ProjectManagement

My Nature by KATHATHARAN AMIDARSHORUBAN Registration No: 08016971 Project report for Project Management and Professional Development (CM0647), in semester one (2008/2009). Northumbria University, Newcastle, Faculty of Computing, Eng & Info Sciences. Show off, 13 November 2008. 1| This work is licensed under the Northumbria University. Table of Contents 1 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 03 1.1 Certificate ................................................................................................................... 04 1.2 Acknowledgements.................................................. 0Error! Bookmark not defined. 1.3 Background ................................................................................................................ 06 1.3.1 My Self ............................................................................................................... 06 1.3.2 My Dreams .......................................................................................................... 06 1.3.3 My Achievements .............................................................................................. 06 1.3.4 My Failures ...................................................................................................... 06 Who am I? ...................................................................................................................... 07 2.1 My Basic Characteristics and skills ........................................................................... 07 2.2 My Positives?............................................................................................................. 08 2.3 My Negatives? ........................................................................................................... 09 Opportunties to increas My Skills .................................................................................. 10 Stategies and Tactics for My Development.................................................................... 11 Inhibit for My Development ........................................................................................... 12 Discussion ....................................................................................................................... 12 Conclusion ...................................................................................................................... 13 2 3 4 5 6 7 Appendices Appendix 1 References ..................................................................................................... I Skills Audit .................................................................................................................. I The Belbin Test .......................................................................................................... IV 2| This work is licensed under the Northumbria University. 1.0 Introduction All the living beings in earth can breath, grow, move, reproduce and feel the changes around them. However human has an extra-ordinary ability which is the ability of thinking. It is the sixth sense of living things. The sixth sense allows the human to work consciously and to begin that integration vertically with the four planes of manifestation and perception through which humans process sensory input: physical, mental and astral. So this sixth sense let the humans as top being in the global. In this world, each person is different from another due to their different characteristics. The characteristics are determined by different aspects, such as human jeans, living environment, culture and tradition and skills. Each and every human should have two kinds of characteristics, one is positive characteristics and another one is negative characteristics. Throughout this report I am going to illustrate about my characteristic with my skills, and the help of some tools and techniques such as SWOT, Skills Audit, and Skills questionnaires. Though this analysis will help to identify my strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threads (SWOT) which I not recognized yet about myself and this will lead to find out the ways to sort out my negative attitudes. 3| This work is licensed under the Northumbria University. 1.1 Certificate This is to certify that this report titled My Nature embodies the original work done by Kathatharan Amirdashoruban in partial fulfilment of the course requirement at Northumbria University. Coordinator: Mr.Cliffor Brown Mrs.Shelagh Keogh 4| This work is licensed under the Northumbria University. 1.2 Acknowledgements I would like to thank my guides Mr. Clifford Brown and Mrs. Shelagh Keogh for their support that they provided to prepare this project through the seminars and lectures and also I would like to thank the owners and proprietors of books, websites and articles which I used to complete this project, because they helped me a lot to find the ideas and data throughout this project. 5| This work is licensed under the Northumbria University. 1.3 Background 1.3.1 My Self I’m Amidashoruban, son of Kathatharan and Vasuki. I was born in 16th Sep 1984 in Jaffna, Sri Lanaka. I have a brother and a sister and both are younger than me. My father is business man and mother is a house wife. Basically my family background is very cultural and traditional as well as we believe our religion very much. My childhood onwards my parents are satisfying my needs and wants with out any hesitation. This freedom let me to think and work independently and it helped me to target my career. 1.3.2 My Dreams When I was an adolescent, I got lots of thoughts in myself. On that age level, I have got so much of interest on sports specially cricket, cinema, chatting with friends and many more rather than my studies. When I completed my Advance Level, I got to know that where am I? Now I am confident about all my goals will be put in a right path and that is why now I am here. Now my dream is becoming software engineer as well as I would like to do some innovation in my field (Refer Skills Audit, J, 4). 1.3.3 My Achievements Now I am 24 years, within this period of time I have achieved something. I have completed Professional Diploma in Information Technology at NIIT, Sri Lanka, and I have completed up to Diploma level in BCS (British Commuter Society). At the same time I worked as a Lecturer in computing field for one year at NIIT, Sri Lanka. Apart from this, I have established a software development company in Sri Lanka while looking my father’s business (Refer Skills Audit, J 1, 2&3). 1.3.4 My Failures I have plenty of Failures in My life up to now. But most affected one is my advance level, because I got failed in my advance level exams. This affected the parents confident on me. However, now I build the confidence again in consistent way (Refer Skills Audit, J). 6| This work is licensed under the Northumbria University. 