Now think of a time when you felt powerless, weak, and insignificant as a result of something a leader said or did. What specifically did he or she do?
As a designer, I have always heard "oh the design should be easy for you, shouldn't take too much time." "why should I pay that much for a design? There is no actual cost."
Design, it is not like a actual product which people can see the process and the cost, so many people take it as granted. When people see a piece of paper with a logo on it, they only think it is just a patterned paper. Most people don't see how much time a designer take to come up a idea and make it to a design. Designer did spend time, mental strength and physical energy. So I am really disappointed every time when people underestimate design.
My ex-boss was not an art major person, just like anyone else who don't really appreciate design. Every time he assigned me to design something, he always added a sentence at last "i think this is easy for you, shouldn't take too much time, right?" If I took a little bit longer, then he suggested me to copy someone else' design and made a little change to it. I was totally speechless. Every design is unique and creative, and it is worthless to the designer.
In the US or in Europe, design is to be respected, and they attach great importance to creativity and innovation. This is what we all need to work on.!
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Reflection: Strengthen Others 1
Think of a time when, as a direct result of something a leader said or did, you felt personally powerful and capable. Write down the actions the leader took that contributed to your feeling powerful, strong, capable, and effective - the master of your own experience. Be as specific as you can.
I watched the video clip of the speech made by Steve Jobs in Standford's graduation in 2009, and I was inspired by him a lot. He said: "Don't lose faith. I'm convinced that the only thing that kept me going was that I loved what I did."
We spend the 2/3 of our life time working, why don't we choose what we love to do? Most people do what they don't really like to do because of money issue, timing, or no choice, so they complain, being upset, and being miserable at work, which doesn't help their life be easier or better. Maybe it is true that not everyone is lucky to find a job they love, but we can choose to work with positive mood, maybe eventually we will love what we do. If things can't be changed, then accept them.
Maybe the thing you are interested in doing doesn't make as much money as something else, but the enjoyment is not what you might get if you have no passion on it. If you love your job, the problem is not a problem anymore because it will be taken care of itself. If you haven't fount what you like to do yet, just try any possibility and never lose faith!
I watched the video clip of the speech made by Steve Jobs in Standford's graduation in 2009, and I was inspired by him a lot. He said: "Don't lose faith. I'm convinced that the only thing that kept me going was that I loved what I did."
We spend the 2/3 of our life time working, why don't we choose what we love to do? Most people do what they don't really like to do because of money issue, timing, or no choice, so they complain, being upset, and being miserable at work, which doesn't help their life be easier or better. Maybe it is true that not everyone is lucky to find a job they love, but we can choose to work with positive mood, maybe eventually we will love what we do. If things can't be changed, then accept them.
Maybe the thing you are interested in doing doesn't make as much money as something else, but the enjoyment is not what you might get if you have no passion on it. If you love your job, the problem is not a problem anymore because it will be taken care of itself. If you haven't fount what you like to do yet, just try any possibility and never lose faith!
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Chapter 9 ideas
A project contains three elements: cost, schedule, and quality, each one is equally important to another. How to balance between each of them is a skill that a PM needs to learn.
A number of ways of balancing the project at the project level:
I will avoid outsourcing the entire project or a significant portion of it. Every project is different from each other, and there is always something can be learned from. Time-wise this might be a way to solve the problem temporary, but for long-term, it might damage the company's capacity and image.
A number of ways of balancing the project at the project level:
- Reestimate the project.
- Change task assignments to take advantage of schedule float.
- Add people to the project.
- Increase productivity by using experts from within the firm.
- Increase productivity by using experts from outside the firm.
- Outsourcing the entire project or a significant portion of it.
- Crashing the schedule.
- Working overtime
I will avoid outsourcing the entire project or a significant portion of it. Every project is different from each other, and there is always something can be learned from. Time-wise this might be a way to solve the problem temporary, but for long-term, it might damage the company's capacity and image.
Chapter 7&8 ideas
Chapter 7
In this chapter, the term "resources" means the people, equipment, and raw materials that go into the project. The cost of a project needs to be clearly listed out at the beginning in order to control the project from over spending. If the cost estimates approximately accurate to what a project really needs, the work would go smoothly and complete on time.
Gantt charts and time-scaled networks are two useful tools to calculating the schedule of the work. The chart shows clearly the work breakdown and the schedule of each work. Participants are able to follow the process without being lost.
Chapter 8
Make the estimate more accurately, estimator must be experienced with the work. We learned that risk can be reduced by learning from the past. Even though every project is not exactly the same to one another, experienced estimator can make better estimate based on past performance data.
There are several estimating methods.
In this chapter, the term "resources" means the people, equipment, and raw materials that go into the project. The cost of a project needs to be clearly listed out at the beginning in order to control the project from over spending. If the cost estimates approximately accurate to what a project really needs, the work would go smoothly and complete on time.
Gantt charts and time-scaled networks are two useful tools to calculating the schedule of the work. The chart shows clearly the work breakdown and the schedule of each work. Participants are able to follow the process without being lost.
Chapter 8
Make the estimate more accurately, estimator must be experienced with the work. We learned that risk can be reduced by learning from the past. Even though every project is not exactly the same to one another, experienced estimator can make better estimate based on past performance data.
