Leadership in project management.

Leadership in project management. 1: Introduction: Project Management is increasingly becoming an essential element in every organization due to the increase in the need for responding to the changes in the business environment with stiff competition as argued by K. G. Lockyer (2005). This is mainly because of the fact that an organization through the deployment of projects can easily respond to the competition and quickly accomplish the target to achieve competitive advantage in its area of business. Apparently this increases the need for an efficient Project Manager who not only has efficient project management skills but mainly effective leadership skills to lead the team comprising the project to accomplish the set tasks. In this essay the leadership essentials for a Project Manager are critically evaluated with examples in order to create profound understanding among the readers on the need for leadership and its effectiveness in Project Management. 2.0: Leadership in Project Management A project as defined by K. G. Lockyer (2005) has a specific time frame with defined start and end points and is expected to achieve an agreed set of targets with the deployment of resources both men and materials. This makes it clear that the project management not only requires efficient project manager but mainly an efficient project leader who can lead the team effectively. K. G. Lockyer (2005) further argues that the defined duration of the projects which by its very nature makes the project life cycle comparatively over a short period of time to the organization’s overall business process makes it clear that the leadership within a project management environment should not only be spontaneous but mainly focused towards the project and motivate the members of the team to achieve the targets within the agreed framework. The major traits for effective leadership in a project management environment expected out of a project manager are Motivation: Derek Torrington and Laura Hall (2001) argue that the motivation is a critical factor for the success of any projects irrespective of the size of investment. This is mainly because of the fact that the project in itself is of a defined duration and within this time frame the co-ordination and management of people with various skills at one place to achieve a common goal requires the project manager to motivate the members continuously. Alongside, it is also interesting to note that in case of projects, the personnel involved who work for the project manager possess measurable experience and have exceptional skills in their field of expertise. Hence motivation in this case is not the interest to work but to create a feeling of responsibility among the team members in order to encourage them to achieve the goals of the project. Jill Goski et al (2002) argues that the project manager will not only face the issue of motivating a team of highly skilled personnel but above all to enable th em work together towards the goal of the project where the issues of power and equity will sprout without having effective motivation skills by the project manager. The success of the Eden project in the UK to provide a variety of enlightening elements to the visitors in order to increase the visitors and raise funds for the Eden charity is a classical example for the success of motivation based leadership of the project managers in the project. Performance Appraisal Performance is an essential element to motivate the staff members in a project as argued by Gail Blackstone (2003). From the case study it is clear that the project involves the use of skilled architects whose performance in the project is the key element for the successful completion of the project itself. This makes it clear that in order to effectively motivate the architects it is essential to conduct regular performance review on a periodical basis by the project manager, which should reflect upon their contribution to the project and add value to their overall performance. Derek Torrington and Laura Hall (2001) further argue that the performance review is not only essential for the overall performance of an organization but for each individual segment of the organization especially the projects under progress within the organization. Hence not only the project manager should conduct performance review within the project but provide constructive review to the personnel embracing both the project goals and the organization’s vision. This makes it clear that he performance appraisal within the project management is not only necessary to motivate the personnel within the project but also to contribute to the overall success of the organization. Resource Allocation and management Bennet F. Lawrence (2003) argues that the project managers especially involved in the construction business should consider resource allocation as part of their leadership skills. This is because of the fact that due to the defined life cycle of a project, the resources deployed within the project should not only be accurate but also provide ample support to accomplish the goals of the project. The fact that the project treats the human resource as a refreshable resource (i.e.) a resource that can be shuffled and reshuffled within the project teams as per the requirement makes it clear that the leadership is essential in terms of resource allocation in order to effectively allocate the human resource without the issues of discrimination and de-motivation. This is mainly because of the fact that the frequent changes, which are integral to any project, could affect the nature of work of the people involved in the project, which sometimes may not be appreciated by the members. In order to overcome this issue of resource allocation and establish smooth transition of human resource within the project, it is thus essential for the project manager to effectively lead the members of the team. From the case study it is also clear that the allocation of the architects itself is considered as resource allocation which justifies the above arguments on leadership for resource allocation. Apart from the human resource factor, another major element of the resource allocation from a leadership perspective is the fact that the project when utilising common resources, it is the duty of the project manager to provide effective resource allocation that balances the sharing of resources as well as increases the effectiveness of the project. Furthermore, the fact that the resource allocation should not introduce conflict of interest among the members and also maintain optimum usage of the resources makes it clear that the leadership skills are essential in this area of management for the project manager on top of efficient planning and implementation. Planning Planning is an integral part of any project as argued by K. G. Lockyer (2005) who says that the project leadership embraces the effective planning. This is because, planning is essential not only to efficiently manage the project but also execute the stages of the project efficiently using the resources and the work force available. The fact that the transition of the project from one stage to another is possible only through the effective leadership of the project manager to identify the appropriate personnel for performing a specific role in a given stage and also effectively manage the transition of the leadership and power between leaders of the teams within the project, makes it clear that the planning and control of the plan is an essential leadership factor that should be possessed by the project manager. It is further interesting to note that in an organizational scenario, the term planning is mainly used different from leadership whilst in a project management scenario plann ing embraces leadership. This makes it clear that the planning and control of the plan is not only essential to effectively lead the project members but also deploy the optimum use of the resources within the project itself thus eliminating the wastage of resources. The increase in the use of parallel process and serial process techniques through the Gant charts further makes it clear that the effective planning is an essential leadership quality in order o effectively manage the processes and co-ordinate them together at appropriate points. 3: Conclusion and Recommendations From the above arguments it is clear that the leadership in the project management scenario requires the management tactics to embrace the leadership skills of the project manager. It is also established that the leadership within the project management environment is different to the trivial management environment since the changes accompanied in the project management environment is at a faster rate than in the traditional organization scenario. Hence it is recommended that the leadership in a project management scenario should be treated different to the traditional leadership training and that the managers are provided with the ample support to effectively lead their team to achieve the agreed target for the project. References: Books: Bennet F. Lawrence (2003), The management of construction : a project life cycle approach , UK: Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann Derek Torrington and Laura Hall (2001), Personnel Management HRM in Action, UK: Prentice Financial times Journals Gail Blackstone (2003), Performance Management in Project Management, UK: Journal of Personnel Management Goski et al (2002), A Model of Leadership Development, Public Personnel Management, Winter2002, Vol. 31 Issue 4, p517, 6p; (AN 9004393) K. G. Lockyer, (2005), Project management and project network techniques, UK: Prentice Hall Financial Times URL(s) http://www.edenproject.com/

