PMR2 Reflection

Introduction

The PMR2 unit was a unit that was of instrumental in changing my view of the manner in which projects are managed. The most instrumental part that taught me project management was the production of the video. It was a process that was hard for me but one that taught me that project management is not just about my perception. It is about viewing the project as something that should run and not as an idea that exists in mind (Larson & Gray, 2015). From the production of the video, I learned that there are scores of risk that could face a project that is in the process of execution (Besner & Hobbs, 2012).  The risks range from personal risks to management risks among scores of many others. The making of the video was, therefore, an eye-opener that taught me instrumental lessons concerning the management of risk assessments.

Reflection

The making of the video was a laborious process for me from the very start. I had to think about the necessary ways in which the video would be produced. In the very first stance, I had thousands of thoughts regarding how I had to start. From all the thoughts that I had on how I had to make the video, I had to decide on the best approach. This was the most difficult part that I witnessed. I did not have a rationale on which was the best approaches to use because every thought that came to my mind was as enticing as the other thought.  There were also scores of other risks such as financial, technological and non-compatibility risks. 

Regardless of the fear of using a wrong approach, I had to make a choice on the best approach on how to make the video. I often felt like the approach that I purposed to use was not the best and therefore I thought that it was good to consult with a few friends regarding the approach that I had chosen. Each of my friends unlike the way that I expected was that they would support my approach or give me guidance in the manner in which I would manage the project. However, against my thinking, each of them discouraged me telling me that the video would not be as perfect as I expected it to be. Therefore I noted that people pose problems to risk management and assessment. They make it hard to complete basically because they have their thinking regarding the way that that the project should be executed (Kerzner & Kerzner, 2017). From the encounter, I realized that people are threats to risk management itself. They are an imminent risk, and if someone should listen to them, then they should be selective of the advice that they take from them.

From the project, I learned many skills. One of the very basic skills that are required in risk management is the problem-solving skill (Burke, 2013). It is the skill that makes one think deeper concerning matters that are of pertinence to a project. I realized that risk assessment is a problem itself and it needs to be solved. It needs to be addressed lest the desired results are not realized. From the video project, I learned how to apply the problem-solving skill in bits. I realized that the skill can be instrumental in an individual as well as in group assessments. It was, therefore, such a necessary skill that I learned.

From the video project, I also learned the skill of working under pressure which is such a necessary skill in risk management. Working under pressure means that one is in a position where everything seems to work against your plans (Teller, Kock & Gemünden, 2014). One wrestles to complete the project under timeframes and to meet certain milestones that have to be met. Using this skill, I would push late into the night trying to make the best video. In the end, I made a video that was quite impeccable because I taught myself to work under pressure.

From the project, I realized that even when the human factor is an active cause of risks, it still be used to reduce risks. The project taught me that risk assessment concerns itself with the optimization of human activity and a consequent reduction of human failures. Using the hazard and risk profile, I noted that there is need to be more explicit on hazard warrants which consequently makes the human factor more prepared for risks and makes them an active contribution in risk assessment.

From the video project, I realized that there is a need to make use of rationality when tackling a project. Rationality, in this case, will mean the use of adequate approaches that are necessary for the management of the project (Dey, 2012). To me, the project was a hard one. Project management requires the evaluation of the risks involved to come up with a rational way of thought. It is the risks that determine the steps that one should make use of while completing the project (Carvalho & Rabechini, 2015). Managing a project does not just mean the application of personal thoughts on the topic but rather the application of principles of management which require redress with rationality (Cagliano, Grimaldi & Rafele, 2015). It is by use of rationality that I was able to complete the project even when it was hard.

Conclusion

From the video project, I learned three main themes of handling a project. One is to understand the extents or the coverage of the project. Two is to soberly and critically decide on the approach to use while addressing the issue in the project (Kutsch & Hall, 2009). Three is to make a reflection before the completion of the project (Kwan & Leung, 2011). The three are key learning points that I learned through the project. I learned that the complexity of a project does not determine its finality. It is instead the way that the project is handled that determines the finality of the project. The risk should be handled in a manner that resembles the use of project management skills. Moving into the future, I will always ensure that I use the risk management skills that I have learned to address future issues. I trust that by rationally using the skills, I will manage to address future assessments more amicably and in a more advanced way. 

References

Besner, C., & Hobbs, B. (2012). The paradox of risk management; a project management practice perspective. International journal of managing projects in business, 5(2), 230-247.

Burke, R. (2013). Project management: planning and control techniques. New Jersey, USA.

Cagliano, A. C., Grimaldi, S., & Rafele, C. (2015). Choosing project risk management techniques. A theoretical framework. Journal of Risk Research, 18(2), 232-248.

Carvalho, M. M. D., & Rabechini Junior, R. (2015). Impact of risk management on project performance: the importance of soft skills. International Journal of Production Research, 53(2), 321-340.

Dey, P. K. (2012). Project risk management using multiple criteria decision-making technique and decision tree analysis: a case study of Indian oil refinery. Production Planning & Control, 23(12), 903-921.

Kerzner, H., & Kerzner, H. R. (2017). Project management: a systems approach to planning, scheduling, and controlling. John Wiley & Sons.

Kutsch, E., & Hall, M. (2009). The rational choice of not applying project risk management in information technology projects. Project Management Journal, 40(3), 72-81.

Kwan, T. W., & Leung, H. K. (2011). A risk management methodology for project risk dependencies. IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering, 37(5), 635-648.

Larson, E. W., & Gray, C. F. (2015). A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge: PMBOK (®) Guide. Project Management Institute.

Teller, J., Kock, A., & Gemünden, H. G. (2014). Risk management in project portfolios is more than managing project risks: A contingency perspective on risk management. Project Management Journal, 45(4), 67-80.