Sunday, March 8, 2009

What motivate me to study in IIUM?
There can be lots of reasons which motivate me and my family to choose International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), the first and in the most important reason was the vision and mission of the University which grabs the attention of all Muslim Countries, such as Islamization and Internationalization, that’s why I choose IIUM.
Area of Specialization:-
Before I continue my study at International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) I have attended a lots of computer related courses in Pakistan. For Instance, with Microsoft in designing area with CorelDraw and Photoshop these are the figures which increase my interest to become a Computer Science Student.

Strengths and weaknesses:-
every individual has personal strengths and weaknesses that shape his or her life in a positive or negative way. One has to fully understand and be able to use his strengths and weakness in a positive way to succeed in life. Our everyday life, whether at work or at home is affected by how we use our strengths and weakness.

We can improve our strengths and work on our weakness to achieve positive goals in life. The most successful people know that by working on their weaknesses can bring significant I learn more and more about my strengths and weaknesses everyday from my new life in Malaysia. I was raised in a big, closed knit family with emphasis on family values and strong moral ethics. That shaped my life in a significant way to how I approach everything from my study to personal relationships. I learned to respect everybody regardless of their beliefs and different views. That helps me at my study to listen to my friend’s different ideas and work with them in a positive way to achieve maximum results. I am also ambitious and have strong loyalty to my family and friends. My ambition to be a better person.

My career goals and achievement:-
When I was doing my higher studies in college, I found that studying is a challenging task, hence needed an extra effort to maintain the pace with my fellow students. There are good experiences as well as uncomfortable ones. Since, increase in the competitiveness in job market and past experiences forced and motivated me to seek for graduate course. From the available options, I was convinced that IIUM was the ideal place to study a young Muslim students where intellectual is integrated with religion.

Every day is a challenge for a student. Maintaining 80% attendance for the classes which starts normally at 8:30 a.m, meeting deadlines for assignments and projects are few challenges to name. As far as I am concern, seeking knowledge cannot be limited to a time and space. Gradual engagement in academic field may help to improve personal as well as occupational intelligence to pursue the necessary skill and knowledge. Therefore, I believe engagement in the field of research is vital.

I would like to see me in 5 years as a successful and hard working corporate executive in the field of BCS. Hopefully, insha allah, within 10-15 years I would like to place myself in the chair of CEO of my very own company.

I believe that principle that success comes before work is only in dictionary. Therefore, without hard work and commitment, no one can achieve success. However, the initial stage is to get sufficient knowledge and skills through education. As I mention early by going through all these challenges teach me how to be a better and successful person in today's life. but still I haven’t completed my goals, i will complete and achieve my goals once I finish my Bachelor and Master Degrees. Inshallah.

My future:- Inshallah, if Allah gives the chance to complete my bachelor degree in Computer Science,there a lots of resources that can help me to share my gained knowledge with Islamiah Ummah, and maybe you have seen and read article in today IT world there many countries that willing to accept IT or BCS student, by completing my degree Inshallah I will have a better life with a better family.

One of my goals for the future is to be happy regardless of what I choose to do. I want to be satisfied with my decisions, to be able to accept and forgive, and most of all to be able to live up to the expectations I have for myself. I realize I cannot set my goals and dreams on the basis of others and I need to achieve things for myself. I will only accomplish my goal in being happy when I am able to live my life for myself and still able to provide love and support to others. My immediate goal is to obtain a masters degree in Web Programming.

A master’s degree in Web Programming will provide the opportunity for me to take many courses which will prepare me for the Computer challenges of the work force. I hope to work in an environment in which I can my help a company achieve it's goals, as well as an environment that will provide me with personnel growth and development. With my educational background, and desire to learn, I am capable of handling the challenges that the work force will bring.

Challenges:-
Actually the environment itself was one of the big challenges in my life, before I processed with challenges I just want to share something from my life, as I mention in About me, I am from Afghanistan and I have never been to my country, it can’t be a reason because of the situation there, No, the reason behind was to just focused 24th hours on my study, so when I Came to Malaysia I have seen different Cultures which was really challenging to me, in order continue my Study at International Islamic University Malaysia, because IIIUM is combined of different Societies, but Alhamduliallah by passing time and involving with different cultures it help and teach me how to manage and control my life.

