individual report mdp

Frederico Costa @00255034 2012

Live Projects 2012:

Individual Report

Frederico Costa

@00255034

Msc (Hons) Business Studies with ITContents


Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….3

Team Building Process…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 3

Contribution on Team Building……………………………………………………………………………………………………... 4, 5

Contribution on products & services ……………………………………………………………………………………………….6

Week Log ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..6–10

Reflection ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..11

Summary ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...11

References………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..12

Appendix

Team Leader Overview…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 13

Individual Overview as team leader……………………………………………………………………………………………….. 13, 14

Peer Assessment…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 15


Introduction

This report explains my point of view of work undertaken and skills developed on the module MDP2: Live Projects 2012, applying the concept of Team Working, a personal contribution on the project, a reflection part where it is explained in what this project helped me developing my skills and in what I’ve used knowledge learned from other modules and a weekly log where it’s described the team’s workload through this academic year and a reflection part, all this divided into an introduction, main body and summary.

Team building process

“A good leader directs the sequence of steps the group take and keeps the group "on-track.” They are good at controlling people and events and coordinating resources. They have the energy, determination and initiative to overcome obstacles and bring competitive drive to the team. They give shape to the team effort. They recognise the skills of the individuals and how they can be used. Leaders are outgoing individuals who have to be careful not to be domineering. They can sometimes steamroller the team but get results quickly. They may become impatient with complacency and lack of progress and may sometimes overreact”.( http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/sk/leadership.htm)

Based on this statement I used the following advantages of team working:

Delegated power in order to have individual response; Faster productivity; New approaches and solutions; Use strengths of group members;

http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/sk/leadership.htm


Contribution on Team Building

Source: http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/sk/teamwork.htm

http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/sk/teamwork.htm


The chart above shows how I decided has a team leader to motivate and orientate the team through team working. Based on the chart it can be said that the following motives were the key for the team’s success:

Focusing people on their tasks and co-relating departments; Being objective and goal-oriented – being aware of deadlines and achieving milestones; Motivating and creating enthusiasm on this project; Being supportive and making use of humour; Giving and listening to constructive feedback; Always be honest and comfortable showing points of view – building up confidence; Giving responsibilities and coordinating according to everyone’s strenghts; Taking positive attitude to face challenges; Using different skills from different people – supressing weaknesses and making everybody

comfortable doing their tasks;

Contribution on products & services (based on deliverables chart)

My past experience as a consultant and my previous Law degree helped me to easily write down the full contract for the client. Since I am creative I was expected to give good ideas to our products and services to be developed as well making use of my analysing skills I had influence on the market research and SWOT analysis. For the same reason and after writing down the Project Scope I was confident that I could pull out the team’s strengths and make sure that their responsibilities were based on their skills so they could be comfortable on their tasks. Making use of my people and social skills I helped some colleagues with their tasks but also being honest, sending back their parts and asking for better and more dedicated results. In the end the client already achieved the results that he wanted and the expo was a success so it can be said that our goal and vision were the right path through success.


Practical contribution based on Week Log

12 OctoberNivair and Terri first establishes contact between assigned group members Nivair and Terri set up an agreed date to meet up at university.

13 OctoberMDP Consulting had formed as a group most members attend the first meeting excluding Amir and Carl. The group has assigned team roles and e-mailed our client to set up a date of appointment. Additionally we started to network ideas about how to meet our client’s needs. An online group has been created for MDP Consulting to make contact easier between team members.

15 OctoberMDP Consulting attends their first tutorial with Mr Trodden. We raised concerns about the two absent team members also our client that has not replied to our email. Mr Trodden raised concerns and changed our client to Tempus Restaurant.

18 OctoberMDP Consulting establishes first contact with client; Mr Grove is happy discussing the current project of Tempus restaurant.


19 OctoberMDP consulting had a meeting. We discussed the nature of the project and scope; Me and Nivair discussed the milestones to be achieved and made an attempt to start the project planning.

