project management and soft skills - roberto verdone€¦ · 4. soft skills / categories •...

Prof. Roberto Verdone www.robertoverdone.org

Project Management and Soft Skills Roberto Verdone

www.robertoverdone.org [email protected]

www.linkedin.com/in/roberto-verdone

+39 051 20 93817

Office Hours: Monday 4 – 6 pm,

Viale Risorgimento 2 (upon agreement via email)

How to find my office: check on my website

A.Y. 2018-19 Credits: 3


Project Management and Soft Skills


Success


1991

M.Sc. Professor @ UniBO

My Career in a Nutshell

2006?

Position Intermediate Goal Ambition


1991



2006?


Researcher @ UniBO

1996?


1991 1994

M.Sc. Ph.D. Professor @ UniBO Researcher @ UniBO

1991



2006?

2006? 1996?


Researcher @ UniBO

1996?


1991 1994

M.Sc. Ph.D. Professor @ UniBO

1991 1994 1996

M.Sc. Ph.D. Researcher @ CNR

Researcher @ UniBO

1991



2006?

2006? 1996?


Researcher @ UniBO

1996?

?


1991 1994

M.Sc. Ph.D. Professor @ UniBO

1991 1994 1996 2001

M.Sc. Ph.D. CNR

1991 1994 1996

M.Sc. Ph.D. Researcher @ CNR

Researcher @ UniBO

Professor @ UniBO

1991



2006?

2006? 1996?


Researcher @ UniBO

1996?

?


The less you are ambitious,

the more likely you will succeed!


Success will reward you

proportionally to your ambitions


My Interests

Learning

Research

Teaching

Radio Networks

1991 1994 1996 today 2001


My Interests

Learning

Research

Teaching

Innovation Radio Networks

1991 1994 1996 2001 today


My Interests

Learning

Research

Teaching


Project Management

1991 1994 1996 2001 today


My Interests

Learning

Research

Teaching


Project Management

Soft Skills

1991 1994 1996 2001 today (2009)


Why?


Outline

A. Learning Outcomes

B. Eleven Keywords C. The Course D. Ten Pillars to Success


A. Learning Outcomes


Learning Outcomes You will learn what are the necessary competences and skills to be successful in professional life. In particular, the case of the ICT engineer is discussed. Soft skills as well as aptitudes will be the key topic of half of the course; we will focus on reasoning approaches, communication skills, aptitude towards team work and leadership, and the art of employability. You will be made aware of your strengths... and weaknesses. The rest of the course is dedicated to project management.


1 2 3

4 5 6 7 8 9

10

11

keywords Learning Outcomes You will learn what are the necessary competences and skills to be successful in professional life. In particular, the case of the ICT engineer is discussed. Soft skills as well as aptitudes will be the key topic of half of the course; we will focus on reasoning approaches, communication skills, aptitude towards team work and leadership, and the art of employability. You will be made aware of your strengths... and weaknesses. The rest of the course is dedicated to project management.


Learning Outcomes You will be made aware of your strengths... and weaknesses. You will be taken out of your comfort zone. During the course, you will be accompanied along a journey (inside your self), at the end of which you might realize: -  What to count on -  What you may need to improve -  What you can not improve -  How to (possibly) direct your future


B. Eleven Keywords


Eleven Keywords 1. Competences and Skills 2. Success 3. Engineers 4. Soft Skills 5. Aptitudes 6. Reasoning 7. Communication Skills 8. Team Work and Leadership 9. Employability 10. Awareness 11. Project Management


1. Competences and Skills



What is competence ?


Competence: ability to apply knowledge and skills to achieve intended results.* * ISO/IEC 17024:2012: Conformity assessment - General requirements for bodies operating certification of persons


knowledge skills competence


Knowledge: means the outcome of the assimilation of information through learning (study, or experience). Knowledge is the body of facts, principles, theories and practices related to a field of work or study. Example: a chess player. Knowledge: how pieces can move on the chessboard.



Skill: means the ability to apply knowledge and use know-how to complete tasks and solve problems. Example: a chess player. Ability: to analyse current and future chessboard states, predict the actions of the rival and choose the best move.



