The first intensive is on the 23rd/24th January weekend and it is being conducted by Dr Andrew Finegan as Dr Vernon Ireland was feeling unwell. Dr Andrew added a few complementary information on top of our notes. Here he is below conducting a class for us.
I have to admit the Project Management module is quite a boring subject to take. When I studied the PMBOK (Project Management Book Of Knowledge), it is indeed one of the most challenging text to read through. As what the lecturer has mentioned, it is a reference text, and not a textbook or normal book.
The interesting aspect of the course is the discussion Workshop Exercise we have in groups. The students in our class looking on at the different group contributions below.
And we have Andrew reviewing and marking our writings.
Towards the end of the first intensive, the entire walls are pasted with our group discussion writings.
By the second intensive, it is Dr Andrew's turn to fall ill and Dr Vernon Ireland is here with us. According to a friend, Dr Vernon is the father of Adelaide's MPM programme. He started the programme many years ago and have been with it ever since. Dr Vernon is a lively lecturer and he gave many fascinating anecdotes on project management.
The approach to the Workshop Exercise is also slightly different and the groups are advised to present their discussion to the class instead of pasting onto the walls. This time round it is really more fun as more students are directly involved.
APM1 is actually one of the more intensive module in the MPM course. There are 3 x 10% assignment, an individual presentation (10%), a group assignment (30%) and a large individual assignment (30%).
I had made a few very good friends in the course and they are Ken, Huo Long and Kok Mun. At every breaks, we all sit together and have many things to chat about.
During the second intensive, the class decide to have a Luo Hei during the Sunday lunch and everyone just joined in together.
The knowledge obtained from the APM1 course is very useful. Project Management is largely about application and through the assignments, we are able to apply the knowledge effectively. Besides PMBOK, we also learnt about PRINCE2 model which I find it to be quite useful for newcomers to project management. It will require some experience to actually use PMBOK, but PRINCE2 is comparatively more structured.
This course actually combines the synergy of both PMBOK and PRINCE2, requiring us to understand the strengths and weaknesses of both models. Thereafter during the assignment, we were taught to harness and apply the models into Project Management activities.
My group partner is Ken and I had three discussions with him and via email/skype on the work forward. Our project plan is to roll out a new Credit Card product for a bank. I have absolutely no domain knowledge on it but Ken is very experienced, thus it is quite an enjoyable learning experience.
From this module, I have learnt a lot on the Project Management knowledge areas. Previously when I tried to self-study, I have difficulty linking and understanding how it falls into place; less so in applying it. After the course, I have a clearer understanding of it and will be able to use for my Project Management activities.
