William Knopf- Blog entry week 3
Getting started in a course that is run in the online environment will be different in many ways then the traditional first days that I have come a custom to. However in other ways the experience will be the same, but with different and new techniques. One important item to consider and know is the technology that is currently being used by the students. This is extremely important due to it sets limits to what you can do. One thing that I think is great about the way Walden does their courses is that you know the technology prerequisites upfront. This way it allows the students to know the minimum amount of technology that they will need to be successful in the courses. Also this has a benefit to the instructor, because they know the students at least have the minimum technology for the course. Additional software, hardware, and accessories can be added later if needed, for example when I had to purchase the CS5 suite for the second course.
Communication is always the key to any healthy and productive relationship. This is true in the traditional classroom as well as the online environment. I major difference that has to be known is that the non-verbal communication will be lost in the online environment due to no face-to-face time. So communication has to be concise and to the point. One concern that I have is that sometimes written items such as emails, can be read with different attitudes. I am always careful to not make the tone of my communication negative or harsh. Vice versa if I read an email and feel upset or angry, I don’t response immediately. I walk away from the communication and come back to it later. This way I can be surer that it was the true tone of the communication and not my “reading” into it.
Variety of instruction is another thing to consider when setting up an online course. Like the authors Boettcher & Conrad (2010) stated that making different group sizes for projects is a good way to vary instruction and peer to peer learning. Another method that I use in my classroom that can be effective is modeling. For certain tasks and projects having an example or even a short tutorial video on how to do it can help the students. Another important thing to consider for setting up a course is to have good discussion questions and limited instructor responses (Boettcher & Conrad, 2010). The learner focused style of instruction allows the peers to help teach each other. In discussions this can be halted or interrupted by too much instructor presence in the discussion boards.
Boettcher, J. V., & Conrad, R. (2010). The online teaching survival guide: simple and practical pedagogical tips. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Week 3
William Knopf- Blog entry week 3
Getting started in a course that is run in the online environment will be different in many ways then the traditional first days that I have come a custom to. However in other ways the experience will be the same, but with different and new techniques. One important item to consider and know is the technology that is currently being used by the students. This is extremely important due to it sets limits to what you can do. One thing that I think is great about the way Walden does their courses is that you know the technology prerequisites upfront. This way it allows the students to know the minimum amount of technology that they will need to be successful in the courses. Also this has a benefit to the instructor, because they know the students at least have the minimum technology for the course. Additional software, hardware, and accessories can be added later if needed, for example when I had to purchase the CS5 suite for the second course.
Communication is always the key to any healthy and productive relationship. This is true in the traditional classroom as well as the online environment. I major difference that has to be known is that the non-verbal communication will be lost in the online environment due to no face-to-face time. So communication has to be concise and to the point. One concern that I have is that sometimes written items such as emails, can be read with different attitudes. I am always careful to not make the tone of my communication negative or harsh. Vice versa if I read an email and feel upset or angry, I don’t response immediately. I walk away from the communication and come back to it later. This way I can be surer that it was the true tone of the communication and not my “reading” into it.
Variety of instruction is another thing to consider when setting up an online course. Like the authors Boettcher & Conrad (2010) stated that making different group sizes for projects is a good way to vary instruction and peer to peer learning. Another method that I use in my classroom that can be effective is modeling. For certain tasks and projects having an example or even a short tutorial video on how to do it can help the students. Another important thing to consider for setting up a course is to have good discussion questions and limited instructor responses (Boettcher & Conrad, 2010). The learner focused style of instruction allows the peers to help teach each other. In discussions this can be halted or interrupted by too much instructor presence in the discussion boards.
Boettcher, J. V., & Conrad, R. (2010). The online teaching survival guide: simple and practical pedagogical tips. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Getting started in a course that is run in the online environment will be different in many ways then the traditional first days that I have come a custom to. However in other ways the experience will be the same, but with different and new techniques. One important item to consider and know is the technology that is currently being used by the students. This is extremely important due to it sets limits to what you can do. One thing that I think is great about the way Walden does their courses is that you know the technology prerequisites upfront. This way it allows the students to know the minimum amount of technology that they will need to be successful in the courses. Also this has a benefit to the instructor, because they know the students at least have the minimum technology for the course. Additional software, hardware, and accessories can be added later if needed, for example when I had to purchase the CS5 suite for the second course.
