OGL 320: Foundations of Project Management

Module 1 Worksheet
Worksheet Guidelines: Complete Sections 1 and 2 below.

Use your own words; however, when you quote or paraphrase, remember to cite per APA
Standards using information in the APA Tools and Template Area.

Be sure to proofread your work for spelling or grammatical errors because repeated errors will
result in earning fewer points.

A paragraph is 4-5 sentences.

Section 1: Mind Tools Quiz Table

Complete the first two (2) columns of the table below describing your reactions, perceptions and
significant insights gained from the class content and the Mind Tools Quiz from Worksheet
Instructions.
Note: You will come back to this table in Module 6, copy it, and use it to complete the final two
(2) columns of the table after you have gone through the course and retaken the quiz, per the
Module 6-Relfection Directions.

Aspect Initial Initial Reflection Final Comparison Reflection

(Module 1) (Module 6)
Score Score
(out of 10) (Module 6)

Project 6/10 From my experience I forecast,

Integration organize, and set up in order to
execute a project. I know there
may be times where there may
not be any time to get organize
and you sometimes have to
jump in head first in order to
understand the objective. What
I mean by that is being able to
integrate in the moment.
Scope 10/10 Although, I scored highly in
Management this aspect I believe there is
always opportunities to grow.
One is of opportunity is to trust
the plan even when it may
appear that it is not working as
it may take time to deliver
results of a project.

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 Schedule 12/20 Surprisingly this was one of my
Management lower scores for when I am six
sigma and normally schedule
out projects utilizing outlook
and various time management
tools. However, I believe using
some sort of progress tracker
may be beneficial to
management efficiency.
Cost 6/10 I believe in the bottom line of
Management what a project will cost will
equate to time, labor, and what
is within in our control. Also,
thinking of cost management I
would look for was to be more
efficient and cost effective to
produce results.
Quality 11/15 From my experience quality is
Management one of the foundations that
builds the brand for a project.
By having quality management
will assist in not only
delivering what the client is
seeking but also provide
quantitative data to drive
results.
People 8/10 People management in my
Management tenure is an important part of
the bigger picture to meet
performance expectation of a
project. Learning from
experience ensuring my team
has a strong relation as a team
but with leadership as a
partnership.
Communication 8/10 I scored high for
communication as I believe it
imperative to provide coaching,
development, direction for
subordinates. Also, for
communication is keeping up
with the new ways of
communication for i.e. project
tools to provide updates so the
team is continuously updated
on the progress.

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 Risk 6/10 I am very surprised I scored a 6
Management out of 10 in this area as I tend
to forecast the risk of a project.
Based on my experience I have
been able to analyze behaviors
for improving overall
productivity. In addition,
assisting with predicting where
we will be strong and areas of
opportunities.
Project 6/10 For procurement I realize
Procurement although I may focus on past
behaviors is future behaviors to
determine the effectiveness of a
supplies. After review project
procurement what I can do
better is perhaps grow and
build relations with different
supplies for various different
project to build relations.
General Project 10/10 I scored high in this area as I
Management believe in being flexible to
Skills change. However, at the same
to balance and be able to take
conflict head on and come up
solutions that works for
everyone.
Section 2: Short Answers

Answer the following questions using specific examples to illustrate your discussion and
integrate course materials as much as possible.

1) What was your final score on the quiz and what does it mean to you?

My final score on the quiz “How Good Are Your Project Management Skills “is a 68
score. When I see the score of 68 I believe I can certainly improve, however I am happy
with the number in one sense because it is a great starting point. After reviewing the score
interpretation, I am looking forward to grow and develop my project management skills. In
another sense, I believe by focusing on one behavior at a time I will be successful in
meeting my goals after the quiz. (MindTools, 2022)

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 2) What did you learn about either yourself or the person you assessed in the “How Good
Are Your Project Management Skills” quiz? What can you/he/she work on to improve
your/his/her skills?

I learned my skills are ok in project manager according to the quiz “How Good Are Your
Project Management Skills. (MindTools, 2022) However, at first glance, it means that I
have strengths and areas of opportunities. Focusing on my aperture for growth form the
quiz means I can become a more balanced project manager by being open to feedback. For
example, according to the quiz I have an area opportunity to learn how to manage more
complex projects by improving planning skills and to prepare for the unexpected
(MindTools, 2022)

Another area I can improve specially spending the time upfront in planning for a better
outcome of a project. In addition, by being able to plan will help me to be in more control
and to be able to take on more complex projects. Furthermore, project management is
skills are useful in most work forces looking forward for my score interpretation to be in
the upper 80 and lower 90 at the end of the course is my goal.

3) In looking at this slide from Module 1’s slideshow presentation, discuss what
characteristics most describe you and which ones you could work on developing further.

Looking at this slide from Module 1’s slideshow presentation the characteristics that best
describe me are that I am self-starter, organized, good communications skills, strong
work ethic and the ability to think critically. On the other hand, I could work on
developing further in being flexible, shifting from the big picture thinking to detail-
oriented planning and the ability to get things done in the face of ambiguity. For instance,
being flexible is the characteristic to be able to understand different personalities and
conflicts that may arise.

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 Furthermore, related to being flexible is the ability to adapt to change from the big picture
thinking to become detailed oriented in planning. Also, many projects may need detail-
oriented planning in order to be successful leading up to a big picture. In addition, in
relation to being able to shift easily is related to having the characteristic to live in the grey
when their ambiguity and be okay not knowing. Lastly, by learning and practicing being
flexible, shift the big picture thinking to detail-oriented planning, learning to live in the
grey will assist career advancement and confidence as a project manager. (MindTools,
2022)

4) Do you already approach projects in a systematic way or use tools to assist you in
planning? If YES, describe the approaches you take? If NO, why not?

I currently approach projects in a systematic way and use tools to assist in planning in
order of importance. I focus on collaborating as a team to brain storm on ideas for how to
approach the objectives. For example, recently had a project due that required expertise
from different departments to come up with a training manual for our new hires. Being
that I was already forecasting a task such as creating a new hire manual I had already
created a shell plan before being instructed to incase this type project needed to be
completed.

When I was tasked with completing the project I utilized Microsoft One note, excel,
outlook email to ensure that there is an objective along with a plan created to complete
the project. In addition, so that we can see the progress I used google docs as live
dashboard to see the progress collaboratively as team. Furthermore, provided feedback on
how the task were being completed along the way as encourage provided kudos when the
job was headed the right direction and feedback where improvement was needed. Lastly,
with effective planning and organization I was able to management the project as well as
have a team create a new hire manual on time and on budget by communication

5) How can learning about project management, or refining your skills related to this type of
management, possibly help you professionally?

The way learning about project manager and refining existing skills related to this type of
management will help me professionally in my current role as a customer service
supervisor. In my current role as leader in customer service you are expected to meet
several different deliverables while managing different projects. For instance, as a
supervisor we focus on quality for our phone representative by listening to calls and
providing an overall score. By learning more skills project management will help me with
the reasoning behind quality and how to improve.

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 Also, another deliverable we are expected to complete one on one each month with each
representative. While completing a one on one you are expected to no only focus on
behaviors for assisting the representative to improve but on time manager to deliver them.
I believe it would be beneficial to either learn new way to maximize my time and or
refine my current skills to be more efficient. Furthermore, project management will assist
with career advancement because the department I work as a supervisor you are tasked
with various different projects. The projects are time driven and customer focused and I
believe project management will make a positive impact in my ability to run a team and
management different projects effectively.

References:

(Mind Tools. (n.d.). How Good Are Your Project Management Skills? Retrieved July 4,
2022, from https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newPPM_60.htm)

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