PROJECT MANAGEMENT

Creativity and Technology in Business

WEEK 4 – BLOG ASSESSMENT – QUESTIONS

 

Gabriela Gedeonova

B00239895

 

A         Mini Case Study 

Recently, Kathy Smith, a project manager for a large industrial construction company was assigned to oversee a multi-million-pound factory in Spain.  Kathy had earned this assignment after completing a number of smaller assignments in the UK over the past three years.  This was her first overseas assignment and she was eager to make a good impression, particularly given the size and scope of the project.  Successfully completing this project would increase her visibility within the organisation dramatically and earmark her as a candidate for upper management.  Kathy had good project management skills; in particular, she was organised and highly self-motivated.  Team members at her last two project assignments used to joke that just trying to keep up with her was a full-time job!

 

Kathy wasted no time settling into oversee the development of the new development.  Operating under her normal work approach, Kathy routinely required her staff and the senior members of the project team to work long hours, ignoring weekend breaks if important milestones were coming up, and generally adopting a round-the-clock work approach for the project.  Unfortunately, in merely expecting her team, made up of local residents, to change their work habits to accommodate her expectations, Kathy completely misread these individuals.  They bitterly resented her overbearing style, unwillingness to consult them on key questions, and aloof nature. Rather than directly confront her, however, team members began a campaign of passive resistance to her leadership.  They would purposely drag their feet on important assignments or cite insurmountable problems when none, in fact, existed.  Kathy’s standard response was to push herself and her project team harder, barraging subordinates with increasingly urgent communications demanding faster performance.  To her bewilderment, nothing seemed to work.  The project became quickly bogged down due to poor team performance and ended up costing the project organisation large financial penalties for late delivery.  Kathy might have many traits that worked in her favour, but she was seriously lacking in the ability to recognise the feelings and expectations of others and take them into consideration.

 

1        Discuss how Kathy lacked sufficient emotional intelligence to be effective in her new project manager assignment.

 

2        Of the various elements of emotional intelligence, which element(s) did she appear to exhibit successfully?  What evidence can you provide to support this?

 

Answer:

Kathy is self aware of her goals and what she wants to achieve within the company.  Her self- motivation and strong working ethics is benefitting her success in UK as we are culturally driven by big achievements and wealth. Because she has been with company in UK for 3 years she is fully aware of working ethics and culture she works in, she has ability to think before she acts and avoid unnecessary behaviour from her colleagues. Being made to oversee a big project abroad is reflection on her hard work and motivation within the company and her deduction is believe to help her to achieve a success of it but also these strong factors can play against her in the new environment. Working oversee with new culture background  and working ethics with different employees rights proved to create  difficulties to achieve what was expecting from her as she didn’t manage to develop social skills within this environment which could be useful in achieving the goal and move people in direction she thought is desirable.

 

B         IT Question

Management and leadership of the project management process require good communication.

Given that good communication plays a key role in the success of any project, the main methods of communication and how can IT and applications contribute what are?                                             (A and B – 200 words max in total   = 5%)

 

Answer:

Main methods of communication are oral, written and body language. But within an organisation we constantly are using some form of communication or another to send a message across. Using the internet for purpose of sending or receiving an email, video conferencing, getting the customers reviews and opinions and many other non direct communication skills through IT and its application became major role of carry the business in right direction, avoiding obstacles faster and dealing with situation more efficiently.

 

C         PDP element of you Blog

With reference to each of the 5 traits of emotional intelligence, give examples of situations where you have displayed/or could have displayed each of these of traits. This can be either in personal, academic or career circumstances or a mix of these.                                                                     (100 words max = 2%)

 

Answer:

Working in hospitality for a past 10 years I have learn that being a manager is not just about giving orders, but also to try and learn the business background and goals, understand cultural differences within working environment, and also customers’ and employees needs. Also knowing what you are trying to achieve in your workplace and improving your skills daily plays a major factor of developing emotionally.  I believe that I have very strong working ethic so when I was promoted to assistant manager in restaurant I have been working for 3 years I thought that everybody will be same but after a few unsuccessful attempts, I was giving a wise advice from a friend. Not everyone is like you, people are different, and they have a different needs and qualities. Now I try to understand their strengths and weaknesses and work with that or around with the best potential outcome I can get.