Structuring Project Teams and Building CohesivenessCharacteristics of Project TeamsCharacteristics cont’d.Team Efficiency vs. InefficiencyWhat causes team inefficiency?Inefficiency cont’d.Team StructureStructure Cont’d.Structure Cont’d.Slide 10Structure cont’d.Slide 12Creating Team IdentityBuilding a Reward SystemPersonal TouchStructuring Project Teams and Building CohesivenessPresentation byGwen A. LittleCEP 812 - 2/3/99Characteristics of Project TeamsDefinition: a team is a collection of individuals who work together to attain a goal.Project team members•often borrowed - brief exposure to project effort•work on piece of project - when done move on to other projects•may not recognize they are part of a team -Characteristics cont’d.•Therefore incapable of developing team spirit - project commitmentTeam Efficiency vs. InefficiencyTeam Efficiency is defined as team performance that is actually achieved.Ex: Team accomplishing a small portion of what it could - efficiency lowTeam achieving as much as possible efficiency is highWhat causes team inefficiency?Matrix Based Frictions•projects dependent on temporarily borrowed staff•lack of staff continuity•project manager’s lack of direct control over project staff and material resourcesInefficiency cont’d.Poor communication - large amount of time spent sending and receiving messagesInformation atherosclerosis - communication channels so clogged that important information has difficulty making it throughGarbled messages - messages passed along from one person to another get changedTeam StructureISOMORPHIC TEAM STRUCTUREIso= equal or same Morph= form or shapeTwo things share the same structural appearanceAdvantages•organization simple - accountability clear•parallel implementation of tasksStructure Cont’d.SPECIALTY TEAM STRUCTURETeam members asked to apply their special expertise across a wide array of taskshigh levels of responsibility lack corresponding levels of authorityDeficiencies - figure 3.3 p. 94•accountability diffuse•unequal distribution of work•work alone work may not be well integratedStructure Cont’d.Advantages•high degree of self management•expertise applied where appropriateEGOLESS TEAM STRUCTURE•should be difficult to determine who produced what portion of the product•no obvious leader•decisions achieved through consensusStructure Cont’d.Project tasks reflect input of all team membersEncourages high levels of interactivity and communication among project membersCriticisms•doesn’t work because people have egos•those with talent want to make their contribution stand outStructure cont’d.•Lack of leadership - team starts to driftHow can this work?•Team size must be small•Must work together continuouslySURGICAL TEAM STRUCTURE•All attention focuses on a single individual and his or her abilitiesStructure cont’d.Disadvantage•requires superlatively capable individual to play role of the surgeonSurgical team approach most effective on design projects that entail large amounts of writingCreating Team IdentityMake the team tangible•effective use of meetings•team members see they are not working alone•colocation of team members•members work together in a common space•War rooms - contain the most significant project documentation•create a team nameBuilding a Reward SystemLetters of commendationPublic recognition for good workJob assignmentsFlexible work timeNew equipment goes to best workersRecommendation for cash awards and bonusesPersonal TouchBe supportive (physical, psychological)Be clearLearn something about team membersCelebrate special occasionsBe accessible•enlist an open door