Communication is always the key to any healthy and productive relationship. This is true in the traditional classroom as well as the online environment. I major difference that has to be known is that the non-verbal communication will be lost in the online environment due to no face-to-face time. So communication has to be concise and to the point. One concern that I have is that sometimes written items such as emails, can be read with different attitudes. I am always careful to not make the tone of my communication negative or harsh. Vice versa if I read an email and feel upset or angry, I don’t response immediately. I walk away from the communication and come back to it later. This way I can be surer that it was the true tone of the communication and not my “reading” into it.
Variety of instruction is another thing to consider when setting up an online course. Like the authors Boettcher & Conrad (2010) stated that making different group sizes for projects is a good way to vary instruction and peer to peer learning. Another method that I use in my classroom that can be effective is modeling. For certain tasks and projects having an example or even a short tutorial video on how to do it can help the students. Another important thing to consider for setting up a course is to have good discussion questions and limited instructor responses (Boettcher & Conrad, 2010). The learner focused style of instruction allows the peers to help teach each other. In discussions this can be halted or interrupted by too much instructor presence in the discussion boards.
Boettcher, J. V., & Conrad, R. (2010). The online teaching survival guide: simple and practical pedagogical tips. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Week 3
William Knopf- Blog entry week 3
Getting started in a course that is run in the online environment will be different in many ways then the traditional first days that I have come a custom to. However in other ways the experience will be the same, but with different and new techniques. One important item to consider and know is the technology that is currently being used by the students. This is extremely important due to it sets limits to what you can do. One thing that I think is great about the way Walden does their courses is that you know the technology prerequisites upfront. This way it allows the students to know the minimum amount of technology that they will need to be successful in the courses. Also this has a benefit to the instructor, because they know the students at least have the minimum technology for the course. Additional software, hardware, and accessories can be added later if needed, for example when I had to purchase the CS5 suite for the second course.
Communication is always the key to any healthy and productive relationship. This is true in the traditional classroom as well as the online environment. I major difference that has to be known is that the non-verbal communication will be lost in the online environment due to no face-to-face time. So communication has to be concise and to the point. One concern that I have is that sometimes written items such as emails, can be read with different attitudes. I am always careful to not make the tone of my communication negative or harsh. Vice versa if I read an email and feel upset or angry, I don’t response immediately. I walk away from the communication and come back to it later. This way I can be surer that it was the true tone of the communication and not my “reading” into it.
Variety of instruction is another thing to consider when setting up an online course. Like the authors Boettcher & Conrad (2010) stated that making different group sizes for projects is a good way to vary instruction and peer to peer learning. Another method that I use in my classroom that can be effective is modeling. For certain tasks and projects having an example or even a short tutorial video on how to do it can help the students. Another important thing to consider for setting up a course is to have good discussion questions and limited instructor responses (Boettcher & Conrad, 2010). The learner focused style of instruction allows the peers to help teach each other. In discussions this can be halted or interrupted by too much instructor presence in the discussion boards.
Boettcher, J. V., & Conrad, R. (2010). The online teaching survival guide: simple and practical pedagogical tips. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Getting started in a course that is run in the online environment will be different in many ways then the traditional first days that I have come a custom to. However in other ways the experience will be the same, but with different and new techniques. One important item to consider and know is the technology that is currently being used by the students. This is extremely important due to it sets limits to what you can do. One thing that I think is great about the way Walden does their courses is that you know the technology prerequisites upfront. This way it allows the students to know the minimum amount of technology that they will need to be successful in the courses. Also this has a benefit to the instructor, because they know the students at least have the minimum technology for the course. Additional software, hardware, and accessories can be added later if needed, for example when I had to purchase the CS5 suite for the second course.
Communication is always the key to any healthy and productive relationship. This is true in the traditional classroom as well as the online environment. I major difference that has to be known is that the non-verbal communication will be lost in the online environment due to no face-to-face time. So communication has to be concise and to the point. One concern that I have is that sometimes written items such as emails, can be read with different attitudes. I am always careful to not make the tone of my communication negative or harsh. Vice versa if I read an email and feel upset or angry, I don’t response immediately. I walk away from the communication and come back to it later. This way I can be surer that it was the true tone of the communication and not my “reading” into it.
Variety of instruction is another thing to consider when setting up an online course. Like the authors Boettcher & Conrad (2010) stated that making different group sizes for projects is a good way to vary instruction and peer to peer learning. Another method that I use in my classroom that can be effective is modeling. For certain tasks and projects having an example or even a short tutorial video on how to do it can help the students. Another important thing to consider for setting up a course is to have good discussion questions and limited instructor responses (Boettcher & Conrad, 2010). The learner focused style of instruction allows the peers to help teach each other. In discussions this can be halted or interrupted by too much instructor presence in the discussion boards.
