Training activity information
Details
Draft a project plan and apply appropriate project management principles to a project
Type
Entrustable training activity (ETA)
Evidence requirements
Evidence the activity has been undertaken by the trainee repeatedly, consistently, and effectively over time, in a range of situations. This may include occasions where the trainee has not successfully achieved the outcome of the activity themselves. For example, because it was not appropriate to undertake the task in the circumstances or the trainees recognised their own limitations and sought help or advice to ensure the activity reached an appropriate conclusion.
Reflection at multiple timepoints on the trainee learning journey for this activity.
Considerations
- Time management
- Project management lifecycle
- Project plans and specifications
- Project methodology
- Best practice in project management
- Project environments
- Patient involvement
- Factors influencing and limiting control of quality, timing and costs
- Critical thinking
- Risk analysis
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 success look like for drafting this project plan? How will completing this activity help you perform a system requirements-gathering exercise, appraise system design plans, select and apply project management methodologies, and summarise clinical requirements? What are the key components expected in the draft project plan?
- What is your prior experience with project planning? Have you drafted project plans before, perhaps in academic or previous work settings? What do you already know about project management principles? What are potential challenges you might face in applying principles to a specific project or in structuring the plan effectively? When might you need to seek advice, e.g., on selecting methodologies or understanding project scope? How do you feel about starting this project planning task?
- What specific skills do you want to develop related to project planning software/tools or tailoring methodologies to different project types? What insights do you hope to gain about managing system development projects and integrating clinical requirements?
- Have you reviewed any previous project plans or templates? What information do you need to gather about the specific project this plan relates to? Who do you need to consult regarding project scope, resources, or timelines?
In action
- As you are drafting a specific section of the project plan (e.g., scope, timeline, resources) or actively applying a project management principle or methodology element, are you encountering anything that feels surprising or different from what you are anticipating? For instance, are there unexpected complexities, ambiguities in the project scope, or necessary resources that arise as you draft? How does this project planning experience compare with your previous experiences of similar activities?
- As you encounter an unexpected complexity or ambiguity in the project plan, how are you reacting and adapting your approach to drafting the plan or applying principles? For example, are you adjusting your phrasing, re-evaluating the scope, or seeking additional information in the moment? Are you considering other ways you could approach this task, such as a different structure for the plan or an alternative project management principle? Is this affecting your ability to draft the plan independently? Are you feeling confident you can reach a successful conclusion despite the unexpected issue, or are you finding it difficult to adapt? Are you recognising when you might need to seek immediate clarification from your training officer?
- What new insights or lessons are becoming apparent to you as a result of the unexpected development and your reaction to it during the activity? Are you recognising how you are working within your scope of practice, for example, by knowing when to pause or seek immediate advice regarding the project plan or principal application?
On action
- Summarise the key stages you went through when drafting the project plan and applying project management principles. What parts of the drafting or application process felt particularly important or challenging? Recall any moments during the activity where you had to adjust your approach.
- What did you learn about drafting project plans or applying specific project management principles (e.g., related to scope, resources, timeline, risk)? What strengths did you demonstrate in understanding project requirements or using planning tools? What skills or knowledge gaps were evident, perhaps regarding specific methodologies or estimation techniques? How did this experience compare to previous attempts at project planning? Did you successfully implement any actions identified for development from prior reflections? What challenges did you experience (e.g., ambiguity in requirements, difficulty applying a principle, time constraints)? Were you able to overcome them? Did you need to seek advice from your training officer or others about the plan or principles?
- What actions or next steps will you take to improve your project planning skills or your application of project management principles? What aspects of project planning or specific methodologies do you need to study or practise further? How will you approach drafting project plans differently next time based on what you learned?
Beyond action
- Looking back at the project plan you drafted and the project management principles you applied, how does your current understanding of different project management methodologies (e.g., Agile, Waterfall) compare? What approach would you favour now and why? Have you been involved in other projects or project planning activities since this training activity? How does your approach to drafting plans and applying principles compare to your initial experience? If you discussed this training activity with peers or your training officer, has their perspective or subsequent feedback changed your understanding of effective project planning and management? Revisit your reflect-on-action notes for this training activity. What aspects related to applying appropriate principles or addressing challenges now seem more or less significant in light of subsequent learning or project experiences?
- How has your ability to draft project plans influenced your approach to organising and managing tasks in other training activities or work? How has your understanding of project management principles, gained from this activity, helped you critically appraise or navigate project activities you encounter now? Did this initial experience help you appreciate the complexities of considering clinical requirements and stakeholder needs during planning? Has it influenced how you think about risk assessment and management within projects?
Relevant learning outcomes
| # | Outcome |
|---|---|
| # 1 |
Outcome
Perform and document a system requirements-gathering exercise and develop a specification of requirements. |
| # 2 |
Outcome
Critically appraise a systems design/development plan to determine suitability of existing services. |
| # 3 |
Outcome
Select and apply systems development and project management methodologies to a range of projects. |
| # 4 |
Outcome
Summarise the clinical requirements for a system development project considering all stakeholders. |