I Want a Wife: a Wife or a Servant

Many wives sometimes feel unappreciated, neglected, and often used; which sometimes may lead to speaking out loud for themselves. This was the case with a woman in the 70s named Judy Brady. In 1971, Judy Brady’s essay â€Å"I Want a Wife† was in the first edition of Ms. Magazine; which targeted the inequality that was promised to women at this time. Being as the 70s was a time when women constantly struggled for equality and rights, Brady has some very interesting views on the term â€Å"wife.† Brady begins her thought process after hearing from a male friend who has recently become divorced. With him being single, and looking for a new wife; it occurred to Brady that she too wanted a wife of her own. Brady states throughout her essay reasons why she would want a wife, making them very bold and easily understood. â€Å"I want a wife to take care of my physical needs.†(525) and â€Å"I want a wife who will keep my clothes cleaned, ironed, and mended†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (525) are just a couple of reasons Brady gives for wanting a wife. Women in the 70s were often looked at as almost subhuman, making them stand up and speak for themselves. Brady clearly does not want a wife of her own, but is merely trying to make a bold statement to readers of this magazine. In doing so, she is trying to help the reader understand how hard a wife works and how easily they are taken for granted. Brady makes her voice heard by using a satirical form of writing, and by doing this; she makes a very good point. Many men in the early 20th century viewed women as a pedestal by which they relied on for their everyday needs. The sarcasm of the essay shows the reader how a wife feels about how she is treated. Brady states in her closing sentence, â€Å"My god who wouldn’t want a wife?†(525), which basically states that wives are unappreciated and over worked in many ways. Brady’s essay is one that could have both good and bad reactions from its readers. Brady goes on in her essay as if she wants a wife to pick up the duties of her everyday life so that she may pursue her dreams. Many women of the 70s were beginning to take a stand on women’s rights, so this particular audience would have agreed with Brady. Statements such as â€Å"I want a wife who will take care of the details of my social life. When my wife and I are invited out by my friends, I want a wife who will take care of the babysitting arrangements.†(525), sounds very appealing to the women of this time. On the opposite end, many wives could be offended by Brady’s essay. Some wives of the 70s enjoyed the life of a housewife. People that were raised in the early 20th century were always taught that the women took care of the family’s needs, which included the husband. Although this was a shrinking percentage of women, they still must be considered within the reading audience. By making her voice heard, Brady makes a clear point that she is tired of being over-worked and unappreciated. Most anyone could easily agree that wives in early 20th century America were completely unappreciated, and often used; while others could also disagree, as they enjoy staying at home and slaving over everyday chores. Overall, Brady’s essay was well-written, and the point was made clear enough so that all Americans would know that some housewives just can’t be silent any longer.

