Training activity information
Details
Write a project plan and manage a project accordingly
Type
Developmental training activity (DTA)
Evidence requirements
Evidence the activity has been undertaken by the trainee​.
Reflection on the activity at one or more time points after the event including learning from the activity and/or areas of the trainees practice for development.
An action plan to implement learning and/or to address skills or knowledge gaps identified.
Considerations
- Formal project management principles
- Managing risk and reporting findings
- Ongoing project support
- Project management methodologies
- Software life cycle
- The use of a computer as a clinical device
- Legislation and guidance
- Local and international standards, certifications and regulatory bodies
Reflective practice guidance
The guidance below is provided to support reflection at different time points, providing you with questions to aid you to reflect for this training activity. They are provided for guidance and should not be considered as a mandatory checklist. Trainees should not be expected to provide answers to each of the guidance questions listed.
Before action
- What does a successful project plan look like in this context? What are the key aspects of managing a project effectively according to the curriculum? What prior knowledge of project management methodologies might be helpful?
- What specific skills in project planning and management do you hope to develop? What insights do you expect to gain into the challenges of managing a software development project from start to finish? How will this activity build upon any previous project experience?
- How will you research and understand the requirements for a project plan in this module? What potential challenges might arise in adhering to the plan, and how can you proactively mitigate these? How do you feel about taking on the responsibility of project management?
In action
- Pay attention to your actions.
- How are you currently approaching the task of writing the project plan?
- Why are you structuring it this way?
- What decisions are you making as you develop the project plan (e.g., regarding timelines, resource allocation, risk assessment)?
- What aspects of project planning feel intuitive based on your current knowledge, and what requires more conscious effort or research?
- How effective are your current actions in developing a comprehensive and manageable project plan?
- What challenges are you encountering as you try to plan and manage the project (even in this theoretical stage)?
- What can you learn about project planning and management as you are in the process of creating this plan?
- How does this activity of project planning connect to your existing understanding of project management principles or previous experiences with planning?
- Are there alternative approaches you could be considering for structuring the project plan or managing the project lifecycle?
- What support or guidance might you need at this moment if this were a real-time project?
- Are you ensuring your planned actions and considerations align with best practices and any relevant guidelines for project management in healthcare science?
On action
- Summarise the key stages of the project plan you created and how you managed the project against it. Note any deviations from the original plan and the reasons for these. Describe the resources you utilised and how effectively they were managed.
- What did you learn about the process of project planning in software development?
- What challenges did you encounter in managing the project, and how did you address them?
- What did you learn about your own project management skills, such as time management, task delegation, and problem-solving?
- How did the project’s progress align with the initial learning outcomes for this activity?
- What aspects of your project planning and management approach would you repeat or change in future projects?
- What specific skills in project management do you need to further develop?
- What tools or methodologies might you explore to enhance your project management capabilities?
Beyond action
- Have you looked back at the project plan you created and how you managed the project?
- How does your understanding of project management compare now?
- Have you discussed project planning with colleagues and gained new perspectives?
- How has the experience of writing and managing a project plan influenced your approach to other tasks, such as planning software development? Has it helped you understand the importance of timelines and resource allocation?
- What transferable skills, such as organisation, time management, and leadership, did you develop? What further actions can you take to enhance your project management skills, perhaps by learning about different methodologies?
Relevant learning outcomes
| # | Outcome |
|---|---|
| # 2 |
Outcome
Plan and manage a software development project. |
| # 12 |
Outcome
Practice in accordance with legislation, ethics and best practice. |