It's not just me!

The first couple of modules I completed with the OU provided printed materials - both for the study guide and some of the core texts.  For the most recent and current modules all the material has been on line.

I have really struggled with this.  Maybe an age related thing?  Options I have tried include:

• Printing out the course materials.  Fine until the page count mounts to over a hundred pages.  My home printer really can't cope with big print jobs and isn't sophisticated enough to print booklet style to save paper.
• Reading the material on line on the web page.  Really was a non starter.  One, I've never worked out how to highlight, comment and markup a web page to be able to refer back.  Also I do a lot of studying (not currently because of Covid-19) when travelling.  Trying to read a web page on a plane or overnight ferry was never going to work for me.
• Downloading as a pdf.  Sort of works but depends on how the OU makes the download available.  M815 provides a pdf for a block so there is one integrated file.  But one of the MBA modules provided the pdf as one per section:  this meant I ended up with multiple pdfs (each about 3 pages with an individual title page) which I then needed to edit together to get a topic.  One of the advantages of a downloaded file is that I can word search - 20x3page files makes this impossible.  Also - the links quite often don't work in the downloaded pdf so I have to keep going back to the website - or scanning in advance to check what files are referenced and download them too.  Also - when referencing in assignments you can't reference the downloaded pdf so have to go back to the web-page to reference the on line version.  However, at least with a downloaded pdf I can annotate it and make notes - and with the wonders of OneDrive I can access from laptop and tablet and synchronise between the all my devices.

Its never something that's been raised as an issue by anyone on the module forums so I assumed it was just me until I joined a WhatsApp group for my current module and discovered that many other struggle with this.  There was a long thread on this and it was noticeable how many people had looked at options to get 'hard copies' of the materials and various recommendations for printers.  The comment which particularly struck me was from one student who commented that she can read on line but not study on line.  This did lead to a question on the forum of the current module and one of the tutors commented that when doing detailed work she prints out papers so she can mark up and make notes on.

If its so common that people want hard copies why doesn't the OU offer a printed version as an option?

A tale of 2 PIDs

 This morning's module reading was about different approaches and methods for project management.  One of the methods covered was Prince2.  I felt the text to be didactic and it reinforced my existing prejudices against the method.

However it also enabled me to reflect on why two different Project Initiation Documents (PIDs) I reviewed at work this week prompted very different reactions.

The two documents were written by two different project managers for short technology based projects.

PID-1 was written by a junior member of staff with little project management experience and no formal project management education.  She had been supported by a more senior team member and had drafted a short (6 page) PID for my review.  It was clear, succinct and included the information needed to enable decision making within the context of the wider business.  And it articulated the main points in a manner all the key stakeholders can understand - very much using their language.

PID-2 was written by an experienced professional project manager.  Her document followed the requirements set out in Prince2 to the letter, was 24 pages long and had gaps still to be filled - including some really key ones such as the schedule.  While some of the minutia of items to be excluded from the scope were noted, there were key items missing and assumptions made about what the solution would be before the project starts.  The document was peppered with jargon and was not an easy read:  even for an experienced project manager and certainly not key business stakeholders.

As Ison said "we have arrived at a point where those who do project managing are not fully aware of what they do when they do what they do" (Systems Practice: How to Act, Ray Ison, 2017 pg 234)

APM Dimensions of Professionalism - Where am I now?

The Association for Project Management (APM) has identified five dimensions of professionalism to provide a framework for career development for a project manager

• Breadth: the knowledge needed to manage projects, underpinned by standards and the APM Body of Knowledge.
• Depth: the competencies, the knowledge and experience, that a project manager needs
• Achievement: academic and professional qualifications
• Commitment: planned continuing professional development 
• Accountability: being a professional, and working within a code of conduct.

So, where am I now? Or perhaps more to the point, how do I (objectively) assess myself against each of the criteria?

Breadth

I have worked in and led projects in many sectors (transport, electricity, gas, water, telecoms, local government, consultancy) in many different cultures and believe my CV demonstrates this breadth.  Does it cover the breath described in the APM body of knowledge? Unknown but at this stage I'm not sure I want to go into the detail within the document and am concerned I would get sidetracked from the module work.

Depth

As above I believe I can demonstrate depth - but I have not completed an objective assessment using the APM Competence Framework.  This may provide insights which would help my personal development and be useful in my new role.