Boettcher, J. V., & Conrad, R. (2010). The online teaching survival guide: simple and practical pedagogical tips. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Monday, September 12, 2011
EIDT 6510
Online learning is an interesting and challenging concept. One of the things that interested me was the chance to make my classes more interactive when the resources are tight. Looking back at the last course that was taken by me online fit right into the foundations and major concepts that Dr. Pratt and Dr. Palloff (2011) stated; the course was a learning community. The interesting part about the learning community system that is used by Walden was setup and running without me even knowing that was the principle focus. The interaction between the students and instructor was a great experience. The role of the instructor was equal and the learning mostly occurred from peer-peer interaction. The only con from the last course was the time it took the instructor to grade and give feed-back to assignments. Sometimes the next assignment was due before feed-back was given on the previous assignment.
The principles that were aligned in the previous course were the achievement of the course objectives through engaging activities; achievement of developing a learning community (LC) between the learners/instructor; reflection of the knowledge obtained throughout the course; increased learner self-directed focus; and learning was conveyed by the peer-to-peer interaction (Palloff & Pratt, 2011).
The last course was completely converted for the online environment. The course was not just taken from the traditional classroom and placed online. The course was interactive, engaging and student focused. The instruction came from the equal partnership between the learners and the instructor, not a silo-instructed course. Dr. Saba (2011) discussed that when using learning strategies they should be established and backed by supported evidence of success. The theories that are questionable should not be used. The major focus of the course should first be the foundation of the theories, the knowledge of the field (course related), the concepts and principles used (to develop knowledge), and making the instruction effective for the learner (Saba, 2011).
The only improvements that I saw for the previous class would be the decrease in amount of time for graded assignments. The major problem was that you could not improve or correct any problems before the next assignment was due. The interaction between the instructor and the learner with requirements and corrections was a huge factor for me. In the engagement model that was discussed by Conrad (2004) the principles and problem-based learning are essential for a learning community that is engaged. With the previous course the principles and problem-based learning were there, however the maximum learning for me could not occur because of late input by the instructor. I was not able to transfer the needed information missed from each assignment to the next.
Sources:
Conrad, R., & Donaldson, J. A. (2004). Engaging the online learner: Activities and resources for creative instruction. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Palloff, R., Pratt, K. (2011). Online Learning Communities. Walden Video Library.
Saba, F. (2011). Evaluating Distance Learning Theory. Walden Video Library.
The principles that were aligned in the previous course were the achievement of the course objectives through engaging activities; achievement of developing a learning community (LC) between the learners/instructor; reflection of the knowledge obtained throughout the course; increased learner self-directed focus; and learning was conveyed by the peer-to-peer interaction (Palloff & Pratt, 2011).
The last course was completely converted for the online environment. The course was not just taken from the traditional classroom and placed online. The course was interactive, engaging and student focused. The instruction came from the equal partnership between the learners and the instructor, not a silo-instructed course. Dr. Saba (2011) discussed that when using learning strategies they should be established and backed by supported evidence of success. The theories that are questionable should not be used. The major focus of the course should first be the foundation of the theories, the knowledge of the field (course related), the concepts and principles used (to develop knowledge), and making the instruction effective for the learner (Saba, 2011).
The only improvements that I saw for the previous class would be the decrease in amount of time for graded assignments. The major problem was that you could not improve or correct any problems before the next assignment was due. The interaction between the instructor and the learner with requirements and corrections was a huge factor for me. In the engagement model that was discussed by Conrad (2004) the principles and problem-based learning are essential for a learning community that is engaged. With the previous course the principles and problem-based learning were there, however the maximum learning for me could not occur because of late input by the instructor. I was not able to transfer the needed information missed from each assignment to the next.
Sources:
Conrad, R., & Donaldson, J. A. (2004). Engaging the online learner: Activities and resources for creative instruction. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Palloff, R., Pratt, K. (2011). Online Learning Communities. Walden Video Library.