Competence: ability to use knowledge, skills and personal, social and/or methodological abilities, in work or study situations and in professional and/or personal development.* * EQF: European Qualification Framework


other abilities



Competence: a mix of i) motivation, ii) knowledge, and iii) skills that enable a person to act successfully in a job or situation.* * Manpower Group


motivation



Motivation: reason for people's actions. Motivation is driven by needs*. It is a dynamic attitude. Maslow’s Pyramid of needs

* Arthur Schopenhauer: A man can do what he wants, but he can only want what he wants



Competence: a mix of i) aptitudes, ii) knowledge, and iii) skills that enable a person to act successfully in a job or situation.* * Reference definition for this course


aptitudes



Aptitude: a personal trait providing predisposition with respect to given goals. Example: a chess player. Aptitudes: determination, highly analytical mental habit, ability to manage stress, constrained situations.




aptitudes


Knowledge can be acquired through experience and study.

Skills might be acquired through exercise, depending on aptitudes.

Aptitudes are formed during first 18-20 years of life and can not be changed (significantly) later.


Competence is Key to Success


2. Success


2. Success

Are you willing to succeed in professional life ?


Success: ambition, and a roadmap

2. Success

2020

M.Sc. Your ambition Intermediate steps

? ?


2. Success

What is your ambition ?


2. Success

Have you got the talent to succeed ?


2. Success

Have you got the talent to succeed ? What is talent ?


Talent is the set of competences that permit to achieve success.

2. Success


2. Success

What is the set of competences needed to reach your ambition?


Knowledge is taught by your Professors. Skills are learnt through practice. Aptitudes …

2. Success


3. Engineers


3. Engineers

Are you enrolled in an Engineering Degree ? -  Information (ICT) -  Industrial -  Civil

-  Not Engineering


A mental aptitude

3. Engineers


A mental aptitude A limit, and a strength

3. Engineers


Test #0 A chess competition with 256 players. Every match, one player looses and is eliminated, one wins and moves on to a new match. How many matches are needed to select the final winner?

…

1 2 3 4

255 256

…

match


A mental aptitude A limit, and a strength Inter-disciplinary teams

3. Engineers


www.robertoverdone.org

à Teaching à Project Management and Soft Skills à end of web page

NOW!

3. Engineers

Please check on instructor’s website the doc “Students attending the course, 2019”.

If you are not listed, please fill the G-form “Attendance 2019”


Short Break


*** Attendance Check ***

Fill attendance form

www.robertoverdone.org Teaching

PMSS end of webpage

“Attendance February 22”


4. Soft Skills


4. Soft Skills Hard Skills are technical and depend on the discipline considered. Soft skills are non-technical. Their definition comes as a consequence after the set of technical skills are defined. Therefore, they depend on the specific discipline/job/context considered.


Soft Skills include the cluster of personality traits, communication, language, personal habits, interpersonal skills, ability in managing people, leadership, etc., that characterize relationships with other people. They are highly related to aptitudes. A term often associated with a person’s EQ (Emotional Intelligence Quotient). Actually, this is not fully correct.

4. Soft Skills


The EQ measures your ability to manage, recognise and control emotions (yours, and of others).

4. Soft Skills


4. Soft Skills

“Hard skills are the foundation of a successful career.

But soft skills are the cement.”

Dorothy Dalton. International Talent Management Strategist.


Manpower Group released in 2015 the result of a survey on 40 000 Italian companies: Soft Skills for Talent Limiting the analysis to ICT companies, the survey shows that, according to their employees, talent depends on:

technical knowledge in 37% of cases

soft skills and motivation in 63% of cases

4. Soft Skills


Manpower Group released in 2015 the result of a survey on 40 000 Italian companies: Soft Skills for Talent Extending to all companies, the survey shows that, according to their employees, talent depends on:

technical knowledge in 30-45% of cases

soft skills and motivation in 55-70% of cases

4. Soft Skills


4. Soft Skills / Categories •  Cognitive

problem solving creativity …

•  Managerial multitasking project management …

•  Relational communication leadership team working …

•  Personal adaptability …


4. Soft Skills / Categories •  Cognitive

problem solving creativity …

•  Managerial multitasking project management …

•  Relational communication leadership team working …

•  Personal adaptability …

•  Job – Oriented time management adaptability …

•  Socially Oriented team working desire to help conflict management communication integrity …

•  Solution - Oriented problem solving creativity and innovation decision making …


4. Soft Skills / 1 (Dublin Descriptors) Cycle descriptors adopted in 2005 as the Qualifications Framework of the European Higher Education Area. A descriptor includes the following five components:

•  Knowledge and understanding •  Applying knowledge and understanding •  Making judgements •  Communication •  Lifelong learning skills


4. Soft Skills for Engineers / 2 (ABET) •  Ability to apply knowledge of math, science, and engineering •  Ability to design and conduct experiments, analyse/interpret data •  Ability to design a system, component, or process to meet req.s •  Ability to function within multi-disciplinary contexts •  Ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems •  Understanding of professional ethical responsibility •  Ability to communicate effectively •  Ability to assess the impact of solutions in a societal context •  Ability to engage in life-long learning •  Knowledge of contemporary issues •  Ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern tools

necessary for engineering practice (including project management tools).


