wrote that we need to have group meetings once a week, other than by email, so we can keep an update and track on progress and any problems. The group members didn’t respond back quickly and they only wanted to communicate by email. This was a problem because it’s more of a time constraint when you have a problem that can’t be answered or solved and have to wait which can take up to a whole day and it delays working on the project.

            To deal with this issue, I had let the teacher know that we are not communicating frequently.  Questions can’t be answered because everyone has their own way of communicating when they want to and that’s holding up a person’s time of working on the project. Therefore this will not help the group and we were capable of getting a low grade. If I had a chance, I would have switched groups to work with on the class project. I was informed that the teacher had a talk with the other students in my group but the problem didn’t change too much or didn’t get much better. I had to work through the problem in order to get my work done but I wasn’t pleased with the groups participation. I don’t think there could have been a change control system to be put in place during this project. According to the text, change control system is well controlled, formal processes whereby changes can be introduce and accomplish with a little distress as possible. (Portny, et.al. 2008)

 

Reference:

Portny, S. E., Mantel, S. J., Meredith, J. R., Shafer, S. M., Sutton, M. M., & Kramer, B. E. (2008). Project management: Planning, scheduling, and controlling projects. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Budget Software for Project Managers

The project manager has to keep track of the budget when it comes to attaining new projects. Since technology is changing, there are many online tools that can help PMs maintian their  budgets. The budget software that I have looked into was budgettracker and Mint.

Budgettracker is a free and easy tool that can be obtain on any computer or smartphone so PMs can keep track at all times. It is easily access through the internet 24 hours a day 7 days a week.


http://budgettracker.com




 Mint is also a free website that can be easily accessed on the internet to keep track of budgets and spending. This is also an easy tool that can be used also.
https://www.mint.com/

The Art of Effective Communication

In reviewing the message in three different forms, overall the message was communicated properly enough for Mark to understand what was needed. The email message didnt sound like it is a rush job but the person needs it on order to finish their work. By emailing it gives the person the sense that it is not needed in a hurry but the person is to busy to talk directly to Mark.

In the voicemail message, it sounded a little like the data  that is needed should be given very soon. She sound like it was critical by her tone in her voice. I think the tone in someones voice will say alot baout how they feel and how a person interpret the message.

As far as the face to face communciation, she was comprimising and thankful about Mark giving her the data instead. Her facial expressions show that she was very sincere about getting the information so her project can be completed.

The factors influence is the tone of the voice, facial expressions, gestures, punctuation in the email.The face to face communication is better for this message becuase it would show your character and attitude with this situation and it makes Mark more active in getting the data to his colleague.

The implications I learned from this exercise is that what ever that is communicated can be interpreted different ways. This is due to the way that people chose to communicate their message. I think face to face, if possible, is the best way to go when communicating important information.