2.0 Who am I? 2.1 My Basic Characteristics and Skills Naturally each and every human should have their own characteristics and common skills. Like wise basically I have some basic characteristics and skills. Those are: I am an aggressive personality. I believe myself a lot. (Self motivation and Self awareness) I can be open and honest dealing with other. I am able to think every thing in advance and able to do them. I am able take any risk with proper security in order to complete the tasks which are complicated to do. I am a high tempered person since I am able to calm down quickly. I like listening nice music while studying. I can not being hungry. I don’t want to loose anything of mine for others, but if possible I will get another one for them. I am able to help others depending on the environment. I believe a lot the Sun rather than religious believes. Average disciplined. Like wise I have some other average characteristics as well. 7| This work is licensed under the Northumbria University. 2.2 My Positives? I am proud say that, some of my basic characteristics and my skills are always let me to achieve my goals as well as they protect me form many threads. My foremost strengths are self- motivation and self awareness (Refer Skills Audit, I). A very good example for such case is, after lost my Advance level exams, immediately I put my concentration on computer field. When I entered to this I did not have that much of knowledge in this area and an average English ability as well. Almost one year period has been taken in order to be aware of computing subjects which means after one year only I got to know the real nature and methodologies of this field. However within this period I have finished all my exams and project in an efficient way. Furthermore, I have got another challenge, which was nothing but BCS (British Computer Society). It is a highly recognised professional body for IT qualifications and all its exams are written exams. First time I have written BCS Certificate level exams in 2006. But I lost in all three subjects because of my poor ability in English. Then after I put my full effort to study English and again I have written those subjects in the same year and I got through two subjects (Refer, Skills Audit, D1,4,5). Such achievements still give me a lot of confident and still let me to work hard on tasks. Taking any risk with proper protection in any factors is one of my talents. Suppose if I unable to make it I can able to work hard to achieved it without any hesitation (Refer, Skills Audit, I). In my concern point of view I have several positives related to my academic skills. Such as, I use mind map ability to create personal notes for my studies and lecturing from several sources and quickly carry on appropriate notes and ideas into my mind and can able to guess what is to be remembered and memorized (Refer, Skills Audit, A, B & C4,5). I am interested on Information technology, specially in computer programming, handling new software, and get to know about new technologies (Refer, Skills Audit, F). My all time favourite is trying to solving the mathematical related problems (Refer, Skills Audit, G). I will be familiar with long easy writing from school in my mother tongue, but I have some barriers to write in English (Refer, Skills Audit, D). I have radiate confidence to deliver effective presentation with timing, and facing interviews as well. During any interview, I can be thoughtful, reasoned responses, and honoured. I can work with wide range of people and able to put my full effort, share my thoughts, ideas and work load in order to complete the task. Most occasions I tried to do the tasks in an innovative way specially in computer programming. So these let me to produce new ideas and take opportunities (Refer, The Belbin Test, 1). Apart from everything, my opinion is, a good family background is highly essential for each and every success of a person. In such way I am fully satisfied and lucky person to get such kindly parents, loving life partner and other relatives. 8| This work is licensed under the Northumbria University. 2.3 My Negatives? In my view, I have pessimistic features as well, some are my basic characteristics and most of the negatives are lack of skills. Usually my biggest weakness is my high temper and reacts immediately for that. My parents often say that I have such character form my childhood onwards. I have affected by such anger several times. Mainly I have punished a number of times by my father, specially in school and I have lost lot of friends and their friendships, and many more. I never turned my thoughts and plans for other’s advices and comments except my parents and few of others. But most of the time I just listened their voices. Apart form this; I have several negative skills regarding my studies. The first one is I do not put my concentration on the class room, but when ever my favourite subjects (Maths related concepts or computer programming) are going on, I put my full concentration (Refer, Skills Audit, A). Next thing is I never organizing and reviewing my notes as soon as possible after the lecture, however I study when ever I needed, that is before the exams. Such characteristics put me down in the exams in many times (Refer, Skills Audit, H, 1 &3). Moreover I do not have much reading ability, according to my needs only I used to read (Refer, Skills Audit, C). In the exams frequently I start planning and writing my answers to the question without much awareness of mind. Many occasion I missed to take extra care to interpret the question correctly and in many exams I have not got extra time to go through the question and answer again as well. I do not interest on group studies but not for group work and entertainments, because of many reasons. This mentality has been created throughout some past experience but if I met an effective group, I am fully ready to involve on it. I know there are different advantages to study with a group. Specially groups can often make it much easier for an individual to learn difficult material and doing vast projects. At the same time a study group can only function effectively if every member of the group participates properly. So in my past experience I have got such experience. Sometimes it could not possible to implement my own thoughts and ideas in tasks. This let me down on work because if I get wrong understanding about the task, I complete the task in a wrong way (Refer, The Bebin Test, 2, 4). Some of my hobbies and interests also may become minus points for me. For an example I have so much of interest to play and watch cricket matches. I never consider about other things when ever playing or watching cricket matches. I never missed to watch films specially Hollywood, and Indian Tamil Films. So I believe that the above characteristics are still as barriers for my carrier development. 