Remembering the Alamo Essay

This article is of course about the Alamo. It gives a very brief history of the battle at the Alamo and the characters that participated there. It momentarily mentions that there are now facts and history of the Alamo being disputed among many historians today. This article also makes comments concerning the great influence The Alamo has had in today’s culture, referring to the many productions based off this historic happening. Each time I remember the Alamo inspiration fills my chest. I love to remember the great heroes that fought so brave and valiantly in the face of the opposition; a cruel dictator (Santa Anna) and the oppression he could inflict. Many of the people that inhabited 2nd Chance Texas migrated there for primarily one reason and one reason only†¦ a second chance. Most of them, having endured hard lives and relocating to a new country, terrain and lifestyle were not about to give up their God-given rights to a Mexican dictator. While many had the chance and opportunity to get the heck out of Dodge, they chose to stay and defend what was rightfully theirs and so they did. These brave men, led by Travis, Bowie and Crockett, took a stand at the Alamo that will be remembered forever. They gave their lives not for greatness, though they earned that and more in the end, they gave their lives for what they lived for and that was to be free. We shouldn’t argue or dispute over the noble and honorable history of these great men, doing so we taint there story with our ignorance. Not all of these men may have lived great, but all of them died great in the sight of ALL AMERICANS. REMEMBER THE ALAMO.

Essay on Smoking Hazardous to Your Health - 894 Words

Smoking: Hazardous to Your Health A about two weeks ago I read an essay called, â€Å"Thank You for Smoking†¦?† by Peter Brimelow. This essay’s main point tries to explain how smoking can be beneficial in some ways. Brimelow’s essay claims smoking can help while driving. Brimelow also thinks smoking can help protect personal freedoms along with benefiting health in some ways (141). Nonetheless, cigarette smoking is the single most preventable cause of premature death in the United States (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report). Clearly then, smoking is a very hazardous activity and causes many deaths. Driving and Smoking Brimelow informs his readers that smoking can increase alertness and dexterity which†¦show more content†¦Many times when I exit a building, I walk through a group of people smoking. This is a very frustrating and annoying experience. Even a few moments around smoke causes my clothes and hair to smell. Although sometimes there are alternative means of getting out of the building, it is not always convenient or possible. It would be much easier and more pleasant for many people if smokers could help prevent this unnecessary and unwanted occurrence by smoking in a designated, alternative area. Health Issues According to Brimelows’ essay, smoking may decrease some diseases and cancers by up to 50%. One of those cancers is of the prostate. Prostate cancer appears 50% less often in men who smoke as compared to those who do not. These reports are backed up by multiple studies (Brimelow 142). This is information that cannot be ignored. However, there are only a few diseases and cancers these studies claim smoking can help prevent. At the other end of the spectrum, there are numerous types of other diseases and cancers that have been linked to smoking. Many have a direct correlation. Cigarettes are responsible for about 87% of lung cancer cases. 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