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Quick takeaways
- Thorough planning is essential to project success, but it often goes unnoticed as 'invisible work' in academia.
- Writing serves as a tool for testing and refining ideas, allowing for iterative exploration and evaluation of thoughts in academic planning.
- Rushing into projects without proper planning can lead to longer project windows and higher chances of errors or problems.
- The advancement of technology, like AI tools, challenges traditional assessment methods and teaching practices.
Deep dives
The Surprising Factors Behind Successful Projects
Ben Flyverk and Dan Gardner co-authored a book that explores the factors that contribute to successful projects.
The Risk of Project Failure
The book delves into the risks and challenges faced by large-scale projects, highlighting the factors that can lead to project failures.
The Importance of Effective Planning
The book emphasizes the need for thorough and effective planning in project management, including understanding project characteristics and risks, setting realistic timelines, and managing uncertainties.
Applying Project Management Principles to Academia
The book suggests that academia should adopt project management principles and consider the unique challenges and risks involved in academic projects, such as research projects and PhDs, to improve their success rates.
The importance of thorough planning and invisible work
Thorough planning is essential to project success, but it often goes unnoticed as 'invisible work'. Planning includes anticipating contingencies, designing work practices, and mitigating potential risks. However, others may not appreciate the time and effort put into planning, leading to a perception that no progress is being made. This can be a challenge in academia, where planning and thinking ahead are crucial but may not be rewarded.
The value of writing as a form of planning
Writing is a crucial aspect of planning, especially in academic settings like a dissertation. Writing serves as a tool for testing and refining ideas, allowing for iterative exploration and evaluation of thoughts. It is important to embrace writing as a means of planning and to not wait until the ideas are fully formed. Embracing writing as an integral part of the planning process can help generate better work practices and ideas.
The danger of rushing into projects without thorough planning
Rushing into projects without proper planning can lead to longer project windows and higher chances of errors or problems. Often, there is a rush to begin a project without sufficient preparation, leading to strategic misrepresentation of time and cost. It is important to establish clear definitions of project goals and expectations from the beginning and ensure careful planning to prevent unnecessary complications.
The need to rethink assessment methods and teaching practices
Advancements in technology, such as AI tools like Chatty G, raise questions about traditional assessment methods and teaching practices. The ability to automate certain tasks and generate content challenges the role of educators and the value of assessments. It requires rethinking how we assess and teach, as well as considering the ethical implications and ensuring a balance between technology and human judgment.
Can't be bothered with email or speak pipe? Text us!
Inger's dusty in this episode, after an epic David Lodge style dinner party the night before, but her blood pressure is the best her doctor has seen in years. By the time you listen to this she'll be in Cambridge, punting or something.
Jason didn't win the annual hot cross bun off, but did invite Inger into the WhatsApp group so she could share the fun this year. There is also an unexpectedly long digression about workplace exploitation, so - a normal catch up.
There was nothing in the mailbag! [28:53] (although we did get a bunch of letters the day after we recorded this, so some of you still love us- thank you).
In the work problems segment [30:47] we talk about the new book from Bent Flyvbjerg and Dan Gardner called 'How big things get done', which Inger partially distilled into a Discussion Guide. It's an excellent book and Inger sees a lot of cross overs between how high speed rail projects fail and the length of time most people take to get a PhD. Enough crossovers at least to get on her ranty high horse, like - a lot. Jason listens patiently while she has All The Feelings about the PhD. Again.
Moving on. Jason's been reading The Upside of irrationality, while Inger's been reading Navy SEALS romances (again) [1:14:06].
The real surprise is left for the end of this episode: the 2 minute tips section [1:17:37] which turns into an epic, agonised conversation about just how much of our jobs to delegate to ChattieG and the future of the university. It's heavy.
You may need a drink or four, just like Inger did the night before.
Got thoughts and feel pinions? Want to ask a question? You can email us on <pod@ontheregteam.com>
- Leave us a message on www.speakpipe.com/thesiswhisperer.
- See our workshop catalogue on www.ontheregteam.com. You can book us via emailing Jason at enquiries@ontheregteam.com
- Subscribe to the free, monthly Two Minute Tips newsletter here
- We're on BlueSky as @drjd and @thesiswhisperer (but don't expect to hear back from Jason, he's still mostly on a Socials break).
- Read Inger's stuff on www.thesiswhisperer.com.
- If you want to support our work, you can sign up to be a 'Riding the Bus' member for just $2 a month, via our On The Reg Ko-Fi site
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