Managing Project Teams
We can have the most perfectly stated goals and objectives, we can have the most perfectly arranged plans and schedules, and we can have a budget that allows every bell and whistle imaginable. However, no project can succeed unless it has a carefully selected and managed team. This human factor can make or break any project management initiative. Building and managing a successful team is a complicated process. The project manager must carefully select team members, build some sense of common purpose, encourage cooperation, and recognize and resolve any conflicts that arise.
Consider a current or past situation where you are or were a member of a team that is or was involved in a project. Ideally, this situation should be where you currently work. However, you can use any situation or experience in your personal life as well. If you have absolutely no experience yourself, you can use that of a family member or close friend.
- Identify your particular team and describe the overall goals and objectives of the team project.
- Describe your position and function in the team.
- In your opinion, how were the members of this team selected? Were the basic steps in assembling a project team followed? How would you improve this staffing process?
- Your text presents six characteristics of effective project teams. Choose any four of these characteristics and explain how and why your team did or did not develop these characteristics. Be sure you provide adequate detail.
- Your text book presents five stages in team/group development. Did your team go through all these stages? Explain your answer.
- During which stage or stages did conflict erupt? Describe this conflict and its source and explain what method or methods were used to resolve the conflict.
Use the Project Team Cross Functional Cooperation model to describe the behaviors and outcomes of this team. Is your case adequately described by the model and do all factors in the model apply?
- In your opinion, did this team succeed or fail? Explain your answer.