KTP Associate Blog

Well, I finally handed in my Module 2 Assignment on Friday. It felt good to finally finish it and send it off to the powers that be. Although it covers the content we learn in the residential module, it’s really quite challenging to then apply all the techniques and theories to your own experiences and project. I think I would have struggled a lot more if I didn’t have my fellow KTP Associates to email and ask questions and compare theories with.

Straight after my residential module I passed my driving test, which my company had really wanted me to do, to help me be able to get to and from the University with big rolls of media unaided. It’s surprising how much easier it makes things, just being able to drive- meaning I can meet with suppliers when needed. I had put it off for so long mainly due to the cost of lessons. I already had a shared car with my partner, but there was no way I could afford the lessons on my previous salary.

The project has been picking up now, despite it being changed so heavily from the original plan, I have used my Personal Development Plan to help me adjust to the changes in my role. It is all good experience, and I already feel like I’m using a lot of the skills I learned from just one of the residential modules.

I have been working more closely with the Operations Manager and the Factory Manager, which has really improved the productivity of the project in terms of the samples we can trial, meaning we can more rapidly identify what works and what doesn’t work. We are very close to having a finished product already, although that won’t be the end of it. The MD wants a range of products because of all the different ways we have managed to manufacture the product. Each method varies in price, quality and suitability so bringing out a range means we can appeal to all our customers for different requirements. One of Sales team has already sold the product before it has even been completely finished- but I suppose that is what you get for giving samples of ‘nearly’ finished products to Sales people!

It obviously shows the product is required by our existing customer base, which confirms the purpose for the change of objectives for the project. From talking to other Associates at the residential module, it’s not unusual to have a degree of change in the project- and even from the project management unit it addresses the issue of learning to deal with change. I think there is a temptation to sit in the modules and think ‘I’m never going to use this’ but actually, you would be very surprised and how much you do use these skills in your everyday working life.

I’m actually really looking forward to my next residential module in a few weeks time. Although I keep in daily contact with people, it will be great to see everyone again.

Next time I’ll talk a bit about the LMC meetings, I’ve got my LMC2 coming up, and I know a lot of new Associates worry about it- so I’d like to put everyone at ease as they are really not that scary!

This entry was posted on Friday, September 11th, 2009 at 11:28 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.