Please answer the following questions, when answering please number so that I can know which your replying to.
1. Why does a project require monitoring? Give an example of a project with which you have been involved that required monitoring. What was the end result of your project?
2. Discuss possible phenomena that may influence the execution of a project. In addition, discuss how you as a project manager might handle these phenomena.
3. Describe monitoring tools that might be employed throughout a project’s duration.
4. Compare and contrast the three methods of continuous learning during a project.
Course Textbook
Brown, K. A., & Hyer, N. L. (2010). Managing projects: A team-based approach. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill/Irwin
Answer
Project monitoring
Question one
Project monitoring is essential and necessary for the achievement of success of a project. Crawford and Bryce (2003) argue that by employing project surveillance systems, accountability and performance result in transparency, efficiency, and effectiveness. For instance, NGO’s highly rely on donor funding. Project monitoring hence lead to rigorous documentation and communication to show transparency, informed management decisions to ensure efficiency and organizational learning brought effectiveness.
Question two
Possible phenomenon that may influence the execution of a project is cost, time and quality aspect (Brown & Hyer, 2010). Price affects how smooth the project implementation progresses without stopping because of lack or depletion. Time also affects project execution depending on the timeframe allocated for the project. High quality products and results should emerge at the end of the project. Efficient project valuation is essential for a correct estimate of the budget. The evaluation will also ensure that the right time allocation for the project for better documentation during the drafting of project contracts. Solving of quality issues is through the use of suitable materials, qualified personnel, contractors and labor for the project.
Question three
According to Crawford and Bryce (2003), the frequent monitoring tool is the Logical Framework Approach. It is a tool for analyzing and offering strategies to projects. It arranges objectives and goals depending on their priority and the means for verification of these objectives at each stage to determine whether the project is on track. However, it can be modified depending on the type of project. Monitoring and evaluation information systems can also be used in project monitoring. This tool measures the performance of the project at regular intervals hence correcting mistakes and problems as soon as they are detected.
Question four
There are several ways of constant learning during a project. The first is when individuals in a project experience a demanding task that requires action. The mission makes them think carefully, and they research for new ways that can be used to accomplish that task. The second is when there is an element of surprise making the problem not ignorable. Thus, individuals have to come up with new innovative ways of solving the problem. Another is when there is no immediate solution thus as individuals brainstorm and work as a team to get the solution. In the end, the whole group learn new information on how to and not to do certain things and carry out certain tasks (Brown & Hyer, 2010).
References
Brown, K. A., & Hyer, N. L. (2010). Managing projects: A team-based approach. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill/Irwin
Crawford, P., & Bryce, P. (2003). Project monitoring and evaluation: a method for enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of aid project implementation. International journal of project management, 21(5), 363-373
