Project supervision andProces report

1

Supervision The supervisor

Project supervision is a dialogue about the project and the methods used between the project group and the supervisor. Very often the supervisor will also comment upon the written material that the project group produces.

A good supervision is dependant upon both parties engagement, professionalism and expectations.

At project start the project group and supervisor should discuss expectations to the process. (What, When, How much etc.)

Different types of supervision

• The role of the supervisor– Examiner– Supervisor/coach– Human being

• Peer reviews – a supplement to the supervisor • What do you need as a group and when?

Types of supervisorsP.B.Olsen & K. Pedersen: Problem-Oriented Project Work, Roskilde 2005

Evaluative supervision:Exam-oriented and ability-testing. Set deadlines and regularly checks on how the work is going. .

Laissez-faire supervision:Non-committal or afraid of conflicts. Everything is permitted or the supervisor may simply not show up to meetings.

Process supervision:Focused on the group process. Tries to stimulate independent groupwork. Ask questions.

Product supervision:Result-oriented. Stimulate analysis and conclusions. Offers suggestions. Ensures that the project coheres.

- in different combinations

The supervisor ”contract”

• Establishment of a “contract” between the group and the supervisor

• Communication– Who, how– Meeting planning / agenda

• Preparation– From the group, supervisor– Deliver together with papers to read a reading guide – with

questions you would like answers to• Timely supervision

– Limited resource, use your supervision when needed the most– Plan for supervision, together with project plan

• The group needs to take initiative and be proactive• Get supervisor interested in the project and remember he or

she is your interested party number 1 !!!!

Student responsibilities

• The group must use the supervisor in a productive way• The group must prepare the supervisor (agenda, needs,

papers etc…)• Accepting ownership in the contents, the process, and the

organisation of the project work• Accepting personal responsibility for its own learning and

education• Maintaining contact with the supervisor• Contributing to building social cohesion in the group• Conflict solving and solving other “emotional” disturbance • Making inside-outside contacts in agreement with the

supervisor

Supervisor responsibilities

• Being a guide and sparring partner (not a manager) in relation to comment working paper, discussion process, giving ideas to relevant methods and theories/literature

• The supervisor function is purely advisory• Inspiring the students• Offering constructive criticism and relevant questions to the

students• Aiding in structuring the problem setting of the project• Supervising the work process in the group• Upholding formal requirements to the project work and

deliverables• The supervisor must agree with the group regarding

establishment of inside-outside contacts

• Use your supervisor wisely (the supervisor is a limited resource)• Structure you meetings with an agenda• Prepare the feedback with “a reading guide“ and specify the questions you

would like answers to. • You as a project group must be proactive and take responsibility• Get your supervisor interested in your project – he/she is your interested

party number one.• Your supervisor is not your manager• Discuss explicitly project expectations with your supervisor

SupervisionIssues and tips and tricks

The project report shows what you have achieved and your project results,

The process report involves the: • Your approved project description• Process of your project work • Reflections

– learning process, – evaluation of used tools and methods, – cooperation issues ,– planning and execution.

The process report

can also involve reflections upon – Before, - (What was your initial thoughts and plans for the project)– During, - ( What did you do, what went well and what kind of difficulties

did you encounter)– After the project.(what did you learn from this, what will you do

differently in the future)

The process report

The process report can be based upon include the following elements:

• Planning (a plan of the different phases in the project) • Weekly log book • Minutes of meetings with supervisors • Minutes of meetings with companies

The process report

Project organized studies and problembased learning :

• What do you think are the advantages of working in groups and problembased, - why?

• What do you think are the disadvantages of working in groups and problembased, - why?

• What are the pros and cons of creating a problem formulation?• What are the pros and cons of creating a project description?

The process reportSuggested questions

Initial project start

• Why did you choose this topic? • What did you want to achieve?• How did you form the group

The process report Suggested questions

The teamwork in the group:

• What is the content of the group contract and how did the group live up to this content?

• How did you feel responsible for the group project? (Be specific and explain in general and by means of examples).

• Give examples of how the group contract has had a direct impact on the success/failure of the group cooperation

• What adjustments do you suggest for the next group contract?• How did the group work together – are you as a group satisfied with the

work of each group members• Do all group members feel that the delivered the maximum to the group and

the group utilized each members expertise• How was the motivation of the group, what motivated the group and its

members, what demotivated the group• How did you in your utilize the multicultural group and what were the biggest

challenges?  

The process report

The project result:

• In what way are you satisfied with the project result? • What was less successful? Explain why?

The process report Suggested questions

Cooperation with supervisor (and others) :

• In what way are you satisfied with the cooperation with your supervisor(s)?

• What was less successful? Explain why?• When did you use your supervisor and for what?• How did your group handle the cooperation with your

supervisor(including communication)

The process reportSuggested questions

Planning and execution:

• How successful was your planning?• How did you follow up upon your plan?• What kind of project risks did you identify and how did you monitor

and handle the risks?• What kind of project planning tools and methods did you use?

The process report Suggested questions

To the next time

• Hand in your final project description (in agreement with your supervisor) – October 8th (to your supervisor and upload to fronter) –

– Get feedback from your supervisor– ALL 7 sections must be included ( including a Gantt chart)– Approximately 10 pages– Everyone from the group must “deliver” and participate in the work