Achievement

I do not have any APM qualifications however this module is accredited by the APM so will contribute to this.  I did PRINCE before it was PRINCE2 and its now well out of date.  I did Managing Successful Programmes (MSP) which I refer to and use every day within work.  At this stage in my career I'm unsure what a formal qualification would add for me.

Commitment

Currently evidenced by undertaking an MSc and this module.  Historically my approach has been ad-hoc rather than planned and can be evidenced through my CV and the range and variety of projects, programmes and different technical areas I have worked on.

Accountability

Having joined the APM as a student member I have agreed to abide by the code of conduct.



Next steps / dimensions I choose to focus on over the course of this module:

• Depth - to carry out a competency assessment at start and end of the module to identify areas of focus and measure progress made
• Commitment - to shift from a reactive to proactive approach to CPD

Reflecting on risk

As is often the case a reflective learning post is prompted by a strong reaction to module materials.  In this instance I had a very grumpy reaction to the Risk Tributary section on my current project management module.

What was my experience?

• Probability.  No mention of likelihood (which recognises the possibility of more than one occurrence)
• No guidance on whether to assess the likelihood of the event or the consequences (which gives a very different view of what the resultant risk profile actually looks like!)
• Some very prescriptive dictates eg 
• if the organisation does not have a policy it will be necessary to produce a detailed risk management plan
• restricting when risks can be raised to the times defined in the risk management plan
• how to describe risks (MUST begin with the phrase / MUST be described ....) but only saying that probability/ impact SHOULD be recorded using an agreed rating method 😠
• Impacts - the focus was very much on financial impact.  No recognition at all that a risk may have a minimal financial impact on the project but a huge stakeholder impact.
• Missing was consideration of risk from the project and how it is managed/ delivered on the business.  The focus was very internal to the project itself.
• Decision trees but not event trees
• Issues - something to be escalated - but with no discussion on quantifying the impact they may be having

Reflecting

I have had so many encounters at work when a project manager has taken guidance like this and used it 'from the book' (ie not tried to apply) it without any consideration of the context of the business environment.  This has lead to frustration in the project team, the business, stakeholders and actually increased the risk of project failure.

For example re structured language - a risk manager on a recent project applied the instruction that risks MUST be described in the way mandated in the tributary.  Unfortunately none of the team were experienced risk managers and s/he ended up with a risk register that no-one understood or bought into. In effect it really wasn't worth the paper it was written on.  If s/he had understood the context and the maturity level in the team and worked to help them articulate their concerns we would have had a register which would not have complied with the 'standard' but would have been of much greater value to the team.

Outcomes

My reactions to this tributary have been influence by my work experience and the types of projects I've been involved in in the last few years - many of which have not lent themselves to this 'traditional' approach to risk.  Combined with experience of people not understanding the context or how risk management can and should be an integral part of the system.

Going forward - the tributary material has given me a better understanding of risk management from the perspective of a 'professional' project manager (institution).  And perhaps helped me articulate why I've never taken the plunge and actually joined a professional project management institution despite working in the field for >25 years.  And why I'm enjoying systems thinking so much!

Why M815? And why now?

Why choose to study M815 (Project Management)?

• Because it's an optional module for my chosen masters
• Because it offers a chance for some academic theory, rigour and depth to supplement my practical work experience
• Because it offered the opportunity to learn about how project management approaches have been applied in types of projects I've not been involved in before eg construction
• Because I wanted to broaden my horizons and extend my learning beyond my own experience

Why choose to study the module now?

Because I'm in the middle of my masters so the question would more appropriately be why did I choose to study for a masters now?
I didn't deliberately set out to study for a masters. Two years ago I went through a procurement exercise where I (as an SME) was bidding to get onto a framework contract for a large company.  One of the questions my company was asked was about training and CPD for staff (my company had 2 employees at the time) and I was horrified (and surprised) to realise that I hadn't completed any formal training or education for a number of years.  I had learned lots through all my interim assignments and projects but for that procurement exercise I lost 'points' as there was no evidence of formal learning for staff.
At the same time one of my clients was sent on a leadership development course by her employer - I had enjoyed my experience on such courses when in employment so started to look for something for myself.  De nada.    Lots of adverts for in house courses - but not open.  But lots of adverts for open leadership coaching courses which is not what I was looking for.  And as I searched and talked to people I started to think about something more formally academic - eventually finding the OU module on Systemic Change and through that the MSc Systems Thinking in Practice.