20 OctoberReceived a reply from Miss Oh (assistant manager) informing us that a date of appointment can be established on Monday 23 October at 4pm.

21 October Attended our tutorial with Mr Trodden Carl and Amir are also present at the tutorial we discussed our progress we made with Mr Trodden he seemed pleased.

23 OctoberWe have our first meeting with Mr Grove. We discussed our milestones and our objectives that needed to be met for our live projects module. Mr grove identified problems within the organisation and exchanged ideas on how to tackle the problems. Our dress code was formal dress wear. We gave the contract to Mr grove to be signed which is an agreement on objectives that need to be met for the live projects specification. Mr Grove was impressed with the group and especially the professionalism of speech. Mr Grove gave us a whole tour around the hotel identifies key aspects of the hotel.

26 October Our group had a meeting to summarise what tasks that need to be met and also appropriate the tasks fairly. Nivair and me had started to make an attempt to write up the business plan and marketing strategy whilst Terri was assigned to keep the minutes and keep contact with Mr Grove with Omer. Carl was assigned to help design our group logo.

28 OctoberWe had a meeting with our tutor discussing our progress so far. We all handed in our personal statements to Mr Trodden as requested. Mr Trodden seemed impressed with the fast progress we have made.

5 NovemberA meeting took place at university. We discussed our project scope, plan (including task deliverables) and risk assessment that needed to be handed in additionally the meeting with Mr grove to be taken place in 2 days.

7 NovemberOmer attended the second meeting with Mr Grove as it was his duty as public relations the whole group did not attend as advised. Omer took pictures of the hotel which was to be included in the redesign of the website, menu, logo banner.

11 November


We attended our meeting with Patrick discussing our recent concerns about the project deliverables and our PowerPoint presentation that was to be presented to Mr Grove. He reviewed our PowerPoint and indicated what needed to be improved and changed. Me and Nivair completed the project and submitted the project plan before the deadline.

14 NovemberWe had done a SWOT analysis in order to understand the business strengths, opportunities, weaknesses and threats.Also delegated responsibilities putting Wu in charge to check prices for banners and the rest of the team to analyse what the hotel could do to improve the booking service to the restaurant and Carl was assigned to design banners and menus for the restaurant following the client’s instructions and limitations to re-create those products for the tempus restaurant.

18 NovemberThe SWOT analysis was our main tool in this meeting to explore opportunities to the restaurant, suppressing weaknesses and avoiding threats while maintaining its strengths and the team came up with a few ideas based on the SWOT analysis.

21 NovemberThe team has done a presentation in the meeting with the tutor. Patrick was impressed with the quality of it and our communicating skills too. The ideas were a success at the eyes of our tutor which has great experience in the sector.

1 DecemberThe team decided to do some research to see if the SWOT analysis was similar to some other hotels.Also some products and services were evaluated by us to see where the Tempus Restaurant could have what is called in Marketing as a competitive advantage.

2 December I and Nivair attended a meeting with Mr Trodden discussing recent progress with our project.

7 December A meeting took place at university to clarify objectives to be met for Mr Grove.

15 DecemberWe compiled a PowerPoint presentation including everyone’s contributions to their part of the slide. We decided appropriate the presentation into sections so that each member had their individual part.

9 JanuaryThe research was delivered to the Deputy Manager and analysed in group. I wasn’t present due to my grandmother’s death.

10 January

Due to a setback of Frederico’s personal issues Nivair had to fill post of team leader Nivair called an emergency meeting at university discussing what objectives needed to be done to avoid falling behind during the exam period. We also revised our PowerPoint presentation to improve our presentation skills.


January 13Presented our presentation to Mr Trodden which is to be presented to Mr Grove; Frederico was absent due to family issues. Mr Trodden was impressed with the level of professionalism and clarity of the presentation.

20 JanuaryMr Trodden gave our team feedback on our personal statements he also asked if our group had any concerns. We raised concerns with the level of communication with our client as our client seemed very busy.