Saba, F. (2011). Evaluating Distance Learning Theory. Walden Video Library.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Week 6 Blog
Week 6-William Knopf
Scope creep, it happens to even the best plans and best PM. Since I am a homeowner, I have to make sure that the house is kept up and looking at its best. My current home (that I have been in for 8 years) was in a serious need of repairs. As other homeowners know once one thing (appliance, fixture, etc) goes up, others do as well. To be a proactive homeowner my wife and I decided to start some renovations. We sat down and looked at the items that we needed to replace/repair and made a list. According to Stolovitch (2010) one way to keep a project on task is to make a list and then prioritize the items. We did the research for the appliances, the paint, and new fixtures. Then we sat down to find people to assist with the renovations. We looked at friends that we knew had some talents, the professionals (from the phone book), and finally used the internet to look at a few others (Portny, 2008). Once we decided on the contractors for the jobs we started the project. The major things that had to be done were:
1) walls and ceilings painted
2) carpet ripped up and replaced
3) appliances replaced with more efficient ones
The project started with the appliances. We decided after making the list that if we installed them before the other jobs it would be easier and less disruptive to the other jobs. So we hired Sears to replace the trash compactor, dish washer, hot water heater, washer and dryer. We were told by Sears that the whole job would take 3 days to complete. Day one went well; the garbage compactor was installed without any problems. The dishwasher was also supposed to be installed. Here was scope creep number 1; the dishwasher that was there previous was a much older model. Since it was an older model the plumbing was out of code and needed to be replaced before the dishwasher could be installed. Since this was outside the scope and purpose of Sears, we had to locate a plumber and setup appointments. This delayed the dishwasher by a week. As we were waiting for the dishwasher, I instructed Sears to continue with the other installs. The hot water heater, dryer, and washer went in according to the original timeline. However due to the plumber working on the kitchen pipes, I had to delay the painter. Well instead of letting this creep set in, I suggested to the painter to work on all the other rooms and finish the kitchen last. As the painter was working on the fourth day, he threw out his back (not sure how, it was only a small roller set). The painting was then delayed for 3 days. All the while, the carpet people were trying to setup the removal and install of the carpet. Similar to the painter, I rearranged the carpet people to the rooms where the painter was finished. Sounded great at the time, however upon removal of the carpet near the French doors, the floor board was not secure enough for the new carpet. Scope creep came in again! I had to call a handy-man to come in and replace a section of the floor (delay 2 days). Finally the dishwasher was installed, the painter finished the rest of the house, and the carpet was installed. The original timeline for the project was 2 weeks, after scope creep it lasted 5 weeks. Throughout the entire process I had to be flexible and communicate all the changes to the other contractors, this was one of the biggest points from Stolovitch (2010).
If the project was setup by me now after learning about timelines, budgeting and keeping staff on task, I would have changed a few things. In the timeline I would have given each contractor a larger window and stretched the project over a longer period of time to allow for problems. Even though the original plan was to get everything done in 2 weeks, a more realistic number was 4 weeks. Luckily we had extra money set aside for the miscellaneous side jobs needed for the installs. However next time I will add a buffer into the budget of the project.
Sources:
• Portny, S. E., Mantel, S. J., Meredith, J. R., Shafer, S. M., Sutton, M. M., & Kramer, B. E. (2008). Project management: Planning, scheduling, and controlling projects. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
• Video Program: “Monitoring Projects”
Dr. Stolovitch discusses how to manage ongoing project activities and overcome challenges as they arise.
• Video Program: “Practitioner Voices: You Can’t Win Them All”
Vince Budrovich shares the experience of a project that wasn’t successful and discusses what he learned from the experience.
