Communications Management

Reference Material to study:

• A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge, Chapters 2 and 10 (1996 edition)
• Human Resource Skills for the Project Manager, Verma, Vijay K., 1996, Chapter 1
• PMP Challenge, ESI International, Communications Section
• PMBOK Q & A, PMI, 1997, Project Communications Management

What to Study?

• The PMBOK phases of Project Communications Management: Communications Planning, Information Distribution, Performance Reporting, and Administrative Closure (Be familiar with Inputs, Tools and Techniques, and Outputs for each phase)
• Know the difference between the general management skill of communicating and Project Communications Management. The general management skill of communicating is the broader subject and involves knowledge such as: sender-receiver models, choice of media, writing style, presentation techniques, and meeting management techniques.
• Be familiar with the goals of interpersonal communication.
• Understand how interpersonal communication works. (sender-receiver model)
• Know the different methods of communication. (written, verbal, non-verbal such as body language)
• Be familiar with the barriers to successful communication.
• Be familiar with communication channels and links. Know the formula for communications channels: (N*(N-1))/2 See sample problem.
• Be familiar with effective listening techniques.
• Be familiar with the barriers to effective listening and the guidelines for active listening.
• Know the four major communication styles: concrete-sequential, abstract-sequential, concrete-random, and abstract-random.
• Know the amount of time project manager's spend communicating.

Communications Mgmt Processes

Communications Planning:

• The process of determining the information and communications needs of the project stakeholders:
  • Who needs what information?
  • When will they need it?
  • How will it be given to them?
• Inputs include:
  • Communications requirements: sum of the information requirements of the project stakeholders.
  • Communications technology: the technologies or methods used to transfer information back and forth amoung project elements.
  • Constraints: factors that will limit the project management team's options.
  • Assumptions: factors that will be considered true, real, or certain for planning purposes. (Assumptions generally involve a degree of risk and may be identified here or in the risk identification process).
• Methods used during communications planning: stakeholder analysis done to obtain the information needs of the various project stakeholders.
• Outputs include: Communications management plan. Includes:
  • What methods will be used for gathering and storing information.
  • Who should receive the information and how will it be sent.
  • A description of the information to be distributed. (including formats)
  • Schedules showing when each type of communication will be produced.
  • A method for updating the communications plan.
  • The Communications Management Plan is a subsidary element of the overall project plan.

Information Distribution:

• The process of making needed information available to project stakeholders in a timely manner.
• Inputs include: work results, communications management plan, project plan.
• Methods used during information distribution are:
  • Communication skills
  • Information retrieval systems
  • Information distribution systems
• Outputs include: project records.

Performance Reporting:

• The process of collecting and disseminating performance information. This includes status reporting, progress measurement, and forecasting.
• Inputs include: project plan, work results, and other project records.
• Methods used during performance reporting include:
  • Performance reviews: reviews held to assess project status and progress.
  • Variance analysis: comparing actual project results to planned or expected results.
  • Trend analysis: examining project results over time to determine if performance is improving or deteriorating.
  • Earned value analysis
  • Information distribution tools and techniques.
• Outputs include:
  • Performance reports: gantt charts, s-curves, histograms, and tables.
  • Change requests

Administrative Closure:

• The process of generating, gathering, and disseminating information to formalize phase or project completion.
• Inputs include:
  • Performance measurement documentation
  • Documentation of the product of the project
  • Other project records
• The methods used during administrative closure: performance reporting tools and techniques.
• Outputs from administrative closure: project archives, formal acceptance of the project or phase, and lessons learned.

Communications Mgmt Concepts

Goals of Interpersonal Communication:

• Understanding the exact meaning and intent of others.
• Being understood by others.
• Gaining acceptance for yourself and/or your ideas.
• Producing action or change.

Interpersonal Communication:

• To ensure messages are received and understood, two-way communication is necessary.
• Interpersonal communication is the process of sharing information with others.
• Three basic elements of interpersonal communication:
  • The sender (or encoder) of the message.
  • The signal or the message.
  • The receiver (or decoder) of the message.
• Process of interpersonal communication:
  • Sender determines what information to share and with whom and encodes the message.
  • Sender transmits the message as a signal to the receiver.
  • The receiver receives the message.
  • The receiver decodes the message to determine its meaning and then responds accordingly.
  • Communication is successful if the decoded message is the same as the sender intended.

