Learning from a Project (Post-Mortem Analysis)

 

Learning from a Project-Post-Mortem Analysis

Background Information

As I reflect on a project that I completed during my undergraduate years in one of my leadership courses, I begin to think about all the reasons why the project was engaging yet a failure. Sometimes it’s out of the control of a project manager and sometimes failure is controllable (Discenza, 2007). I was given the task of designing a daycare center (home or center based) and I went with the home-based option. Although the overall goal of the project was to start up a daycare center, the main requirements was for me to develop a business plan outlining the: 

·       description of the center

·       types of child-care services that would be provided

·       details of how the center would operate

·       number & ages of children served

·       description of the facility (indoor & outdoor)

·       requirements of educators including salary & experience/education level

·       outline of annual budget

While this project was very engaging, it was not a success due to the limited amount of time needed to complete the project. I was given three weeks to develop a business plan, start up a daycare and create a video explaining to families why my center would be a great fit for their family. Taking on many roles including both project management and instructional design roles for the first time, this was difficult for me to complete in such little time. As a result, my project/business plan missed important details and my media source may not have been as clear and concise to individuals watching. Projects are the primary means through which company strategies are implemented (The Role of Project Management, 2013).

What processes, project artifacts or activities did you include in the project that contributed to its success?

The artifacts that contributed to the success and implementation of my new daycare was the layout of the business plan. Although the business plan missed some important pieces or could have been thoroughly explained, I still was able to use that plan as a blueprint and a guide to managing the overall project. When starting up a business, it is important to develop a plan that focuses on the specific steps necessary to ensure business ideas succeed (Longo, 2019). Taking on the role as project manager, this project allowed me to include a strategy, a plan, visual data and information to contribute to the success of the project.  

What processes, project artifacts or activities did you not include in the project that might have made the project more successful?

Artifacts that were not included in the project that could have contributed to the success of the project included logs and hierarchy charts. Harrin (2021) stated that logs can represent a set of continuously evolving documents that should be updated throughout the project while hierarchy charts describe the relationship between various parts of the project. I could have implemented logs to develop a clear layout of the center’s finances. A hierarchy chart could have helped me to develop a work and product breakdown structure.

 

Reference

 Discenza, R. & Forman, J. B. (2007). Seven causes of project failure: how to recognize them and how to initiate project recovery. Paper presented at PMI® Global Congress 2007—North America, Atlanta, GA. Newtown Square, PA: Project Management Institute.

Harrin, E. (2021). 9 Types of Artifacts in Project Management. Retrieved from https://rebelsguidetopm.com/9-types-of-artifacts-in-project-management/

Longo, R. (2019). Do You Really Need a Business Plan? Retrieved from https://www.sbdc.duq.edu/Blog-Item-The-Importance-of-a-Business-Plan

The Role of Project Management in the Execution of Corporate Strategy. (2013). Leader to Leader, 2013(69), 61. doi:10.1002/ltl.20091