Scope creep, it happens to even the best plans and best PM. Since I am a homeowner, I have to make sure that the house is kept up and looking at its best. My current home (that I have been in for 8 years) was in a serious need of repairs. As other homeowners know once one thing (appliance, fixture, etc) goes up, others do as well. To be a proactive homeowner my wife and I decided to start some renovations. We sat down and looked at the items that we needed to replace/repair and made a list. According to Stolovitch (2010) one way to keep a project on task is to make a list and then prioritize the items. We did the research for the appliances, the paint, and new fixtures. Then we sat down to find people to assist with the renovations. We looked at friends that we knew had some talents, the professionals (from the phone book), and finally used the internet to look at a few others (Portny, 2008). Once we decided on the contractors for the jobs we started the project. The major things that had to be done were:
1) walls and ceilings painted
2) carpet ripped up and replaced
3) appliances replaced with more efficient ones
The project started with the appliances. We decided after making the list that if we installed them before the other jobs it would be easier and less disruptive to the other jobs. So we hired Sears to replace the trash compactor, dish washer, hot water heater, washer and dryer. We were told by Sears that the whole job would take 3 days to complete. Day one went well; the garbage compactor was installed without any problems. The dishwasher was also supposed to be installed. Here was scope creep number 1; the dishwasher that was there previous was a much older model. Since it was an older model the plumbing was out of code and needed to be replaced before the dishwasher could be installed. Since this was outside the scope and purpose of Sears, we had to locate a plumber and setup appointments. This delayed the dishwasher by a week. As we were waiting for the dishwasher, I instructed Sears to continue with the other installs. The hot water heater, dryer, and washer went in according to the original timeline. However due to the plumber working on the kitchen pipes, I had to delay the painter. Well instead of letting this creep set in, I suggested to the painter to work on all the other rooms and finish the kitchen last. As the painter was working on the fourth day, he threw out his back (not sure how, it was only a small roller set). The painting was then delayed for 3 days. All the while, the carpet people were trying to setup the removal and install of the carpet. Similar to the painter, I rearranged the carpet people to the rooms where the painter was finished. Sounded great at the time, however upon removal of the carpet near the French doors, the floor board was not secure enough for the new carpet. Scope creep came in again! I had to call a handy-man to come in and replace a section of the floor (delay 2 days). Finally the dishwasher was installed, the painter finished the rest of the house, and the carpet was installed. The original timeline for the project was 2 weeks, after scope creep it lasted 5 weeks. Throughout the entire process I had to be flexible and communicate all the changes to the other contractors, this was one of the biggest points from Stolovitch (2010).
If the project was setup by me now after learning about timelines, budgeting and keeping staff on task, I would have changed a few things. In the timeline I would have given each contractor a larger window and stretched the project over a longer period of time to allow for problems. Even though the original plan was to get everything done in 2 weeks, a more realistic number was 4 weeks. Luckily we had extra money set aside for the miscellaneous side jobs needed for the installs. However next time I will add a buffer into the budget of the project.
Sources:
• Portny, S. E., Mantel, S. J., Meredith, J. R., Shafer, S. M., Sutton, M. M., & Kramer, B. E. (2008). Project management: Planning, scheduling, and controlling projects. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
• Video Program: “Monitoring Projects”
Dr. Stolovitch discusses how to manage ongoing project activities and overcome challenges as they arise.
• Video Program: “Practitioner Voices: You Can’t Win Them All”
Vince Budrovich shares the experience of a project that wasn’t successful and discusses what he learned from the experience.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Estimating Costs-Resources
http://www.bidshop.org/
The first link is a link to help with construction costs. This one is helpful to people like myself that want to do home improvements. I also believe that it could be used professionally to “ball park” some projects with construction. According to our resources this week and last, finding and planning effectively can help projects run smoother (Portny, 2008). If you are well informed, you will be able to make better budgets, timelines, and keep the project moving.
http://ceh.nasa.gov/downloadfiles/Web%20Links/cost_hb_public-6-5.pdf
The next link is actually a brochure or packet. There are several examples of cost estimation and how to effectively make a good budget. There is also a great responsibility chart that breaks down a project. It was a good help when I created my allocation chart. According to Stolovitch (2010) the more organized the planning is the better the flow will be. If you design a project with harsh pivot points, when problems come up they can strangle the project. You have be flexible and have as many resources as possible to help solve the problems that will come up.
The first link is a link to help with construction costs. This one is helpful to people like myself that want to do home improvements. I also believe that it could be used professionally to “ball park” some projects with construction. According to our resources this week and last, finding and planning effectively can help projects run smoother (Portny, 2008). If you are well informed, you will be able to make better budgets, timelines, and keep the project moving.
http://ceh.nasa.gov/downloadfiles/Web%20Links/cost_hb_public-6-5.pdf
The next link is actually a brochure or packet. There are several examples of cost estimation and how to effectively make a good budget. There is also a great responsibility chart that breaks down a project. It was a good help when I created my allocation chart. According to Stolovitch (2010) the more organized the planning is the better the flow will be. If you design a project with harsh pivot points, when problems come up they can strangle the project. You have be flexible and have as many resources as possible to help solve the problems that will come up.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Communication is the KEY!
William Knopf-Blog posting Week 3
The message was the same throughout the 3 different types of communication (email, voicemail, and face to face). As I went from each message I felt that it was the same for the email and voicemail, and different with the face to face.