The second Challenge was Financial problems, of course is not easy to stay in foreign country (Malaysia) without having a good resource backup, but thanks to God, when I start my study in IIUM, I got scholarship from Al-Bukhary, and at the same I am getting some amount of money from my Family, because life in Malaysia is not cheap day by day is getting expensive and expensive.

General Project Management Tips:-

1. Get EVERYONE to love the project.
· What if I don’t love it?If you don’t love it, pretend to. We become what we pretend to be. · What if my other team members don’t love it? Help them find a way. “How can I bring you in?” · What if my client doesn’t love it? Big problem. Find out what they really want – see if you can do that instead!

2. One-on-one meetings eliminate potential problems.
People don’t always speak the truth in public. · Producers should do these regularly, formally or informally. · Faculty should do these at least every two weeks.

3. Keep in Constant Communication.
· Be in the same room · Everyone should know where everyone is and will be, and how to reach them · Do some social things. Don’t like your teammates? Pretend to. · Do internal demos to each other at least once a week!

4. Producers: Carry the Water.
· Make sure everyone has what they need all the time, whatever that may be. · Be the Den Mother. · Learn the joy of servitude.

Characteristic of Good project:-
1_Has a unique purpose.
2_Is temporary.
3_Is developed using progressive elaboration.
4_Requires resources, often from various areas.
5_Should have a primary customer or sponsor
6_Involves uncertainty

How to be a good Project Manager:-
How do I deal with problem employees? How can I improve employee morale and boost productivity? What skills can I develop that will ensure that my projects will run smoothly and to a successful finish. the answer of these questions is listed down:
A. Organizational skills
B. Communication skills
C. Problem-solving skills
D. Leadership skills
E. Team-building skills
A. Organizational skills:-
Do you consider yourself an organized person who can generate and keep track of multiple documents? If so, you already have one of the most important skills needed as a Project Manager. On the job, than you maybe able to meet the requirements and design documents, contracts, schedules, personnel records, project reports and communication (email) records

B. Communication skills:-
This does not refer to just giving presentations, but to various forms of written and oral communication. A Project Manager is expected to produce high-quality project planning and design documents.

C. Problem-solving skills:-
A good manager has the knack of seeing the big picture for any problem, while others may miss the forest for the trees.
D. Leadership skills:-
This one is not easy. It is tricky to get your team to go with your idea without making them feel that the idea is being thrust on them. The team looks to the Project Manager to provide direction and vision. To be able to do that. A manager must earn the respect of his/her team, and the best way to do that is to lead by example.

E. Team-building skills:-
This is an often-neglected area, forgotten in all the excitement of project deadlines. But the effort spent motivating a team to perform to the best of its ability is worth its weight in gold. Four easy points to remember are: reward achievements, provide feedback, recognize strengths and provide challenges.

Benefits of Learning about IT Project Management:-
There are a lots of benefits to learn IT Project Management. For Instance, learning IT Project Management help a person how to be a good organizer in the community and also in the work area. The second benefit is, it lead a person how to communicate in order to solve a very specific problem, the third benefit is how to become a good leader, actually is not an easy skill that you will learn form IT Project Management, because it need trust and it need time, if you become success to achieve this skill than you maybe able to be come a good lead also in the society and the last benefit is, it lead a person how to build a good time, it doesn’t mean only in the company, but it has reflection on a person skill how to build a good community.

Reflections on the IT Project Management class:-
1.Problems encountered while doing this assignment. I find it hard to describe my self while doing this assignment.And also to choose which informations to appear in this portfolio. It was a challenge to arrange the information and at the same time making it simple as possible to appear in the portfolio. I also find it difficult to work on schedule due to the interfere caused by the works of other subjects.

2. Solutions for the problems.
There is not a specific solution for the problem. But practice makes less mistakes and by doing more practice will make the job more easier. If we have more aassignments of similar interest like this one then we will perform better.

3.I wish to have more time.
If I had more time then things could have been different in this portfolio. Like having more contents and more interactive design with easy navigation.

4. Lessons learned.
I learned a lot more about my ownself by doing this assignment. It shows how complex we are as a human being. I also learned the importance of planning and task management. This portfolio helped me to get familiar with dreamweaver and web development. There is one and important thing that I like about this course is the communication between teacher and students in that late and very tired time, it lead people to learn and at the same time enjoy the class. And the thing that I dislike about this course is, that we don’t have many quizzes. The last one I don’t have suggestion in order to improve the course delivery and contents, I thing everything going smoothly and everything is perfect about this course.