1. CPRJ2003 System Development Group Project Managing Your Group Project Note that this presentation will be put on the CPRJ2003 module web site

2. 2 Next Wednesday, 18 Feb Bring your poster by 9am Make sure your poster has your group number clearly on it You will mark your own poster and the posters of two other groups. The list of who marks whose will go up on the module web site.

3. 3 Managing your group project means… Managing your group and Managing your project

4. 4 Employers value teamwork skills Employers rate teamwork as the most important workplace skill (Careers Research Advisory Service survey)

5. 5 How well are you working together? You’ve started working as a group – how well is it going? Are there problems that you need to talk about? Should you make some changes now?.

6. 6 Are you a team? Are you all aiming for the same thing? Do you all take part in deciding how to allocate work? Do you disagree constructively? Do you all turn up to meetings and stay to the end? Do you make sure everyone knows what’s going on? Are you relaxed with each other? Which of these is the biggest problem in your group? Write it down…………

7. 7 Managing your group: some ideas Anticipating problems Setting ground rules SWOT analysis Formal roles Handling conflict.

8. 8 Anticipating problems eg –If someone is ill, who should they tell? –If someone misses meetings what will the rest of the group do? –How will you make sure that you don’t miss any deadlines?.

9. 9 Setting ground rules Would it be useful to agree some rules for the group? eg –Everyone has to attend every meeting (or maybe not?) –Everyone has a right to be listened to –The length of all meetings will be agreed in advance –If anyone has a problem with their part of the work they must say so.

10. 10 SWOT analysis (for each group member) Strengths I am good at programming Weaknesses I am not good at writing Opportunities I would like to practise report writing Threats Someone will need to check my grammar eg

11. 11 Formal roles Would it help you to assign some formal roles? eg –Project manager –Secretary –Timekeeper –“Climate facilitator”? Do you want to change roles part way through the project?

12. 12 If you don’t want formal roles……. How will you: –Meet deadlines? –Divide the work fairly? –Check quality? –Tell everyone what’s happening? –Notice if someone has gone quiet because they’re not happy?.

13. 13 Handling conflict: a possible approach What is the problem? Each person writes down their own version, and then you agree on a statement of what the problem is Analyse the problem What’s the cause? What could you do about it? Brainstorm possible solutions (at least 10!) Nothing is ruled out at this stage

14. 14 Select the best solution…… Look at each suggestion in turn and weigh up its advantages and disadvantages. Which one is best? Can you live with this solution? What will happen if you choose this solution? Can you all live with it?

15. 15 We have looked at these ideas for managing your group Anticipating problems Setting ground rules SWOT analysis Formal roles Handling conflict Which of these ideas would be the most useful for your group to try? Write it down……

16. 16 Managing your project What are you aiming for? How are you going to achieve it? Managing your time.

17. 17 Classic Systems Development Life Cycle From Hoffer, George and Valacich (2002) chapter 1 Project identification and selection Project initiation and planning Analysis Design Implementation Maintenance

18. 18 Alternatively…… Rapid Application Development SSADM etc Show off what you have learned on your course so far….. As a minimum you will need to analyse the requirements of your project and to draw up suitable systems documentation

19. 19 Gantt Chart

20. 20 Preparing your Gantt Chart MS Project or Excel Deadlines (and ones for other modules?) Divide tasks according to your methodology Flexibility Tasks that are hard to divide up.

21. 21 Keep your eyes on the goal! Use your Gantt chart Keep alert to deadlines Talk to your group members.

22. 22 Resources The following have been used in preparing this presentation: DMU library self-study guide on “Managing your group project” available on line and on paper Effective Group Work tips at: http://www.mtroyal.ab.ca/programs/academserv/lsc/groupwork.htm