Perceptions influence how you can take any of the messages. In emails, I have found that you have to use very direct language. Also the way a person takes the message depends greatly on their mood and how the take the written message. In the voicemail the tone of the message can determine how the listener takes the message. In the example the voice was positive and asking in a supporting manner. Finally in the face to face communication, your non-verbal communication speaks louder than your words. Like Stolovitch (2010) stated the attitude, body language is a huge factor in communication. One thing that I was taught long ago (not sure by who), “the mouth speaks lies, the body tells you all!” This is so true, and in the face to face communication, I felt negative vibes from her. From my perception the voicemail conveyed the best and true meaning of the message.
From the exercise and the video segments, communication needs to be direct and to the point. The problem should be stated clearly and in the beginning, a solution of some kind should be suggested, and how you want the person to respond to you. One thing that I need to work on is getting all the team players involved and engaged in my projects. I have run projects so long by myself that I will have to learn how share and communicate the tasks and focus (Portny, 2008). One thing that I have done and it was suggested by the text is involving the right people (Portny, 2008). Identifying the right people in the project is extremely important and making sure they stay engaged is a key feature (Stolovitch, 2010). Another important item is to not be ambiguous (Stolovitch, 2010), in the case study Carlos was extremely ambiguous and open-ended, and this lead to problems in the project with Catherine and Dan. There are many things to think about and I liked how Catherine put a real world number on how much time it takes, 300:1 (Portny, 2008). Planning is extremely important and just as important as communication, because without proper communication all the planning is worthless.
Sources:
• Portny, S. E., Mantel, S. J., Meredith, J. R., Shafer, S. M., Sutton, M. M., & Kramer, B. E. (2008). Project management: Planning, scheduling, and controlling projects. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
• Video Program: “Communicating with Stakeholders”
Dr. Stolovitch discusses communication strategies and managing client expectations.
• Video Program: “Practitioner Voices: Strategies for Working with Stakeholders”
In this program, Troy Achong discusses strategies for dealing with different stakeholder personalities, and Vince Budrovich illustrates why stakeholders need to be kept involved during the entire lifecycle of the project.
• Video Program: “Project Management Concerns: Communication Strategies and Organizational Culture”
Dr. Stolovitch gives Carole Kramer advice on adjusting her communication style to fit her client’s culture.
The message was the same throughout the 3 different types of communication (email, voicemail, and face to face). As I went from each message I felt that it was the same for the email and voicemail, and different with the face to face.
Perceptions influence how you can take any of the messages. In emails, I have found that you have to use very direct language. Also the way a person takes the message depends greatly on their mood and how the take the written message. In the voicemail the tone of the message can determine how the listener takes the message. In the example the voice was positive and asking in a supporting manner. Finally in the face to face communication, your non-verbal communication speaks louder than your words. Like Stolovitch (2010) stated the attitude, body language is a huge factor in communication. One thing that I was taught long ago (not sure by who), “the mouth speaks lies, the body tells you all!” This is so true, and in the face to face communication, I felt negative vibes from her. From my perception the voicemail conveyed the best and true meaning of the message.
From the exercise and the video segments, communication needs to be direct and to the point. The problem should be stated clearly and in the beginning, a solution of some kind should be suggested, and how you want the person to respond to you. One thing that I need to work on is getting all the team players involved and engaged in my projects. I have run projects so long by myself that I will have to learn how share and communicate the tasks and focus (Portny, 2008). One thing that I have done and it was suggested by the text is involving the right people (Portny, 2008). Identifying the right people in the project is extremely important and making sure they stay engaged is a key feature (Stolovitch, 2010). Another important item is to not be ambiguous (Stolovitch, 2010), in the case study Carlos was extremely ambiguous and open-ended, and this lead to problems in the project with Catherine and Dan. There are many things to think about and I liked how Catherine put a real world number on how much time it takes, 300:1 (Portny, 2008). Planning is extremely important and just as important as communication, because without proper communication all the planning is worthless.
Sources:
• Portny, S. E., Mantel, S. J., Meredith, J. R., Shafer, S. M., Sutton, M. M., & Kramer, B. E. (2008). Project management: Planning, scheduling, and controlling projects. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
• Video Program: “Communicating with Stakeholders”
Dr. Stolovitch discusses communication strategies and managing client expectations.
• Video Program: “Practitioner Voices: Strategies for Working with Stakeholders”
In this program, Troy Achong discusses strategies for dealing with different stakeholder personalities, and Vince Budrovich illustrates why stakeholders need to be kept involved during the entire lifecycle of the project.
• Video Program: “Project Management Concerns: Communication Strategies and Organizational Culture”
Dr. Stolovitch gives Carole Kramer advice on adjusting her communication style to fit her client’s culture.
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