Methods of Communication:

• Verbal:
  • Advantages:
    • Timely exchange of information
    • Rapid feedback
    • Immediate synthesis of message
    • Timely closure
  • Disadvantages: technical jargon especially in complex projects may make verbal communication difficult for non-technical people and other stakeholders.
  • Three stages of effective verbal communication and presentation:
    • The introduction: Tell them what you're going to tell them.
    • The explanation: Tell them.
    • The summary: Tell them what you just told them.
• Non-verbal:
  • Encoding a message without using words. Usually done through body language.
  • Total Message Impact = Words (7%) + Vocal tones (38%) + Facial expressions (55%)
  • PM's may combine vocal and nonverbal factors but must be careful that the two do not present contradictory messages.
• Written communication:
  • The main aim of business writing is that it should be understood clearly when read quickly.
  • The message should be well planned, simple, clear, and direct.
  • Major steps to writing:
    • Establish the basic purpose of the message.
    • Collect and organize material.
    • Prepare draft.
    • Check the overall structure.
    • Send the message.

Macro-Barriers to Successful Communication:

• Information overload:
  • Keep messages simple and direct.
  • Provide sufficient information but not too much.
• Lack of subject knowledge:
  • Must have sufficient knowledge to send message.
  • Must know level of understanding of receiver.
• Cultural differences:
  • Meanings and interpretations may vary among different cultures.
  • Encourage team members to learn each other's cultures.
• Organizational climate:
  • Minimize the differences associated with status and ego within the organization.
  • Encourage open and trusting atmosphere.
• Number of links:
  • Reduce the number of transmission links.
  • The more links, the more opportunity for distortion.
  • Be aware of entrophy. 23-27% of message is lost in upward communication.

Micro-Barriers to Successful Communication:

• Perceptions:
  • Sender's view of the receiver: how sender perceives the receiver's level of knowledge and ability to understand the message.
  • Receiver's view of the sender: How the receiver personally feels about the sender may influence how carefully the receiver listens.
• Message competition:
  • Communicate only when you have the total attention of the recipient.
  • Try to minimize noise or other factors contributing to message interference.
• Project jargon and terminology:
  • Define project terminology used in messages.
  • Be aware of the use of project terminology and the intended audience.

Types of Project Communicatons:

• Interpersonal communication.
• Communication with public and community.
• Formal communication.
• Informal communication.

Communicaton Channels and Links:

• The PM must recognize and understand the project's formal communication channels.
• Three basic channels of comunication:
  • Upward communication (vertically or diagonally)
  • Downward communication (vertically or diagonally)
  • Lateral communication (horizontally)

Effective Listening:

• Effective listening is one of the most important skills for a PM to acquire and practice.
• It helps develop mutual respect, rapport, and trust among project participants.
• Verbal listening behaviors:
  • Asking questions to clarify and gather more information.
  • Paraphrasing what the speaker has said.
  • Summarizing at intervals what the speaker has said to confirm what you have understood.
  • Asking the speaker for examples.
  • Ascertaining the speaker's feelings and acknowldeging them. ("You seem angry.")
  • Directing the speaker to the most appropriate listener. ("George can best help you with that.")
• Non-verbal listening behaviors:
  • Making eye contact.
  • Being expressive and alert.
  • Moving closer to the speaker.
  • Listening for the intention behind the speaker's communication.
  • Facial expressions, touching, use of space, use of time.

Barriers to Effective Listening:

• The mismatch between our speed of talking (100-400 words per minute) and our speed of thinking (approx. 600 words per minute) makes effective listening tough.
• Some of the personal and environmental barriers that influence the overall effectiveness of communication include:
  • Poor listeners: People do not talk freely when they know the audience isn't listening.
  • Resistance to the message: People don't like to listen to something that is contrary to their preconceived ideas.
  • Physical distractions: telephone calls, people coming in and out of office/meetings, etc.

Guidelines for Active Listening:

• Stop talking!
• Show the speaker you are ready to listen:
  • Silence: signals you are ready to listen.
  • Few distractions: shut the door, put the phone on hold, etc.
  • A receptive attitude: emphathize with the speaker's point of view.

Communication Styles:

• The PM uses communication more than any other skill set to manage the project throughout its life cycle and ensure that team members are working cohesively and resolving problems.
• Four communication styles:
  • Concrete-sequential: (Mr./Ms. Fix-it)
    • Person likes to focus on ideas and tasks, thinks sytematically and predicatably.
    • Person wants to complete tasks and minimize change.
  • Abstract-sequential: (Organizer)
    • Person who relies on logical analysis and systematic planning to solve problems.
    • These communicators are people and task-oriented, which makes them effect team builders.
    • A-S communicators prefer to have all information before making a decision, and they know how to control resources and information.
  • Concrete-random: (Explorer/entrepreneur)
    • Person relies on people and technology, finds practical use for theories and models.
    • C-R communicators make decisions after thorough analysis and evaluation and excel at facilitating planning sessions, discussions, and changes.
  • Abstract-random: (Intuitive free thinker)
    • Person views experiences from different perspectives and sees the big picture and the long-term view.
    • A-R communicators make good brainstormers because they can listen actively and enjoy the process of generating new ideas.
  •  

How PM's Spend their Time:

• 70-90% of project manager's time is spend communicating.
  • Of the PM's time spend communicating, approximately 45% is spent listening.
  • Another 30% is spent talking.
• PM's spend 50% of their time in meetings.

