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Project Management Learning Resource

Posted: Mon 13 Oct 2014 5:39 pm
by souar
Hey everyone,

I've been searching round the internet looking for a project management community to chat with and you lot seem pretty spot on.

I'm studying Business with project and operations management at university, as our main task we have to develop a learning resource for project management (vague I know). The task is open ended in terms of who the resource would be for, junior school student through to industry professional, the subject it is focused on and form of delivery (we can create anything from a new piece of software through to even a series of crosswords as long as its managed as a project).

I was hoping you could help me out. Is there anything that stands out either in your education or while working that was never taught to you or a tool that would have improved your learning experience? If you were to talk to a student today who's just starting out studying in project management what would the one (or three, four, however many) thing you would tell them to make sure they learn because no one ever teaches it?

I know this is about as vague a request as the project itself, bare with me this is our first introduction to the field! Anything you got, stories from lessons learnt that we can take ideas away from or just throw me titles of areas of project management that you think are difficult to learn or often neglected. We'll take anything and everything you got and of course keep you up to date with what we're doing!

I appreciate anything you got and look forward to reading some replies.

Re: Project Management Learning Resource

Posted: Thu 16 Oct 2014 7:30 am
by begeland
I would have to say for me that it would be that the soft skills are as important - if not more important - than the tools, templates, processes, procedures, etc. Putting together status reports, using your chosen PM tool to manage the project schedule, etc. - all that is important...and necessary. But what they don't really teach you is how to communicate well with your team, how to keep the project client engaged, how to run good meetings, how to kick off a project in front of a large group of customer reps and take leadership from that point forward. You don't really learn that from the classes you take or the books you read (at least I don't think you do). You learn that from networking with other experienced PMs, reading articles you'll find on Project Smart and other project blogs online around the world, and from just asking questions in a great forum like this one.

Brad Egeland

Re: Project Management Learning Resource

Posted: Wed 29 Oct 2014 10:27 am
by amitysoft14
Hi Guys,

Actually, I was not aware of this topic. Now I get some knowledge in this topic.

Thanks a lot.

Re: Project Management Learning Resource

Posted: Sun 16 Nov 2014 5:34 pm
by jblack
Hi amitysoft14 and welcome to the group!

Quoting you:
"If you were to talk to a student today who's just starting out studying in project management what would the one (or three, four, however many) thing you would tell them to make sure they learn because no one ever teaches it?"

Here is my answer:
  1. Work Hard. Just so you know, most "successful" people I know work way more than 40 hours per week. And when you are at work...stay focused on work!
  2. Work Smart. Never stop learning. Look for ways to do things easier and more efficient.
  3. Network. Just as Brad mentions; find others to talk with and learn from.
These are the same 3 bullets that I gave to a graduating college class nearly 20 years ago. As I think about it today...I wouldn't change a thing!

Best of luck!
~J Black