Posts

Showing posts from July, 2022

Choose Your Tool: Two Project Development Resources to Support Workflow

Image
              The tasks of project management are numerous and varied and can easily cause project managers (PMs) to feel overwhelmed (Walden University, LLC (Executive Producer), n.d.). Being equipped with tools and strategies to organize the sequence and assignment of tasks and task activities can assist with project navigation and guiding project teams. Whether as a team or individual, project managers are challenged to complete projects on time and on budget. Utilization of workflow schedules provides a visual representation of the project life cycle – initiating, planning, executing, monitoring/controlling, and closing (Adobe Experience Cloud, 2022) – and offers a framework for project development and completion.             This post spotlights resources that may prove useful in planning an instructional design (ID) project schedule. Located through a web search, brief descriptions and evaluations of the identified resources are provided along with a perception of value and use

Communicating Effectively

Image
  When I think of communication, I generally envision two or more individuals having an exchange of words, either written or orally, as means of relaying a message. However, the reality is that communication occurs in a variety of ways and uses several modalities. IGI Global (formerly Idea Group, Inc.), considered an innovative leader in the dissemination of knowledge, defines communication modality as the use of input channels for the purposes of transmission exchange (IGI Global, 2022). The number of categorized communication modalities varies based on who you ask or the sources you reference. The most recognized modalities are verbal, auditory, written, and non-verbal. Within each of these four modalities are facial expressions, body language, sign language, tone, etc. Yet, there are so many additional ways that people communicate. Technology advancements have contributed to the communication evolution. Face-to-face, text, messaging, email, memes, etc. With each message relayed and

Planning for A Needs Assessment of Whole Foods Market: People, Places, and Artifacts

Image
  Background Founded in 1980 as a local food grocery store in Austin, TX, Whole Foods Market provides natural and health foods (Whole Foods Market, 2022). Since its founding, the company has grown to become a leader in the natural and organic supermarket industry (IPL, 2022). Its mission is “to nourish people and the planet” as a purpose-driven company (Whole Foods Market, 2022, para. 1). Its motto “Whole Foods, Whole People, Whole planet undergirds its culture and desire to create an experience that has garnered recognition as “America’s Healthiest Grocery Store” (Whole Foods Market, 2022). The company has six core values that further contribute to its culture and guide how it conducts business with each group of stakeholders: ·          High Product Quality ·          Customer Satisfaction ·          Employee Growth and Satisfaction ·          Effective Reciprocal Partnerships (suppliers) ·          Create Profits and Prosperity ·          Serve and Support Communities

Project Post-Mortem: The 20/20 of Hindsight

Image
    What contributes to the success of a project? How can unexpected challenges be avoided in the management of future projects? The delivery of completed projects should come with a sense of pride and accomplishment. However, a retrospective examination of a project from beginning to end, or project post-mortem, helps with the level of project success (or failure) in meeting the client’s goals (McLaughlin, 2013).  This post narratively offers the results of a simplistic post-mortem reflection of a personal project management experience. Several years ago, I lead the planning, development, and implementation of a statewide project designed to engage undergraduate students from across the state who had an interest in pursuing health-related careers. The project involved creating a college-skills type course that would demonstrate the application of academic success skills as lifelong learning skills within the health arena while also engaging students in a self-directed career explorati

Project Management Elevator Pitch

  If given only 90-seconds to impart a little wisdom about what you do as a project manager and why project management is important, what would you say? As a budding project manager with an interest in delivering solutions for learning, I came up with a sample elevator pitch as if I were interested in establishing a contractual relationship with a business or organization. The script is provided along with a .wav file (click  Elevator Pitch  to access) for your review. Afterward, share your thoughts. What would you change or say differently? Hello, I’m Angelica Christie. As a project management consultant, I assume contractual oversight and accountability for planning, resource allocation, progression, and monitoring of projects that help to achieve organizational goals. Being competitive in the 21 st century require organizations to maintain steady pace with changes that drive existing markets and ultimately drive the bottom line. Research shows that high-performing organizations are

The Future of Distance Learning: Reflection of a Novice

Image
             Advancements in technology have been a driving force in changing societal perceptions and acceptance of the validity and value of learning at a distance. Evolving from the model of correspondence learning supported by postal delivery, radio and television mediums progressed the one-way-delivery of instruction was an early, but failed attempt to extend teaching. The failure is attributed to varying obstacles. The inflexibility of synchronous scheduling failed to consider time zones and, even greater, the absence of inter-relational connectivity and shared experience contributed to passive learning (Baum & McPherson, 2019). Innovations continued, fueled by desires to remove barriers to education and resources to promote learning. The discovery and construction of the World Wide Web technologies helped to enhance the acceptance of online learning as a method expanding educational access. The increased availability, utilization, and practical application of tools that help