Sample Problem

Sample Questions

1. Which of the following is not a process of Project Communcations Management?
   A. Administrative Closure
   B. Performance Reporting
   C. Information Distribution
   D. Communications Planning
   E. Conflict Resolution
   
   
2. Which of the following are outputs from the Communications Planning process?
   A. Project records
   B. Communications management plan
   C. Performance reports
   D. Formal acceptance
   E. b and c
   
   
3. The receiver filters messages based on all but the following:
   A. Culture
   B. Semantics
   C. Language
   D. Distance
   E. Knowledge
   
   
4. How much time does the typical project manager spend communicating both formally and informally?
   A. 40-60%
   B. 50-70%
   C. 60-80%
   D. 75-90%
   
   
5. In communications management, to assimilate through the mind or senses is the process of:
   A. Receiving
   B. Decoding
   C. Comprehending
   D. Understanding
   
   
6. The sending or conveying of information from one place to another is the process of:
   A. Networking
   B. Transmitting
   C. Encrypting
   D. Promoting
   
   
7. Group brainstorming encourages all of the following except:
   A. Team building
   B. Analysis of alternatives
   C. Convergent thinking
   D. Uninhibited verbalization
   
   
8. The three major types of communication are:
   A. Written, verbal, and non-verbal.
   B. Verbal, formal documentation, informal documentation.
   C. Verbal, written, and graphic.
   D. Verbal, written, and electronic.
   
   
9. All of the following are outputs from performance reporting EXCEPT:
   A. Trend analysis
   B. "S" curves, histograms, bar charts, and tables
   C. Performance reports
   D. Change requests
   E. Stakeholder reports
   
   
10. All of the following aid in achieving consensus EXCEPT:
    A. Maintaining a focus on the problem, not each other.
    B. Avoiding conflict.
    C. Seeking facts.
    D. Avoiding voting, trading, or averaging.
    
    
11. All of the following are communication tools EXCEPT:
    A. Memos
    B. Verbal circulation of a rumor
    C. Videos
    D. Body language
    E. Inputing data into a spreadsheet
    
    
12. Communication is the PRIME responsibility of a Project:
    A. Manager in a weak matrix
    B. Manager in a projectized environment
    C. Coordinator
    D. Expeditor
    
    
13. A tight matrix is:
    A. A balanced matrix organization.
    B. Where all team members are brought together in one location.
    C. Where functional managers operate in a dual reporting structure reporting to both their own departments and to the project manager.
    D. a and c
    
    
14. The sender is responsible for:
    A. Confirming the message is understood.
    B. Ensuring the receiver agrees with the message.
    C. Scheduling communication exchange.
    D. Presenting the message in the most agreeable manner.
    
    
15. What are the four parts of the communications model?
    A. Sending, Receiving, Decoding, and Comprehending
    B. Sender, Message, Medium, Receiver
    C. Communicator, Message, Receiver, Decoder
    D. Communicating, Transmitting, Receiving, Comprehending
    
    
16. A leadership style in which the project manager shares problems with team members and formulates solutions as a group is called:
    A. Autocratic
    B. Consultation in a group
    C. Consensus
    D. One-to-one consultation
    
    
17. In negotiating with functional department managers, project managers often find themselves using what two-party conflict management approach?
    A. Win-Lose
    B. Win-Win
    C. Lose-Lose
    
    
18. A type of organization in which the project manager has little formal authority and basically acts as a staff assistant to an executive who is ultimately responsible for the project is called:
    A. Functional
    B. Weak matrix
    C. Project coordinator
    D. Project expediter
    
    
19. Formal acceptance by the client or sponsor of the project should be preapred and distributed during which process?
    A. Information Distribution
    B. Administrative Closeout
    C. Organizational Planning
    D. Performance Reporting
    
    
20. In which of the following organizations is the project manager role likely to be part-time?
    A. Weak matrix
    B. Functional
    C. Balanced matrix
    D. a and b
    E. All of the above
    
    

Answers

1. E
2. B
3. D Assumes that the media used for distance communication is acceptable (fax or phone is operational)
4. D
5. A Decoding is deciphering a message once assimilated.
6. B
7. C
8. A Reference Vijay Verma's, Human Resource Skills for the Project Manager, pgs. 18-21
9. A The outputs are change requests and performance reports. Stakeholder reports are examples of performance reports and B are examples of the formats for performance reports.
10. B In the modern view, conflict is inevitable and is a natural result of change. If managed properly, conflict is frequently beneficial. Withdrawal tends to minimize conflict but also fails to resolve the issue.
11. E Communication involves the exchange of information and implies a sender and a receiver.
12. D
13. B
14. A
15. B
16. C Reference Verma, "HR skils for the PM", pg. 218
17. C
18. D
19. B
20. D