4. Soft Skills for Engineers / 3 (additional)* •  Inclination to team work •  Inclination to timeliness and precision •  Adaptability •  Leadership •  Ability to orient decisions in the short, medium, long term •  Ability to find and maintain a job position (employability) •  Ability to find and manage resources •  Ability to estimate the cost of products, and processes •  …

* Based on interviews made with 30 Italian junior/senior engineers


Are you a top 10% student?

4. Soft Skills


4. Soft Skills

“We are looking for brilliant young people.

Not necessarily good students.”

An experienced trainer. She trains toward entrepreneurship.


4. Soft Skills


Be aware of your soft skills


Test #1 (via Google Form) www.robertoverdone.org à Teaching à PMSS à Test #1 HOW DO YOU RATE YOURSELF IN TERMS OF …

•  Inter-personal communication •  Presentation skills •  Team working •  Leadership •  Timeliness, precision •  Ability to work in a multi-disciplinary context

1 = VERY BAD 2 = BAD 3 = GOOD 4 = VERY GOOD X = DO NOT KNOW


5. Aptitudes


5. Aptitudes

Aptitudes

Soft Skills


5. Aptitudes •  Strength & Energy •  Emotional Expressiveness •  Vertical / Horizontal •  Analytical / Systemic •  Constraints / Opportunities •  Listening •  Analysis •  Design •  Decision Based on MASPI Model, Roberto Vaccani, UniBocconi, Milano.


Test #2 (via Google Form) www.robertoverdone.org à Teaching à PMSS à Test #2 HOW DO YOU RATE YOURSELF IN TERMS OF …

•  Strength & Energy •  Emotional Expressiveness •  Vertical / Horizontal •  Analytical / Systemic •  Constraints / Opportunities •  Listening •  Analysis •  Design •  Decision

1 = VERY BAD 2 = BAD 3 = GOOD 4 = VERY GOOD X = DO NOT KNOW


5. Aptitudes •  Strength & Energy •  Emotional Expressiveness •  Vertical / Horizontal •  Analytical / Systemic •  Constraints / Opportunities •  Listening •  Analysis •  Design •  Decision



Financial Analyst



ICT Project Manager


6. Reasoning


Are you more prone to

Deductive reasoning, Inductive reasoning, Design, or Analysis ?

6. Reasoning


6. Reasoning

Analysis Design

Deduction

Induction

Job A

Job B


6. Reasoning

Analysis Design

Deduction

Induction

Job A

Job B Jourself


7. Communication Skills



Are you good in terms of Interpersonal Communication ?


Written



Written Oral



Written Oral Gestural



Communication skills can be learnt!


8. Team Work and Leadership


8. Team Work and Leadership

Are you good in terms of Team working ? Are you a leader ?


Leadership. Can it be learnt?


9. Employability


9. Employability

Have you ever written a resume’ (a CV) ?


How to find a job position

9. Employability


How to find a job position How to maintain it

9. Employability


9. Employability A Seminar When: May 10, 3 – 6 pm Where: here Who: Rigamonti, Comau What: People Management


9. Employability A CV Contest March 1st - opening of a (virtual) job position as project manager; March 22nd - Submission of CVs (with cover letters); April 12th - Evaluation and ranking performed by G. Bertozzi. Best submissions will be rewarded with a simplified exam.


10. Awareness


10. Awareness

Are you aware of your strengths, and weaknesses ?


Strengths Weaknesses

Opportunities Threats

10. Awareness: SWOT CHART POSITIVES NEGATIVES

INTERNAL

EXTERNAL

Ambition:

_________________________


Strengths Weaknesses


10. Awareness: SWOT CHART POSITIVES NEGATIVES

INTERNAL

EXTERNAL

Ambition: example

To become chess champion Highly analytical attitude

Motivation

Very loose memory

Participation grants Other players


10. Awareness: SWOT CHART Ambition: example

Getting a job


Awareness is the key


11. Project Management



Are you a planner ? Do you follow your plans ?


