Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Chapter One Summary - Project Management @ 3:20 PM
~Chapter One Summary - Project Management~
- Project management is a methodical and planned approach used to guide all the tasks and resources required to develop projects. It is an ongoing process that monitors and manages all aspects of a project's development.
- The Project Triangle describes time, money and scope that is considered in project management. In any one side of the triangle is altered, the remaining two sides are also affected.
- Project management establishes and maintains a balance between money, time and scope in an effort to develop a system of the highest quality. This is an ongoing process in the system development life cycle.
Communication Skills
Active Listening
Mirroring:
- Involves speaking some of the speaker's key words which indicates that you are interested and would like to know and understand more.
- Also allows for the speaker to be able to identify how appropriate and accuracy of their message.
Paraphrasing:
- Involves the listener using their own words to explain what the speaker just said and reflects the feelings of the listener.
- It helps the speaker to understand how their message sounds to others and the listener is able to acknowledge the speaker's feelings and reflects their words.
Summarising:
- Commonly used to refocus or direct the speaker to some important or to reach an agreement so the conversation can end.
- A summary of points can also cause the speaker to elaborate on key aspects and confirms the listener's understanding.
Clarifying Questions:
- The listener asks questions or makes statements that encourage the speaker to provide more detailed explanations.
- Open ended questions are used where a free and extended response is required rather than a simple answer.
- Closed questions encouraged single word or short answers which is often a simple yes or no and should be used with caution.
Motivational Responses:
- The purpose is to encourage the speaker and reinforce in their mind that you are indeed listening and interested in what they have to say.
- Another technique is to show that you relate to or have experienced in what the speaker is saying, by placing yourself in the situation in order to reinforce the acceptance of their words.
Conflict Resolution
- Likely to occur in areas concerning; allocating limited resources to development tasks, differing goals of team members, scheduling of tasks, personal differences and internal conflict within individuals.
- Some strategies that assist in resolving conflict include; attacking the problem, brainstorming where each person expresses ideas for a solution, mediation between parties and group problem solving.
Negotiation Skills
- Negotiation is done to reach a compromise in a situation that suits both parties through communication ideas, listening and understanding. Negotiation should be a friendly exchange where differences are argued logically in a reasoned manner.
- Being able to know in advance all you can about the person, product, service and/or organisation prior to negotiations commencing