There are several estimating methods.
- Apportioning. This method is to begin with a total project estimate, then assigns a percentage to each of the phases and tasks of the project. This technique is usually used in conjunction with phased estimating.
- Parametric estimates. This method is to use a basic unit of work, and then multiple the size to the entire project. This is usually based on historical data, and the estimator must develop a solid parametric formula.
- Bottom-up estimating. This one estimate from the detailed tasks and roll-up. It is the most accurate than other methods, however, it takes most effort and time.
Friday, July 23, 2010
Week 4
From this week, we got two new colleagues. One is our sales, another is PR.
From what I know, Public Relations (or PR) is a field concerned with maintaining public image for high-profile people, commercial businesses and organizations, non-profit associations or programs. Usually PR people need to be highly active between the organization and the public. They have to pay attention to the trends and provide ideas. Sounds like an interesting field for me.
I am looking forward to see how this new colleague will help our newspaper.
From what I know, Public Relations (or PR) is a field concerned with maintaining public image for high-profile people, commercial businesses and organizations, non-profit associations or programs. Usually PR people need to be highly active between the organization and the public. They have to pay attention to the trends and provide ideas. Sounds like an interesting field for me.
I am looking forward to see how this new colleague will help our newspaper.
Week 3
Every two weeks, we have newspaper been published. During these two weeks, I usually work on putting news and article into design and layout it before print. Every issue is one project for me, and I appreciate each project that inspires me on new design.
Besides design and layout the paper, I also deal with printing factory. This is also the last step of the project, which is to get a prove print for final checking if everything goes perfectly right. To be honest, I am stressful of being the person who gives the proven to the project that is ready to print. I will have to take the responsibility if the newspaper get something wrong when publishing.
In order to solve the problem, I make a checking list to make sure the date is correct, the picture is right, the font is in shape...This really helps me on decreasing errors.
Besides design and layout the paper, I also deal with printing factory. This is also the last step of the project, which is to get a prove print for final checking if everything goes perfectly right. To be honest, I am stressful of being the person who gives the proven to the project that is ready to print. I will have to take the responsibility if the newspaper get something wrong when publishing.
In order to solve the problem, I make a checking list to make sure the date is correct, the picture is right, the font is in shape...This really helps me on decreasing errors.
Friday, July 16, 2010
Chapter 5&6 ideas
Chaper 5
Everything that has not been happened contains risk. How do we prevent the risk from happening?
First step is to identify the risks.
There are several ways to get information, ask stakeholders or learn from the past. It is true that the project may be varied by different stakeholders involved, however, the past project is certainly able to give some ideas for present not to repeat the same mistake.
Second step is to analyze and prioritize the risks.
Once the risk is defined, we need to figure out the consequence of the risks in terms of cost, schedule and possible damage to the project.
Ex. If the possibility of raining tomorrow is 50%, it might be traffic due to the rain, and I might be stuck on the traffic and might be late for work.
The third step is to develop response plans. If we know the risk might happen, and we know the consequence of the risk, we now have to do the response plan.
Ex. If it is raining tomorrow, it will be traffic. In order not to stuck in the traffic and late for work, I will leave from home earlier, or go another way that might be less traffic.
Chapter 6
Work breakdown structure. (WBS) It is a technique to break down a project into small pieces for better executing and managing. Before the WBS, we need to identify all the tasks in a project. Once the WBS made, every participants will know his or her role and focus on it. So, how to make a good WBS is really important.
Getting started on a work breakdown structure is always the hardest part. Sometimes the beginning doesn't plan well may effect the following steps.
There is a key concept I see it is really important: planning for quality.
A famous example that just happened lately is Toyota vehicle recall. Either short-term impact on stock prices or long term impact on fixing customer opinions and damage to brand equity, it is uncountable for the quality mistake.
Everything that has not been happened contains risk. How do we prevent the risk from happening?
First step is to identify the risks.
There are several ways to get information, ask stakeholders or learn from the past. It is true that the project may be varied by different stakeholders involved, however, the past project is certainly able to give some ideas for present not to repeat the same mistake.
Second step is to analyze and prioritize the risks.
Once the risk is defined, we need to figure out the consequence of the risks in terms of cost, schedule and possible damage to the project.
Ex. If the possibility of raining tomorrow is 50%, it might be traffic due to the rain, and I might be stuck on the traffic and might be late for work.
The third step is to develop response plans. If we know the risk might happen, and we know the consequence of the risk, we now have to do the response plan.
Ex. If it is raining tomorrow, it will be traffic. In order not to stuck in the traffic and late for work, I will leave from home earlier, or go another way that might be less traffic.
Chapter 6
Work breakdown structure. (WBS) It is a technique to break down a project into small pieces for better executing and managing. Before the WBS, we need to identify all the tasks in a project. Once the WBS made, every participants will know his or her role and focus on it. So, how to make a good WBS is really important.
Getting started on a work breakdown structure is always the hardest part. Sometimes the beginning doesn't plan well may effect the following steps.
There is a key concept I see it is really important: planning for quality.
A famous example that just happened lately is Toyota vehicle recall. Either short-term impact on stock prices or long term impact on fixing customer opinions and damage to brand equity, it is uncountable for the quality mistake.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)