9| This work is licensed under the Northumbria University. 3.0 Opportunities to increase My Skills Until now I have got plenty of chances in order to develop my skills in consistent and efficient way and I have used those opportunities as much as possible. With the intention of build up my skills I have followed a course called International Customer Care Skills (ICCSP-UK). It improved my confident level to express my contemplation and ideas independently and helped to avoid my nerviness as well. Another very important occasion was worked as a lecturer, through that I have learned a lot and changed some characteristics as well, mainly anger. In addition to that, lecturing facilitated to expand my academic skills such as reading, writing and listening. Furthermore my business taught some lessons regarding my proficiency while communicating with our clients. It provided a real environment to learn and develop my skills. I feel that it was a great opportunity for me. In addition to the above, the degree modules specially Project Management and Academic Communication also a circumstance to improve my skills. The Project Management is having similar structure as ICCSP, which helps me to re-develop my skills in more efficient way. Up to now this module introduces us a wide range of tools to measure our skill base, which helped me to identify my skills level. Time management tools absolutely helped me to make proper time schedule for my day to day activities. I learnt a lot academic skills and specially I got to know the way of writing the reports and documents without plagiarism. I am sure that what ever the things we are going to study in this module will help me to improve my skills and academic knowledge. However the other modules in degree progress are technical modules and related to particular concepts. But the above mentioned two modules are very useful to build effective project and reports for the other modules as well. 10 | This work is licensed under the Northumbria University. 4.0 Strategies and Tactics for My Developments Here I have list down some strategies which are really useful for me to recover from my loopholes. Very first thing is Meditation and Yoga; I have got proper training to do such thing. So every day early morning I used to do them at least for one hour. It helps me a lot to control myself and let me do my work on a proper way and facilitates me to concentrate on studies as well. I have chosen the group project in this degree progress, because I think this is the place where I can develop my ability of team work and study. It is significantly easier for learn difficult material and doing vast projects. Now I maintain a proper time management for each and every activity in my routine life. This is also helping me to do my work on time as efficiently as possible. I try to pay attention on others and observe what’s going on the other people’s lives and recognize their happy milestones and expression. Moreover I am maintaining the following strategies in order to develop my academic skills more efficient. o Spend more than two hours a day in the library on reading books. o I trying to write at least one story per week in English. o When I find out a new English word, I go through the meaning of it and make notes. o Detecting abuse and neglect. o Now I make a short list of major events and amount of work to be accomplished in each subject this week. o I am using time management tool to calculate how many hours have remain during the week for studying. o I am keeping track of Study Skill Checklist in order to find out about my own study habits and attitudes. I concentrate on developing my inter personal skills a lot such as practicing active listening to express my ideas to hear and understand other’s point of view, being positive, communicate clearly to pay close attention to both what I say and how I say. A clear and effective communicator avoids misunderstandings with coworkers, colleagues, and associates as well as resolve conflicts easily. 11 | This work is licensed under the Northumbria University. 5.0 Inhibition for My Development Most of the occasions my characteristics were inhibited my development. Mainly my unawareness and careless on task/studies put me down. Specially it was happened in my studies, I do not show much attention on any exams normally. In few occasions I have subdued by our religious believes, because my parents always await the suitable day to do a special event or a new job/task based on the astrology. So it may delay me to start or do my works on the expected day and it sometimes make me to loose things. Occasionally my parents’ love also restricted me to do my tasks. Very good example is I planed to do this degree on last year, but my parents not allowed me to do it because of astrological problems. My parents believe those thing a lot. In spite of this some of my friends hold back due to their selfishness. On the other hand I take such events as a part of the life and they never hurt me by heart. 6.0 Discussion Strengths       My parents and other relatives. Self motivation and awareness. Mind mapping. Creativity God believes. Advance planning. Opportunities      Skills development studies. Be as lecturer. My degree and its modules. Meditation and Yoga. My own business.            Weaknesses High Temper. Some hobbies. Ability to make quick decisions. Never pay attention to others. Least concentration on studies. Effect of past experiences. Threads My unawareness. Careless. Some of friends’ selfishness. Some culture and traditional facts. Some hobbies. 12 | This work is licensed under the Northumbria University. 7.0 Conclusion According to my analysis, I have clearly categorized and intended about my strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats within and surrounding my nature, culture and environment. I have compared my strengths and weaknesses first. Once I have exhausted my skills and characteristics for each factor and then evaluated my opportunities and threats. Followed by I have recognized my opportunities. These are creating value for my personal development in many ways. Finally I made some assessment regarding my threats and understood that those will be the factors that are affecting my development and got to know I have to overcome them. I can realize that I can be able to manage some threats immediately and the other things may take some time. Since I understand that I am not being able to resolve certain issues right away or at all. Throughout this report I re-think about how I can use my strengths, how to work out for each weakness, exploit every opportunity and manage all the threats. So I believe that these all will make up me as a complete personality in the future. 13 | This work is licensed under the Northumbria University.