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H5.1 Management (CH. 8, 22) Jake Gentele
Managing Techniques and Tools
· Many skills are needed to successfully manage a project; communication, meetings, action plans, journals, Gantt charts and finance plans. · Managing : the skillful or resourceful use of materials, time, etc. in order to complete a talk in a given timeframe
· Project managers use ;
- communication – discussion between parties involved
- meetings – formal gatherings to help communication between all parties involved
- Gantt charts – list and schedule each task
- Journals and diaries – to record all meetings and track problems faced and decisions taken
- Finance plans – addressing all the costs involved
- Management plans – describing all the components of the project and how the team will stay informed of developments
Action Plan
This should be the first step in the management of a project and should be brainstorming or a mind map.
Journals and Diaries
This should be all the recordings of ideas, notes, diagrams, informal thoughts and plans of the designer as they embark on a new project.
The Gantt Chart
A detailed grid which displays the task to be undertaken and time allocated, and maps these on a specified timeline.
Finance Plan
A detailed report of the resources used in a project with costs applied, costs could include; · Materials · Resources – tools and equipment needed · Labour – time and rates of pay · Overhead
Planning and Implementing
‘PRIME” helps designers keep on track;
Problem
Research
Ideas
Manufacture
Evaluate
A Typical Project
The starting point is always to analyse the problem in order to fully understand exactly what is required.
· Factors need to be identified first
It is important to meet with the client to discuss their needs as they will be the one using the item. This is the action planning part of the project and will be useful in constructing the Gantt chart. Following the discussion with the client a budget can be set. The designer will embark on the creative ideas process to generate possible ideas to solve the problem. The current market is an option to generate ideas off. The designer needs to sketch ideas.
The next stages for the designer are to:
1. draw a working scale drawing of the chosen design
2. complete a materials list
3. complete the finance plan
4. Materials cutting list
5. Constructing the chosen design
The final stage is to evaluate the final product, to examine and judge something carefully; to appraise.
Formulating management plans
· All products start out with a need and are made to a standard of quality.
· The KEY to a successful MDP is good management throughout the project and attention to design and production principles.
When we embark on the MDP journey we begin by asking ourselves the following questions;
· What is it we have to do?
· How much time do we have?
· What are my budget considerations?
· The action plan
· The time plan
· The finance plan
Action planning
Important to begin with a brainstorming session, if working with a client it is important to brainstorm with them. The process of action planning is important; the designer and client can express their needs openly and all aspects of the project can be documented.
These are some questions to ask during action planning:
· What is the need?
· Who will use the product?
· How will is be used?
· What are the safety requirements?
· What materials can be used?
· Etc.
Time planning
- Do not consider your MDP as one large task, break it down into smaller talks eg
- Identify and explore the need
- List areas to be investigated and research to be undertaken
- Action, time and finance plans
Set out the action plan by using the assessment guidelines as specified by the Board of Studies then apply this list to a Gantt chart and allow appropriate times.
Finance planning
In the commercial world, cost is one of the main factors in a product design, as products must be priced so that they are affordable ti the consumer but can also make the company a profit.
When formulating a finance plan the following steps need to be considered:
· Source materials that are of good quality but also realistically priced
· Keep all purchase receipts
· Update the finance plan weekly
· Set up a spreadsheet to enter all data
· Complete a final cost analysis
Latest page update: made by 12DT
, Sep 13 2007, 8:15 PM EDT
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