For effective project management, communication should be multi-directional. Which of these best represents what is typically included in the communication flow by more experienced project managers?
Explanation
Answer: b - The correct answer here is Lessons Learned from other projects within the firm. It’s never convenient having to “reinvent the wheel” or to learn about a prevalent system issue second hand.
The project charter is a document used to detail the goals of a particular project, and once written, should not be open to interpretation.
Encoded messages are what we communicate to other people.
Decoded messages are how we interpret communications from others.
The issue log keeps track of items to be systematically dealt with to keep the project moving forward - it’s a handy tool, but we believe it’s something the project manager should primarily use for him or herself to keep track of what needs attention.
Key Take Away: Experienced Project Managers know that multi-directional communication is not limited to the scope of one’s current project. One of the tools least utilized is the post-completion Lessons Learned review and meeting. When a project is complete, and especially has gone well, there is a tendency to disregard the need for a Lessons Learned or Postmortem Meeting; but in actuality, the project that has gone well can probably yield the most beneficial information. If it isn’t considered a form of performance reporting in your organization, it should be.
In order to be the most effective Project Manager, one must constantly be looking for ways to add value to the organization as a whole, which includes disseminating any knowledge/insights gained from one’s current project to other managers across the firm, and vice versa. This can create a cultural of sharing essential information amongst project teams.
