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Chapter 5Chapter 5

Formulating Solutions: Formulating Solutions:

- Project and People Skills- Project and People Skills

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Today’s MenuToday’s Menu

Project ManagementProject Management Work Breakdown StructureWork Breakdown Structure Critical Path MethodCritical Path Method

Writing a Design Proposal Essential ElementsEssential Elements ExamplesExamples

CollaborationCollaboration Ensuring Full ParticipationEnsuring Full Participation Conflict Management StylesConflict Management Styles Avoiding GroupthinkAvoiding Groupthink

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Gantt Chart is a simple method used to Gantt Chart is a simple method used to present a schedule. It requires:present a schedule. It requires:

• Identifying tasks• Identifying the time sequence• Estimated Task duration• Constructing the chart

5.1.1 Preparing and Using Gantt 5.1.1 Preparing and Using Gantt Charts Charts

5.1 Project Management5.1 Project Management

ExampleExample

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5.1.2 Program Evaluation and 5.1.2 Program Evaluation and Review Technique and Review Technique and Critical Path Method Critical Path Method PERT and CPM are equivalents methods PERT and CPM are equivalents methods

used for complex planning and program used for complex planning and program controlcontrol

Constraints procedure:Constraints procedure:• Preparing a work breakdown structure (WBS)Preparing a work breakdown structure (WBS)• Creating an activity network and identifying Creating an activity network and identifying

the critical path (CP)the critical path (CP)• Determining the earliest start time for each Determining the earliest start time for each

activity (from Leftactivity (from Left Right) Right)• Calculating the latest possible start times for Calculating the latest possible start times for

each activity (from Righteach activity (from RightLeft)Left)• Calculating slack timesCalculating slack times

66WBS – does not include dependenciesWBS – does not include dependencies

77CPM – partially detailedCPM – partially detailed

Example 2Example 2

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5.2 Communication5.2 Communication

5.2.1 Writing Proposals5.2.1 Writing Proposals

The goal is to sell a design solution to a The goal is to sell a design solution to a perspective clientperspective client

Table 5.5 demonstrates the contents of a Table 5.5 demonstrates the contents of a design proposaldesign proposal

The ownership of the design proposal The ownership of the design proposal mattersmatters

Allowing slack time is very importantAllowing slack time is very important

Budget preparation is integral to the Budget preparation is integral to the processprocess

Graphics and Videos are very helpful in Graphics and Videos are very helpful in illustrating ideasillustrating ideas

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.. on time and within budget?.. on time and within budget?

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5.3 Collaboration5.3 Collaboration

Guidelines for Ensuring Open ParticipationGuidelines for Ensuring Open Participation

Rotate key positionsRotate key positions

Collectively agree meeting agendaCollectively agree meeting agenda

Make explicit evaluation criteriaMake explicit evaluation criteria

Ensure full participation Ensure full participation

Open democratic decision makingOpen democratic decision making

Establish rolesEstablish roles

5.3.1 Ensuring full and Open Participation5.3.1 Ensuring full and Open Participation

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5.3.1 Ensuring full and Open Participation 5.3.1 Ensuring full and Open Participation

Dominating Behavior & what to Do about itDominating Behavior & what to Do about it

If you interrupt, restate frequently and forcefully If you interrupt, restate frequently and forcefully and criticize other speakers and criticize other speakers dominating dominating

What you need is:What you need is: Resist the urge to interruptResist the urge to interrupt

Limit frequency and lower toneLimit frequency and lower tone

Depersonalize differencesDepersonalize differences

Refrain from hasty judgmentRefrain from hasty judgment

Treat othersTreat others Wait for others to finishWait for others to finish

Restate what others have saidRestate what others have said

Identify points of agreement & disagreement (why?)Identify points of agreement & disagreement (why?)

Refrain from 1:1 debatesRefrain from 1:1 debates

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.. What NOT to say and do.. What NOT to say and do

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5.3.2 Reaching Consensus & Building 5.3.2 Reaching Consensus & Building CommitmentCommitment

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A realistic definition of consensus focuses A realistic definition of consensus focuses on the on the processprocess::

The team encouraged me to explain my idea; The team encouraged me to explain my idea;

The pros and cons of the idea were discussed The pros and cons of the idea were discussed openly and impersonally;openly and impersonally;

The evaluation criteria were a collective effort;The evaluation criteria were a collective effort;

The team reached a real/nominal consensus via The team reached a real/nominal consensus via a democratic procedure.a democratic procedure.

5.3.2 Reaching Consensus & Building 5.3.2 Reaching Consensus & Building CommitmentCommitment

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5.3.3 Managing Conflict5.3.3 Managing Conflict

Table 5.11 suggests steps to take if the team Table 5.11 suggests steps to take if the team is is avoidingavoiding conflict conflict

Table 5.12 suggests steps to take if the team Table 5.12 suggests steps to take if the team is is too accommodatingtoo accommodating

Table 5.13 proposes steps to take if the team Table 5.13 proposes steps to take if the team is is fightingfighting

Table 5.14 proposes steps to take if the team Table 5.14 proposes steps to take if the team is too is too quick to compromisequick to compromise

Table 5.15 illustrates the signs of a Table 5.15 illustrates the signs of a collaborating team (the perfect outcome)collaborating team (the perfect outcome)

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IF IF avoidingavoiding THEN THEN

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IF too IF too accommodatingaccommodating THEN THEN

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IF IF fightingfighting THEN THEN

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Signs of Signs of Perfect CollaborationPerfect Collaboration

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Signs of GroupthinkSigns of Groupthink

5.3.4 Avoiding Groupthink- signs5.3.4 Avoiding Groupthink- signs

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5.3.4 Avoiding Groupthink- causes5.3.4 Avoiding Groupthink- causes

It is the reverse side of conflictIt is the reverse side of conflict

It could be caused by:It could be caused by:

• Highly Highly cohesivecohesive members members• Team Team isolationisolation from external information from external information• A leader or junta A leader or junta controllingcontrolling the discussion the discussion• Perceiving an external Perceiving an external threatthreat• Being Being cockycocky as if no wrong would be done as if no wrong would be done

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Avoiding GroupthinkAvoiding Groupthink

5.3.4 Avoiding Groupthink- solutions5.3.4 Avoiding Groupthink- solutions

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In summary,In summary,

Tools such as WBS and CPM Tools such as WBS and CPM help you manage your project to help you manage your project to ensure timely deliveryensure timely delivery

Good proposal writing is a Good proposal writing is a necessary part of securing necessary part of securing projects and selling solutionsprojects and selling solutions

Identifying and dealing with Identifying and dealing with conflict and groupthink produces conflict and groupthink produces more efficient and open teamsmore efficient and open teams