Individual Reflections

REFLECTION ON PMGT5872: THE IMPORTANCE OF EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION IN COMPLEX PROJECTS Name of Student Course Name of Professor University Date Reflection on PMGT5872: The Importance of Effective Communication in Complex Projects Introduction Effective communication is critical for effective project management, especially for projects with multi-disciplinary teams and stakeholders (Igbinenikaro et al., 2024). PMGT5872 is a course that focuses on advanced practices of project management, and it explicitly details the need for communication in managing challenging project issues. At first, communication meant the provision of simple information for me. In addition, through in-depth course content and active lectures, my horizon has been enormously expanded. This reflection aims to evaluate the transformation in understanding and experiences within the personal and group levels and its effect on my opinions and practice. It also closely analyzes how PMGT5872’s focus on communication has changed my understanding of project management based on communication, emphasizing the effectiveness of every communication strategy for successful project performance. This reflection seeks to show how an individual can become an effective communicator in project management, which requires constant change. Initial Expectations of the Course When commencing PMGT5872, I expected to learn more realistic advanced skills in project management of people and communication in complex project environments. The study involves different communication models, the role of emotions in project management, and methods for leading the team (Gemünden et al., 2018). Retaining these expectations and expanding my knowledge, the course met them fully and broadened my outlook. Communication is merely about sending information (Dimbleby and Burton, 2020). However, the course subject showed the diversity of the aspects and the leading and critical role played by the elements in the modern project. For example, I discovered that communication goes beyond transferring mere information. It also involves comprehending the nature of a function and its people, culture, and emotional environment (Class Readings, 2024). This scenario was especially apparent during group workshops in which the participants in the course had to deal with multi-group activities and conflict resolution. These experiences made it clear that the ability to communicate was very significant in the success of a project and that project managers needed to develop interpersonal skills in communication. Learning Materials and Workshops The lectures and workshops were designed in PMGT5872 to test and enhance participants' understanding of project communications. Communication models such as the Shannon-Weaver Model help students gain a basic level of experience, and the learning deepens through participation in workshops (Kubota, 2019). Week 2's focus on the need for communication to change depending on the type of project and whether it is delivered to a broad or narrow audience is most pertinent. It demonstrated how the same meaning can be interpreted differently depending on the context and the audience, which is crucial when managing projects (Class Readings, 2024, week 2). One particularly effective workshop was the stakeholder meeting simulation activity. This one was exceptionally interesting because it highlighted the importance of body language and listening skills. At first, a learner understands that body language and facial expressions have a huge role in communication (Martinez et al., 2016). Nevertheless, peer and instructor feedback during these sessions taught me that effective communication is greater than mere interaction. It clarified that successful communication is more than just the choice of words necessary for interactions because it requires including the whole person in every interaction. This realization added greatly to the communication dynamics in a project environment. Interactions, Observations, and Experiences A background in project management and its traditional practices influenced my expectations from the course. I expected to see a discussion of hierarchy and using instructions and commands. However, PMGT5872 shifted my focus to other factors that underline the importance of relationships and the need for flexible communication. Participating in classroom discussions on the DISC model that describe people's communication styles is especially effective (Espinosa et al., 2015). These sessions h...