Projects


Task 1

Task 2

Goal


Projects Any Activity in Professional Life


Task 1

Task 2

Goal


Projects Any Activity in Professional Life A pragmatic approach


Task 1

Task 2

Goal


A Seminar When: April 12, 3 - 7 pm Where: here Who: Giorgia Bertozzi

PwC, Senior Project/Program Manager, Recruiter What: Introduction to Project & Programme

Assurance and Delivery



A Seminar When: May 3, 3 - 6 pm Where: here Who: Ludovico Monni

Bonfiglioli, Project Manager What: A Project Management Journey:

from strategic to operative decision



A topic of relevance owing to current industry trends.

Additional Keyword. Industry 4.0


Students in 2018 expressed minor interest.

Disappeared Keyword. Entrepreneurship


Short Break


C. The Course


The Course: Schedule 1 22 Feb 3 Introduction to the course 2 1 Mar 3 Soft Skills, Communication Skills 3 8 Mar 3 Communication Skills 4 22 Mar 3 Project Management 5 29 Mar 3 Project Management 6 5 Apr 3 Project Management 7 12 Apr 3 Project and Program Management, Recruitment 8 3 May 3 Project Management: Use Cases 9 10 May 3 Team Work and Leadership

10 17 May 3 Reasoning. Creation of Ideas 11 24 May 3 Awareness, Competences 12 31 May 3 Innovation, Industry 4.0 13 7 June 3 Discussion of projects


The Course: Schedule of Seminars 1 22 Feb 3 Introduction to the course 2 1 Mar 3 Soft Skills, Communication Skills 3 8 Mar 3 Communication Skills 4 22 Mar 3 Project Management 5 29 Mar 3 Project Management 6 5 Apr 3 Project Management 7 12 Apr 3 Giorgia Bertozzi, PwC, London, UK 8 3 May 3 Ludovico Monni, Bonfiglioli, Bologna, Italy 9 10 May 3 Rigamonti, Comau, Italy

10 17 May 3 Reasoning. Creation of Ideas 11 24 May 3 Awareness, Competences 12 31 May 3 Innovation, Industry 4.0 13 7 June 3 Discussion of projects


The Course: Attendance It does not make sense to give the exam without attending regularly the classes! •  Skills can not taught – they have to be practised •  Lectures will be highly interactive and based on teamwork •  There is no book covering the course You will be admitted to the final exam only if at least 70% of classes will be attended (computed as 8 out of 12 lectures). Attendance will be monitored at random times.


*** Attendance Check ***

Fill attendance form

www.robertoverdone.org Teaching

PMSS end of webpage

“Attendance February 22”


The Course: Exam The student will undergo an oral exam. Prior to the date of the exam the student will deliver via email to the instructor:

1)  a one-page report of THIS lecture, following the template provided by the instructor

2)  a three-page project proposal, following the template provided by the instructor

3)  the SWOT analysis related to his/her future career after graduation

4)  a powerpoint presentation of the project proposal following the templates provided by the instructor.

5)  measure of his/her aptitudes through tool provided by the instructor (optional, highly appreciated)


The Course: CV Contest Simulation of job opening: Associate Project Manager. Applications to be sent via email before March 22nd, 3 pm, to: [email protected]. The call will open on March 1st. On March 1st, the lecture will include “How to make a CV”. At the end of Miss Bertozzi’s seminar on April 12th, she will announce the winners(s). Participation to the CV contest is not mandatory. However, winner(s) will undergo a simplified exam.


The Course: Preparation to the Exam 1 22 Feb 3 2 1 Mar 3 CV Contest Open 3 8 Mar 3 Report 4 22 Mar 3 5 29 Mar 3 Project Proposal 6 5 Apr 3 7 12 Apr 3 CV Contest Closed 8 3 May 3 9 10 May 3

10 17 May 3 11 24 May 3 SWOT Analysis 12 31 May 3 Aptitudes 13 7 June 3 Discussion


The Course: Material Slides and templates on instructor’s webpage:

www.robertoverdone.org

à Teaching à Project Management and Soft Skills

Audio Records of lectures

through shared dropbox folder

Suggested Book:

Ben Horowitz, “The Hard Thing About Hard Things”, Ed. HarperCollins


The Course: Teaching Assistant Alice Baldini Radio Networks, Executive Assistant & Project Manager [email protected]


Questionnaire #1 What part of the course seems more interesting to you? Rate them: 1 = not interested at all

2 = poorly interested 3 = fairly interested 4 = interested 5 = very interested

1.  Soft Skills and Aptitudes ___ (1..5) 2.  Project Management ___ (1..5) 3.  People Management ___ (1..5) 4.  Employability ___ (1..5) 5.  Entrepreneurship ___ (1..5) Please fill the form on paper and hand it over to Alice at the end of this class


D. Ten Pillars to Success

Ambitions

Success


Write down YOUR ten pillars to success.

1. ___________________________________ 2. ___________________________________ 3. ___________________________________ 4. ___________________________________ 5. ___________________________________ 6. ___________________________________ 7. ___________________________________ 8. ___________________________________ 9. ___________________________________ 10. ___________________________________

Ten Pillars to Success

Please fill the form on paper and hand it over to Alice at the end of this class


Ten Pillars to Success 1.  Motivation


Ten Pillars to Success 1.  Motivation 2.  Knowledge


Ten Pillars to Success 1.  Motivation 2.  Knowledge 3.  Skills


Ten Pillars to Success 1.  Motivation 2.  Knowledge 3.  Skills 4.  Effort


Ten Pillars to Success 1.  Motivation 2.  Knowledge 3.  Skills 4.  Effort 5.  Communication


Ten Pillars to Success 1.  Motivation 2.  Knowledge 3.  Skills 4.  Effort 5.  Communication 6.  Team Spirit and Leadership


Ten Pillars to Success 1.  Motivation 2.  Knowledge 3.  Skills 4.  Effort 5.  Communication 6.  Team Spirit and Leadership 7.  Confidence and Trust


Ten Pillars to Success 1.  Motivation 2.  Knowledge 3.  Skills 4.  Effort 5.  Communication 6.  Team Spirit and Leadership 7.  Confidence and Trust 8.  Continuous Learning


Ten Pillars to Success 1.  Motivation 2.  Knowledge 3.  Skills 4.  Effort 5.  Communication 6.  Team Spirit and Leadership 7.  Confidence and Trust 8.  Continuous Learning 9.  Task/Time Management


Ten Pillars to Success 1.  Motivation 2.  Knowledge 3.  Skills 4.  Effort 5.  Communication 6.  Team Spirit and Leadership 7.  Confidence and Trust 8.  Continuous Learning 9.  Task/Time Management 10.  Resilience


Ten Pillars to Success, and the Basement 1.  Motivation 2.  Knowledge 3.  Skills 4.  Effort 5.  Communication 6.  Team Spirit and Leadership 7.  Confidence and Trust 8.  Continuous Learning 9.  Task/Time Management 10.  Resilience

Reachable Ambitions!


Test #3 (on paper – homework)

1.  Set a goal: what is your desired position, three years after graduation?

2.  Fill the SWOT chart, including in the S&W quadrants the ten pillars to success

3.  complete it analysing Opportunities and Threats

4.  Provide the filled form to the instructor ON PAPER AT NEXT LECTURE


Strengths

Family Name:

_________________________ Given Name:

_________________________ Desired Position:

_________________________ Current Degree:

_________________________

Weaknesses


Test #3 (on paper – homework)


See you next week


Slides reported hereafter are just for printing purposes


Questionnaire #1 What part of the course seems more interesting to you? Rate them: 1 = not interested at all

2 = poorly interested 3 = fairly interested 4 = interested 5 = very interested

1.  Soft Skills and Aptitudes ___ (1..5) 2.  Project Management ___ (1..5) 3.  People Management ___ (1..5) 4.  Employability ___ (1..5) 5.  Entrepreneurship ___ (1..5) Please fill the form on paper and hand it over to Alice at the end of this class


Write down YOUR ten pillars to success.

1. ___________________________________ 2. ___________________________________ 3. ___________________________________ 4. ___________________________________ 5. ___________________________________ 6. ___________________________________ 7. ___________________________________ 8. ___________________________________ 9. ___________________________________ 10. ___________________________________

Ten Pillars to Success

Please fill the form on paper and hand it over to Alice at the end of this class

project management and soft skills - roberto verdone€¦ · 4. soft skills / categories •...

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