Learning From A Project “Post-Mortem”

 Dr. Stolovitch (Walden University LLC, n.d.) mentions that a project manager's role in a project includes initiating and supervising its various components. This involves defining and managing activities and resource allocation, including budget management. Last Christmas, I completed a do-it-yourself (DIY) project to give my bedroom a fresh look by changing its color scheme and making it appear brighter and more inviting. The decision was primarily influenced by the state of the existing paint on the walls and ceiling, which had started to show signs of wear and tear, including fading and peeling in multiple areas. Therefore, the project aimed to transform my bedroom's interior into a more aesthetically pleasing and comfortable space while adhering to a predefined budget. Given that I lacked professional painting experience, I turned to YouTube for guidance, where I watched several home improvement videos to gain insights into the project's scope. After careful consideration, I concluded that I wouldn't need to tackle some of the tasks demonstrated in the videos. I believed I could manage the project independently during my vacation break.

While I achieved my project's primary goal of creating an aesthetically pleasing bedroom and enhancing my painting skills, it didn't come without its fair share of challenges. These hurdles included exceeding my budget and failing to complete the project within the initially set timeline. Looking back, there were areas where I excelled and others where improvement was evident. Contributing to the project's success were the extensive research efforts I undertook before commencing the project. This research included watching numerous DIY YouTube videos related to home improvement and painting techniques. Furthermore, seeking advice from professional painters and hardware store staff concerning paint selection, color choices, painting methods, and carefully selecting high-quality materials played pivotal roles in achieving a successful outcome. Despite the budgetary constraints, my unwavering determination to complete the project drove its ultimate success.

On the other hand, certain factors posed significant challenges. The project exceeded the initially allocated budget due to unexpected expenses, primarily related to the need for additional materials and tools. Moreover, preparing the ceiling for painting, involving tasks such as patching and sanding, proved more time-consuming and physically demanding than I had initially anticipated. Consequently, I had to enlist the services of a painter to complete this aspect of the project. Furthermore, since I hadn't foreseen that the project would consume the entirety of my vacation, balancing it with other personal commitments proved challenging, resulting in a project timeline longer than initially planned.

According to  Williams  van Rooij (2010), project management processes and procedures can be used across many industries and various project types and sizes. Employing the project management process allows a project manager to distinctly outline the project, create feasible timelines, and select processes, levels of detail, and methodological components pertinent to the particular project in question. Furthermore, Williams van Rooij (2012) highlights the critical importance of specific knowledge areas within project management. These encompass time management, wherein project managers engage in activity duration estimation and resource allocation; risk management, where project managers identify project risks and formulate risk response plans; and cost management, in which project managers estimate project costs and develop budgetary plans. Addressing these knowledge areas comprehensively during the project initiation and planning phases is crucial.

While the project achieved success, there are specific project management (PM) process components that, if incorporated, could have further enhanced its outcomes. These include:

Project Planning: A detailed project plan with cost estimates, milestones, and a contingency budget would have provided better control.

Cost Management: Implementing a cost management process to track expenses, manage variances, and control the budget could have prevented overspending.

Risk Assessment and Management: incorporating a formal risk assessment and mitigation plan could have helped identify potential issues, such as the budget overrun, the extent of surface preparation required, or the challenges of managing time alongside other commitments. This would have allowed for better planning and allocation of resources.

 

References

Walden University, LLC. (Executive Producer). (n.d.). Project kickoff [Video file]. Retrieved from https://waldenu.instructure.com

Williams van Rooij, S. (2010). Instructional design and project management: complementary or divergent?. Education Tech Research Dev, 59, 139-­158. DOI:10.1007/s11423-­010-­9176-­z. 

Williams van Rooij, S. (2012). The career path to instructional design project manager: an expert perspective from the US professional services sector. International Journal of Training and Development, 17(1), 33-­53. DOI:10.1111/j.1468-­2419.2012.00414.x.