Team working in Team working in distributed environmentsdistributed environments

M253 M253

Project Project LogsLogs

Faculty of Computer Studies Faculty of Computer Studies Arab Open UniversityArab Open University

Kuwait BranchKuwait Branch

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ProjectProject LogsLogs

What are Project Logs??What are Project Logs??It’s a place ( physical or electronic ) in which you record your notes, ideas, thoughts, and sketches about project, to remember it later

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A Project LogsA Project LogsThere are different types of information we There are different types of information we

benefit from recording it in our log:benefit from recording it in our log:1.1.Factual information Factual information (e.g. websites you choose, (e.g. websites you choose, the the criteria you are going to use to evaluate them).criteria you are going to use to evaluate them).

2.2.Development ideas, plans and designs Development ideas, plans and designs (e.g. (e.g. what roles do you think you will need in the team and who do you what roles do you think you will need in the team and who do you think would be the best person to fulfill each role? ).think would be the best person to fulfill each role? ).

3.3.Reflection on experiences Reflection on experiences ((answers to questions are answers to questions are useful reflections on your past experience, such as how well do you useful reflections on your past experience, such as how well do you think you have done? Could your team have done better?) think you have done? Could your team have done better?)

4.4.Others Others ....

  

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Why a Project log ImportantWhy a Project log Important

The main reason why you might want to keep a project log , is to support you in your work.

It’s an aide-memoir that helps you

remember facts, Information, sources, observations, data, results, plans, ideas & reflections.

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How to use a Project logs How to use a Project logs ? ?

( By Hohmann - 1997 )( By Hohmann - 1997 )

1.Keep your notebook with you at all times.

2.Use your project log.

3.Write legibly, preferably in ink.

4.Review your notebook regularly.

5.Keep accurate dates.

6.Keep it safe.

7.Use abbreviations if you wish.

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The question is what to The question is what to include in a project log?include in a project log?

The project log include:The project log include:

  

Observation, descriptions, sketches, Observation, descriptions, sketches, impressions, thoughts, ideas, impressions, thoughts, ideas, opinion, sources of information, data opinion, sources of information, data and points agrees with others in a and points agrees with others in a team.team.

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How to make sure that How to make sure that your entries are your entries are

complete enough ?complete enough ?Using jounalist’s five Ws:Using jounalist’s five Ws:

1.1. Who ( is involved ).Who ( is involved ).

2.2. What ( happened ).What ( happened ).

3.3. When ( did it happen ).When ( did it happen ).

4.4. Where ( did it happen ).Where ( did it happen ).

5.5. Why ( or how ).Why ( or how ).

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What not to include in a What not to include in a project log?project log?

1.1. Act solely as an appointment book or general Act solely as an appointment book or general diary.diary.

2.2. Be written on loose scraps or in a variety of Be written on loose scraps or in a variety of different places. different places.

3.3. Include everything that happens whether Include everything that happens whether relevant or not. relevant or not.

4.4. Wander from the subject.Wander from the subject.

5.5. Be a polished piece of writing: it should record as Be a polished piece of writing: it should record as found when found.found when found.

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How to keep a project How to keep a project log ?log ?

There are 2 basic ways to keep a project log:There are 2 basic ways to keep a project log:

1.1.A Paper Log.A Paper Log.

2.2.An Electronically LogAn Electronically Log..

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A paper LogA paper Log

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Their are two styles you can using to representing your logs on paper:

1. A loose-leaf folder2. A bound journal-style notebook

A Paper LogA Paper Log

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Advantages Disadvantages

Durability.Difficulty of making backup copies of page.

Convenience.Difficulty of finding information .

You can make an entry easily.

Pages can easily fall out.

The extra pages cannot be added.

An electronic logAn electronic log• You can writ your project log by using: You can writ your project log by using:

A word processor.A word processor.

A diary programA diary program

keep your project log online using:keep your project log online using:

A Blog, other facility, MyStuff(UKOU)A Blog, other facility, MyStuff(UKOU)

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An Electronic logAn Electronic log

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Advantages Disadvantages

Ease copy-and-paste information.

Not availability like paper.Ease search on your log.

Ease to make backup for your data.

Correct erroneous entries.The permanence of the data. you may not be able to read today’s computer media in 10 years’ time .

Check your spelling.

Don’t worry about writing legibly.

Examples of how might actually Examples of how might actually keep your project logkeep your project log

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1.1. A word processor/ A diary programA word processor/ A diary program

2.2. Laboratory notebooks.Laboratory notebooks.

3.3. Blogs.Blogs.

Laboratory notebooksLaboratory notebooks1.1. Most common form of project log.Most common form of project log.

2.2. Used to record details of experiments carried out Used to record details of experiments carried out in the laboratory, or observations taken in the in the laboratory, or observations taken in the field, and the results obtained.field, and the results obtained.

3.3. Can be accepted as legal proof of the date of an Can be accepted as legal proof of the date of an invention, provided that the entry is invention, provided that the entry is countersigned and dated by a witness.countersigned and dated by a witness.

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BlogsBlogs• Blog is a personal website on which an Blog is a personal website on which an

individual makes regular entries that individual makes regular entries that records their opinions, web links and other records their opinions, web links and other items of interest to themitems of interest to them.

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BlogsBlogs

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Advantages Disadvantages

Time and date stamped.Entries can be edited after they have been posted.

Can be tagged with keywords so that a reader can display all the entries on a particular subject.

Able to read by anyone and everyone.

Searchable.

MyStuffMyStuff

MyStuff MyStuff is an online personal storage is an online personal storage area provided for you by the Open area provided for you by the Open University that you can use to store files University that you can use to store files or to record notes (much like a blog)or to record notes (much like a blog)

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Benefits:1.Private.

2.Able to share items.

3.Create a new note for each new entry in your log

SummarySummary1.1. A personal log is a key tool in in many A personal log is a key tool in in many

professional areas. professional areas.

2.2. Could be kept on paper or electronically ( same Could be kept on paper or electronically ( same issues apply to both media ) .issues apply to both media ) .

3.3. It should record facts, references, plans, ideas, It should record facts, references, plans, ideas, thoughts and, if appropriate, exchanges by thoughts and, if appropriate, exchanges by correspondence, etc. correspondence, etc.

4.4. It should not be edited (except at the moment of It should not be edited (except at the moment of writing to correct an error). Each entry should be writing to correct an error). Each entry should be dated (and perhaps timed).dated (and perhaps timed).

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