3 FebruaryOmer raised concerns about team management as he felt that the team was communicating ineffectively and working together in a non-consistent non cohesive manner. Frederico raised some concerns about the progress report and deadlines. Also explained to Omer and to the whole team that there’s a weekly meeting and a meeting with the tutor every 2 weeks and people need to be aware of what is talked in the meetings and if don’t attend need to check the minutes and deadlines as they are available to every student in this module and not only to the team leader, that has the responsibility to motivate the team to do their work but not to be anyone’s secretary.I went through my peer assessment with the group explaining why people rewarded the mark I gave for each criteria of the peer assessment. It was helpful recognising where we have made mistakes so we could improve on it. We all agreed to make Omer the new team leader as the group felt that I had too many responsibilities on my shoulders.

9 FebruaryMeeting at university; the agenda was to establish contact with Mr Grove and prepare for a meeting with Mr Grove. Our main aim was to preserve our relationship with Mr Grove since the last meeting and also prepare what ideas to present to him. Nivair appropriated what tasks needed to be done.

13 FebruaryAll the members attended and gave their parts of the report to Omer, who has supervised the progress report draft. The Draft was very poor and our tutor advised us to do a better one while we had time to deliver it on time. He believes that our potential should not be ‘represented’ by such a poor draft so UNTIL THE END OF THE DAY we should come up with a fine Progress Report or just send this one.I took the lead as Omer did not show any progress in this matter (with no objections from the rest of the team) asking the colleagues to re-send their parts but improving it. Frederico has written the progress report in a way that would look written by only one person (as Patrick asked us to make it look like).27 FebruaryWe had satisfactory feedback from Mr.Grove and Nivair has sent it to Mr Patrick.

9 MarchMeeting is to specify what tasks are allocated to arrange the meeting with Mr Grove and inform all group members about individual reports, final reports and expo.Nivair got reply from Mr Grove and e-mailed them to know if they are on target of what is needed.Terri and Wu progressed with the banners and key rings prices and forms (with supervision of Nivair).


12 MarchMr Grove contacts Nivair explaining the agenda of the meeting and giving us a choice what date to pick to meet. Nivair establishes an online meeting.14 MarchWe had a meeting with Mr Grove at 6pm. As Mr Grove said to do not bring all the team Omer, Nivair, Wu and Amir represented Mdp Consulting. Nivair brought all the equipment necessary to perform the presentation done a few months ago. It went well. Also updated feedback since the progress report was taken.Mr Grove delivered great feedback (apart from client feedback) after a good presentation prepared for 2 months.All the products/services/procedures were accepted expect the key ring, which was ‘updated’ to a medal pound coin that could have use even after a customer leaves the hotel.April 6Meeting up to summarise the meeting that took place with Mr Grove. Mr Grove identified that implicit advertising through the key ring fob was a simple but effective idea so we proceeded with that idea. Additionally the ideas of the Smart phone, the banner design and canapés was approved so we appropriated the tasks that needed to be done.

April 12I and Nivair have a meeting; we both piece together the final parts of the final progress report. And pass it on to Carl to be formatted. April 19Nivair and Frederico have a meeting online establishing a date of appointment; Nivair decides to print of a draft of the final progress report so that it can be assessed by group members for the next meeting.

April 20 Meeting we discuss how to write our final individual reports and brief on expo to be taken place. Nivair and I piece together the yearly diary so this will aid members to write their individual reports.

