Article Produced by Simon Buehring, Business Plan Example

Introduction

This paper explores the article  produced by Simon Buehring[1] on The importance of communications in Project Management.   It examines closely the importance of communications in the context of Project Management and skills associated with planning, controls and communications.  Buehring is a project manager, consultant and trainer. He works for KnowledgeTrain.  The article describes the importance of communications and how this attribute is essential in the running of successful projects.  (Buehring)

Article Synopsis

Buehring explores some of the reasons why he considers effective communications to be paramount to the successful implementation of projects. He uses the catch phrase ‘ since I didn’t hear otherwise I assumed everything was going well’  A frequently used statement on software development and infrastructure projects. Buehring points out a number of significant facts:-

• Staff need to be kept informed on task accomplishment and individual performance levels;
• You need to retain good stakeholder and customer communications;
• It is important to retain an open risk management system and communicate it widely;
• Formality with structured PM methods like PRINCE2 facilitates improved communication control points e.g. the Project Board
• The need for regular open access to all information

Project Management should consider the following communication techniques:

Visual Learning Styles

When communicating using visual learning styles you tend to focus upon  using images, pictures, colors, and maps to organize information and communicate with others. The concept of  a picture speaks 1000 words means that you can easily visualize objects, plans and outcomes in your mind’s eye. Visual learning also provides you with good spatial senses, meaning you can understand space and direction more readily.  For example : you rarely get lost if you have and read a map to find your way around. Whiteboards are very good for scribbling ideas on and using different coloured pens for differentiation and coding purposes.

Auditory Learning Styles

Auditory learners are those that assimilate learning best by hearing things.  These learning types respond best to lectures as opposed to writing and research.  A good technique for auditory learners is the speech recognition tool available on most PC’s.  Auditory learners seem to possess a capability for determining the true meaning of someone’s words by listening to the auditory signal and the fluctuations in speech tone.  The concept of saying a Phone number allowed and then remembering the number by the way it was said.

Kinesthetic Learning Style

This type of learning style is aimed at those who learn by the experience of doing things.  This relates to physical contact like sport and exercise. The tactile response to learning by touching and feeling objects. An example might be woodworking, metal craft or gardening.  This is a question of being sensitive or in tune with the world around you.  Such people are more energized and prefer to use hand gestures to communicate.  With this collaborative learning process you have objects and use the touch senses in order to describe them.

It is important to recognise the role people play in communications and the different personality types, for example:

Extravert Personality Types

Those people with an extravert personality tend to project their energy outwards. Essentially to people thinking outside of themselves.  These people tend to be much more naturally expressive, confident, socially interactive with a diverse range of interests.  Extroverts lend themselves well to brainstorming sessions , in large groups of similar personality, where they can use all of their creative and imaginative skills. These people are great for exploring new ideas and concepts and attract personality types like artists, inventors, actors etc.

Introvert Personality Types

These people tend to reflect their energies inwards and more geared towards their own personal feelings, reactions and perceptions. They are often much more reserved people and prefer privacy, inner reflection. They will be much more cautious in their relationships but have a greater depth of focus on the subject matter.  These people often work best as individuals or small groups where there energies can be focused towards specific problem solving scenarios. Good examples of this type are Scientists, Mathematicians, analysts etc.

Power Players

These types like to have things their own way and are obsessed with winning or victory. Authoritarian by nature, they demand respect and recognition.  Power players are very self-opinionated and like to control debates. Ruthless by nature they are not afraid of casting aside those who get in their way from achieving personal aims and objectives.  The belief in their opinions being factual statements tends to make them fixed in thinking and predictable in behaviour. Such people are both difficult to control and communicate with and extremely disruptive of group dynamics.  The best way of communicating with these people is by assigning difficult tasks and getting them to deal with new business ventures.  These type of people open up new territories, the pioneers of the business world.

Conclusion

The article is locked into a single method of task accomplishment, that is communications management using the UK’s structured PM methodology of PRINCE2.  This method is very prescriptive and much more geared towards product based project management.  The PMI Body of Knowledge is more Activity based and as such has a little more flexibility in its governance.  Communications is a vital component to any Project Management method approach. ” Communication not only keeps everyone up-to-date on the project progress, but also facilitates buy-in and ownership of major project decisions and milestones.  To ensure the success of a project much information, including expectations, goals, needs, resources, status reports, budgets and purchase requests, needs to be communicated on a regular basis to all the major stakeholders” (Cornelius)

Works Cited

Buehring, Simon. The importance of communications in Project Management. 16 1 2009. 4 8 2010 <http://www.projectsmart.co.uk/the-importance-of-communication-in-project-management.html>.

Cornelius. Project Management is Critical. 2004. 4 8 2010 <http://www.corneliusassoc.com/CA/new/impact/April2002/pmcommun.htm>.

[1] Simon Buehring, The Importance of communication in Project Management, 16-1-09, http://www.projectsmart.co.uk/the-importance-of-communication-in-project-management.html