Learning from a Project “Post-mortem”

While employed as a HIV Medical Case Manager our agency had several employee trainings.  The trainings used PowerPoint as a method of delivery.  Supervisors delivered the training relevant to their department.  My instructional design classes have taught me how to effectively design and deliver presentations.  After several presentations, I recommended that one staff member should develop the entire presentation.  I was asked why.  I did not want to insult anyone but I had to be honest.  The presentations are not very effective and most of the staff agreed.  They were too long, overuse of bullet points, misuse of animation, transitions, fonts, and color.  I told my co-workers that something I learned from class.  I explained, until I started the instructional design program, I was not aware of the mistakes I was making in PowerPoint.  In addition, I explained to my co-workers, I am a team player and I am more than willing to share my knowledge.  I explained to them that the goal of a PowerPoint presentation is to guarantee legibility, make the message simpler, enhance learner engagement, and focus learner attention on critical points and to provide another channel of communication (Pugsley, 2010).  In addition, I informed my co-workers that when designing a presentation you should be mindful of the color, fonts, and animation you use.  I volunteered to take on this task. My intention was to create a presentation that was uniform, easy to navigate, pleasing to the eye and that could be used repeatedly.  It was approved.  I sent out an email asking each supervisor to email there material for the presentation by as certain date.  This project did not go well.  Only four of seven supervisors emailed the information for the project.  The other three felt they could do a good job by themselves.  The presentation I develop came out very well.  It was very informative and eye catching.  I received positive feedback from most of the staff.  I regret this project because it caused animosity among the three supervisors who prepared their own presentation. I was unaware that some of the supervisors did not want me to change their presentation until close to the date I needed the presentation.  I blame myself and upper management for not informing me.  In addition, I blame myself for not communicating more with the supervisors. This project could have been better if I had resolved interpersonal conflicts and created and maintained a focus team (Portny, et al, 2009).  

References:

Portny, S. E., Mantel, S. J., Meredith, J. R., Shafer, S. M., Sutton, M. M., & Kramer, B. E. (2008). Project management: Planning, scheduling, and controlling projects. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Pugsley, L. (2010). Design an effective PowerPoint presentation. Education for Primary Care, 2   1(1), 51-53. Retrieved November 10, 2011 frofrom EBSCOhost.