Prepared for a War!

Sometimes, things don't appear as they seem. Take for example, the Multimedia Tools for Advertising paper i took on Monday. Despite the limited tips, dreadful assumptions, missing notes and arriving at the exam hall ten-minutes late, i was laughing as i picked up the question paper. I knew i could sail through it. Perhaps a B+ or a B, since the other 50% (the assignment) for the paper is sealed behind the lecturer's mouth. But i'm sure Ms May was considerate enough to pass us all.

Here is one of the question that came out in Section B of that paper:

List FOUR (4) basic requirements to make a successful multimedia project

[TOTAL: 12 MARKS ]

To be frank, i did this question based partly based on experience, the rest from the remains i could remember from the notes. Then, i struck me. These are basic requirements before you get started with any assignment, individual or group assignments. Just replace "multimedia" with other variables like Journalism II, Communication Theories, Advertising Copy Writing, Comm Research Methods, or any subjects you took during the semester and it does make sense. There are requirements needed in every assignment/projects you do.

IMHO, here are the list of elements that could make your assignment a successful one:

1. PLANNING

It takes no genius to figure that out. From a simple outing and what to do after that to military efforcement project and national education programmes, they all need a PLAN or two. A contigency plan as well to fall back on. Even evil masterminds and high-tech robbery take months to figure out a perfect plan before pulling it off. Going into a bank guns ablazing is no different from getting a free "Go-to-Jail" card.

Before getting the assignment started, all group members should sit down and create a blue print of what to do. How much time you have, what should the outcome be, what task must be done and who does them, and the deadlines for the tasks, etc. All these questions should be brainstormed and discussed properly and thoroughly as to ensure everyone gets a glimpse of what's going on. Or group members will be pestering you on what to do, or they'll produce unexpected results.

As they say, failing to plan is planning to fail!

2. TIME MANAGEMENT

Sometimes, you lie to yourself about how good-looking you are, how thin you look and how significantly great you are among your peers. Do add another thing to your list: the deadline.

Just remind yourself (and the group) that the time you have is limited, and mark your deadline a week or two before the actual deadline. In that way, you can save yourself a lot of hassle if you are running out of time.

It's important to know how much time you have. Prepare a time frame and set deadlines for different tasks. Some tasks just can't go on without the completion of another. It also determine the quality of your assignment.

Lying to yourself isn't health. But if it gets you somewhere, just remind yourself of what it's true before you really fall down on that lovely face of yours.

3. COMMUNICATION

Talk the talk, walk the walk. Everyone in the group should be alert, informed and aware about the situation of the assignment and details entailed to it. A communication breakdown is hazardous to the group, what more to friendships as well.

When assumptions are wrong and things are not done, sometimes it's hard to point to who actually caused the problem.

Plus, talking and informing everyone makes them feel comfortable being in a group, at times making them feel welcomed and useful in the team. This could reduce social loafing.

4. THE GROUP

It's important to know who's in your group. And it's equally the same when choosing your group members. Be sure you know the strengths and weaknesses of each team members.This way, work can be properly allocated and no one would receive parts they can't really accomplish.

But at the same, one should know his/her own strengths and weaknesses. Taking up responsiblities, assuming you can do it and later being clueless and helpless may not only slows down the workload, but disappointments will arise and dissatisfactions hovers around the group.

Remember, there's no "I" in a GROUP, but "O-U-R" does exist. (Ironically, there's U and R, so U can do the job, UR job! Ha ha!)

5. RESOURCES

Besides time, money, computers and a place to get the assignment done are commodities in running the project. When one of these are missing, part of the work will be at halt.

Out-sourcing do come in handing in dire circumstances. (Most of the assignments this semester required external help from my classmates and friends, which i'm really grateful of!) But overdo it, and you'll become a sticky, blood-sucking parasitic leech.

6. SACRIFICES

This is one of the most important elements that many tend to forget. Besides time, money and sweat, the occasonal tears and blood come into play as well (Yes, blood and tears). There are times where you can attend to your personal needs and forfeit doing your part. But when the urgency is there, one must really learn to say no to their friends, family members and to themself for the greater good for the team.

More than half of the time, i'll be at the receiving end. It's not that i'm barging about how great and how much i've done for the group. But when you learn to focus on the important things and keep your priorities right, you can then see what i mean by sacrificing for the group.

And there are times when you feel like burning your irresponsible, lazy members as a sacrifice to the gods of good grades!

These are what i think are the requirement that makes a good assignment. After all, a good solid foundation prepares a great stronghold.

But in the end, all these are most of the time, failed to implement in our daily practicality. They become nothing more but theories and facts we memorise to pass a paper. fail to implement in daily practicality.



Love & Peace!~


BC?