Reflection


Through this module I’ve learned that leadership is not enough to be a good team leader. Leading by example makes anyone more responsible and organized. Furthermore, learning from everybody’s strengths made me a more complete individual (e.g. I am creative but learned with Carl Price how to put my creativity into a design program). MDP made me look into business with a different perspective: what we learn matters. Facing some problems motivating the team due to their other responsibilities on their other modules, I’ve learned that flexibility is the key to success, alongside with encouragement and professionalism; If I was not flexible my team wouldn’t deliver their works on time with excellence so I had a look on People Management notes to motivate the team, creating bonds between us and encourage them awakening the confidence inside them, because alone I could not deliver such great products, services or think of procedures to be taken in the Palace Hotel to lead the customers to the Tempus restaurant. All this allied with excellence in the delivered solutions made me more professional in everything I do. Also the Rich Media module made me look into multimedia in a different perspective so a smartphone app (more than a website as every hotel has one) alongside with Marketing ‘principles of competitive advantage’ made the team deliver an excellent tool to captivate customers in the long-run.

Also my tutor, Mr Patrick Trodden had a huge impact on me. He made me feel that being confident and business oriented was the key to my success in this module and that I could not take care of everything by myself so listening to the others and be humble enough to accept new ideas from people better than me in certain areas was a tool to drive this team to success.

For last, I looked to this module as a project, establishing milestones, margin errors and following the theory of project failure given in the Project Management classes I made sure that I was covering every possibility of failure.

Summary

It was an excellent but hard working module where I’ve learned how to combine abstract and practical skills and dealing with deadlines where I needed to meet up a real client’s expectations.

Moreover, it has strengthen my point of view about team working and hierarchies and made of me a decision-maker and now I believe that I am a more complete individual that had the honour of learning through experience.

References


(2012)http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/sk/teamwork.htm University of Kent

(2012)http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/sk/leadership.htm University of Kent

Jamal, T., Smith, B. and Watson, E. (2008) “Ranking, Rating and Scoring, Tourism Management, Vol.9 No1, Pages 66-68

Linton, J.D. and Thongpapanl, N. (2004), “Perspective: ranking the technology InnovationManagement journals”, Journal of Product Innovation Management, Vol. 21 No. 2,pp. 123-39.

Duchastel, Philippe C. “Marginalia.” The Technology of Text: Principles for Structuring, Designing and Displaying Text. Vol. 2. Ed. David H. Jonassen. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Educational Technology Publications, 1985. 210-236.

Defining yield management and measuring its impact on hotel performanceP Jones - Ingold, McMahon-Beattie, and Yeoman (Eds) Yield …, 2000

Appendix

http://books.google.co.uk/books?hl=en&lr=&id=GSvm47Z0QNsC&oi=fnd&pg=PA85&ots=2zfHnE8dln&sig=6cfY6OHvMBPksQQtlwv7oDofX14

http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/sk/leadership.htm

http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/sk/teamwork.htm


Team Leader Overview (document delivered to tutor to base team leader reviews)

I was assigned Team Leader (Frederico Costa) for team 27 on our second meeting, in the first tutorial (we had a meeting before to brainstorm possibilities to help our client), maybe because we did not have a structure to debate and I organised a debate and led the team dividing research to do they thought I was the most suitable person to be the Chairman. From my point of view my leadership, organisational skills and a continuous sense of ‘not wasting time in business’ acquired from previous working experience in the banking sector made me be seen as a focused and reliable team leader.

Nivair Merdono was assigned has Deputy Leader since he has exceptional organisational skills. Omer Aly proposed himself to be Public Relations and in fact he has good communication skills so the position was suitable for him. Yujing Wu arrived UK a few months ago and was not comfortable with the language but because she is studying Business with Economics I thought that the ‘Finance Responsibilities’ could suit her ambitions in the group and she happily accepted the position.

Terri Kay seemed to be organised and assertive so it was decided that she could have the Administrative responsibilities.

Motivated with such a project (promote the restaurant that actually belongs to the Palace Hotel, a four star superior) the team worked hard looking for possible ways of promoting the restaurant (trying to compensate the 3 weeks wasted) brainstorming and trying to get ahead of possible refuses for the ideas.

Since there my main duty was not just do my part of the work and organise the team, I needed to pull out the strengths of each individual and supress their weaknesses at the eyes of the client, letting talk the ones with confidence to talk, putting other people doing some work exploring their individualism to present to the tutor and the client, making use of the fact that 3 of us were studying IT and 6 of us are in a Business related course analyse and compare every possibility to bring a new service, product or procedure to the client.

