Managing ProjectsThe TeamThe Project ManagerProject Manager’s To-Do ListThe Team LeaderLeader as InitiatorLeader as ModelLeader as NegotiatorLeader as ListenerLeader as CoachLeader as Working MemberTeam Leader’s skillsTeam Leader’s To-Do ListTeam MembersCriteria for Project Team MembershipSkill Assessment (1)Skill Assessment (2)Forming the teamAdding and Subtracting MembersTeam Members’ To-Do ListCharacteristics of Effective TeamsCommitmentCommitment requires a clear goalFair contribution and reward systemA supportive environmentAlignmentSumming Up1Managing ProjectsEffective Teams2The TeamThe success of project work is naturally affected by the people who participate.A sound organizational structure matters; so does good management neither will produce a satisfactory outcome if the right people are not on board-or if these people are not clear about their rolesBut,3The Project ManagerIndividual charged with planning and scheduling project tasks and day-to-day management of project executionGoal: obtaining results through people and other resourcesThe project manager must rely on his/her leadership qualities to influence behavior and performance4Project Manager’s To-Do ListRecruit effective participantsProvide a framework for the project’s activitiesKeep the team motivated Coordinate activitiesMediate conflictsIdentify needed resourcesSet milestonesManage the budgetEnsure that everyone contributes and benefitsKeep work on trackAssure that project goals are delivered on time and on budget5The Team LeaderThe team leader has 6 important roles:1. Initiator2. Model3. Negotiator4. Listener5. Coach6. Working Member6Leader as InitiatorThe team leader must initiate action.He/she draws attention to actions that must be taken if team goals are to be met.7Leader as ModelThe team leader can use their own behavior to shape others’ behavior and performance8Leader as NegotiatorThe best way negotiate for resources is to frame the situation in a positive way- as mutually beneficial9Leader as ListenerA good leader spends as much time listening as talking. Listening is a sensing activity that gathers signals from the environment – signals about impending trouble, employee discontent, and opportunities for gain.10Leader as CoachA good team leader find ways to help team members excel.Coaching is a two way activity in which the parties share knowledge and experience to maximize a team member’s potential and help him or her to achieve agreed-upon goals.11Leader as Working MemberA team leader must also pitch in and do a share of the work, particularly in areas where he or she has special competence.Ideally, that share will include one or two unpleasant or unexciting jobs that no one really wants to do12Team Leader’s skillsAbility to set a direction that others will followAbility to give and to accept feedbackIntegrityHigh standards for performanceThe team leader must enjoy credibility among team membersHaving appropriate skills and experience and reputation for dealing effectively with others13Team Leader’s To-Do List1) Regularly communicate progress and problems2) Periodically assess team progress, the outlook of members and how much each member views his or her contribution3) Make sure that everyone contributes and everyone’s voice is heard4) Do a share of the work5) Resist the urge to act like a bossThe team may select its own leader – or rotate the leadership post ant its responsibilities on a regular basisThere can be one leader or severalSpider Man:“With great power, comes great responsibility”14Team MembersIt’s the project team members who do most of the work.As a consequence, bringing together the right people with the right skills is crucial15Criteria for Project Team Membership1) Skill Assessment2) Adding and Subtracting Members16Skill Assessment (1)Team selection should ideally be determined by the skills needed to accomplish the work1) Technical skillIt is usually the product of special training2) Problem-solving skillIndividual’s ability to analyze difficult situations or impasses and to craft solutionsAlbert Einstein:"Imagination is more important than knowledge."17Skill Assessment (2)3) Interpersonal skillIt refers to an ability to work effectively with othersTo believe that people are interchangeable, as long as they have the same skill sets is a big mistake4) Organizational skills People with organizational skills help the team to get things done and avoid conflict18Forming the teamWhen forming project teams, there is a natural tendency to focus myopically on technical skillsThe attention to technical skills often overshadows attention to interpersonal and organizational skills, which, in the long run, may be just as importantIndividuals who are strong on all four skill measures– technical, problem-solving, interpersonal, and organizational – are few19Adding and Subtracting MembersHaving too few people will slow down and possibly mean that you don’t have all the requisite skills. Having too many will also slow you down by shifting valuable time and energy into communication and coordination efforts.Summarizing recruit as many people as you need to get the job done – but no moreOver time, members adjust to the people and the working styles represented on the team. They develop effective patterns for making decisions and communicationNewcomers are not fully productive during the time they spend getting oriented. Expend lots of valuable time orienting the new membersSo minimize turnover as much as possible20Team Members’ To-Do List1) Complete all assigned tasks on time2) Communicate dissatisfaction and concerns openly and constructively3) Support the leader and the other members4) Help others when they ask, and ask for help when you need it21Characteristics of Effective Teams1) Competence2) A clear and common goal3) Commitment to the common goal4) An environment within which everyone contributes and everyone benefits5) A supportive structure6) Alignment of project goal with organizational goals22CommitmentCommitment is a visceral quality that motivates to do work and to keep working when the going gets toughPeople’s must see their team goal as being very important and worthy of effortCommitment is also a function of goal ownership and mutual accountabilityCommitment to a common goal is more easily achieved