Project Management

Project management is a very difficult session to deliver because it is so un-glamourous. Gantt and Pert are very useful tools for the researcher but, when one comes from an artistic background it is difficult to focus on designing a time managed programme rather than a painting. Students get far more excited about methodologies or other intellectual discussion.

However, the session didn't go badly. I could see they were a bit bored by Sharp's text, probably because it is more science orientated. They seem to enjoy Paul Van der Lem a lot more. It could be because I tried my best reading voice or because Van der Lem writes well, clearly and is Art and Design specific.

I wish I had dedicated more time to the exercise as I think is so important to understand the complexities of assigning times to tasks. We only managed to arrive at the breakdown of activities for the Subject Specialist Seminar milestone. the students were good, particularly Teresa, I thought. Chris was as quiet as always but, in a way, he said the most relevant thing:

"When planning for a task, I tend to take all the time I have".

This is indeed the student attitude of doing the essay the night before is due. I tried to explain that this won't work with a PhD because there are not such definite tasks as 'essays'. It was a very interesting comment, which I hope to use and expand on in next year's session.

Judy, from the MA sculpture, joined us today. At least Beatty won't feel as isolated now. However, I felt she would have definitely benefited from the first term's sessions. It is very difficult to design a programme with 3 entry points and I am not sure that Malcolm and I have been entirely successful the second way round. We'll have to review during the summer.