Individual overview for each member:

Nivair Merdono: Excellent in terms of attendance in the meetings and very good organisational skills. On the other hand does too much ‘by heart’, by impulse when his position demanded more experience to deal with problems like deadlines. Like me, he has the ‘urgency’ to get the work done.

Designing is not his best attribute but it is compensated with hard work always on top of everything.

Omer Aly: Poor attendance to the meetings. Excellent communication skills but much disorganised. Democratically attempted a ‘coupe d’état’ saying that from his point of view the delegations were always given too close to the deadlines. It was explained that everything was posted on a shared file online and at this stage of our studies he should know the ‘rule’ (if he is not attending to the meeting he needs to check the minutes and resume of the meeting) instead of complaining all the time. Given


the opportunity to do it his way, he delegated all the work to team members and made a poor draft of a report and the team was not happy with the quality of his work, since for him delegating everything to the others and not having any work to do and then making a poor draft that could have blown our hopes to have a good mark in this module, the team decided not to have it and everything was back to normal. Besides not attending and lacking organisation he has excellent communication skills and has good concepts for business but no organisation and the wrong concept of team working, where it should be divided based on each other’s strengths and not just assuming that the leader should just divide the tasks not having any task for himself to do.

Terri Kay: Good attendance to the meetings and always on top of her tasks. Passed good information about Tourism and Leisure. Every time she could not attend to a meeting she informed the leader or deputy. The minutes were always organised by her or the deputy who was in charge of keeping it updated. Could make better use of multimedia to spread the information but the important is that she has done her tasks. Good communication skills but could have delivered more ideas but she has done all the tasks that was asked for.

Wu Yujing: Excellent attendance to the meetings. Very good ideas but poor communication skills. I’ve spent the whole academic year building up her confidence to talk more since her ideas were really good and I developing skills was part of my job it has resulted with Wu. Has a good understanding of business cycles and all the tasks that was asked to do she accomplished them with great effort.

Carl Price: Joined the group later but I’ve always seen him as a great ‘add-on’ to the team. Great IT skills, creative and transformed all the ideas given to him into products. Satisfactory commitment with the project but no enthusiasm, which maybe is part of his way if living. Regular attendance to the meetings.

Amir: Excellent attendance to the meetings. Not being exceptional he always made an effort to accomplish his tasks and be present. Good communication skills but not assertive.

Peer Assessment

Frederico Costa @00255034 2012N

ames

of y

our t

eam

m

embe

rs

Reg

ular

atte

ndan

ce a

t gr

oup

mee

tings

,

Was

ava

ilabl

e at

oth

er

times

for d

iscu

ssio

n,

plan

ning

etc

.M

aint

ain

good

co

mm

unic

atio

n w

ith

Wor

ked

effe

ctiv

ely

with

oth

er te

am

Con

tribu

tion

to n

eeds

of

the

team

, lea

ders

hip,

Prov

ided

inno

vativ

e su

gges

tions

for p

roje

ct

Ach

ievi

ng a

gree

d ta

sks

to a

dequ

ate

stan

dard

s

Und

erta

ke a

fair

shar

e of

the

wor

k

Prof

essi

onal

atti

tude

to

team

and

clie

nt

Posi

tive

attit

ude

tow

ards

the

wor

k an

d

Tota

l

Frederico Costa

4 4 4 4 5 3 5 4 4 4 41

Nivair Merdomo

5 5 4 5 4 3 5 4 4 4 43

Omer Aly 2 3 3 4 3 3 2 3 3 3 29

Carl Price 4 5 3 4 4 4 5 5 4 4 42

Terri Kay 4 4 4 5 4 3 5 4 3 4 40

Amir 5 5 4 4 3 3 3 4 4 4 39

Yujing Wu 4 5 4 4 4 3 4 4 3 3 38