Section 5.3 Project Management and Team Dynamics

Project Management

Project Management refers to the ways you, as a team, manage a project through delegating tasks and meeting deadlines. There are many ways to manage a project, but one of the key strategies for successfully managing a project is through building a foundation on teamwork and clearly communicating deadlines and tasks among all team members.

Occasionally, teams have leadership roles. Other times within a team environment everyone is given the same type of status, and assumes the responsibilities most consistent with their position or role in the life of the project.

Below I give a definition of what teamwork is, and also take time to discuss a couple different types of team dynamics that may play out during a project.

Teamwork

As you note from the discussion above, teamwork is an important part of completing a project outlined within a proposal. Before I describe some key team dynamics and roles, I need to outline what a team is. A team is defined as a group of people with shared goals or objectives. This means that everyone on your team needs to be committed to the project you are outlining in your proposal.

Team Dynamics

When one thinks of a team, it is typical to think of one person as a leader, however this doesn’t have to be the case. Many companies are embracing a style of project management called agile project management. An agile style of project management does not designate one person as a leader. Instead communication between everyone on the team, and the client for whom the proposal is written to, is emphasized. This means everyone carries an equal role within the team environment for carrying out the tasks of the project. Agile project management also requires that all team members openly communicate with one another and the client, which often requires regular meetings, emails, and calls. A regular, open line of communication is needed for all team members and the client if agile project management is to be successful.

A more traditional view of team dynamics incorporates the roles of a leader, and some project management styles still use these traditional group dynamics. For simplicity’s sake, I’ve listed four roles people can take on during a team project below. Please realize that you may take on a couple of these roles, or perhaps even all of these roles, as you work on a collaborative project.

1. Leader: A leader will work to define the project, if needed. A leader will also help delegate tasks, suggest deadlines, and take on other roles consistent with leadership. This person is typically seen as a project lead.
2. Problematizer:  The term problematizer describes an individual who will take time to ask questions about the project in order to overcome potential future problems, sometimes before the problems occur. They will often ask challenging questions that make team members think more deeply about a project. These types are also good at coming up with innovative strategies.
3. Supporter: A supporter will often step in when a team member may not have completed their assigned tasks, or if someone needs to step in to take on extra workload. A supporter is necessary to any project since they also work to improve team morale.
4. Negotiator:The negotiator will recognize conflict within a team structure and work to resolve that conflict.

As noted above, these roles may not be static or prescribed. You may also find yourself at times acting as a leader on one project, whereas you take on the role of a supporter in another project. Your role on the team may likely correspond with your tasks on the project. In other words, if you are on expert on a large aspect of the project, you may be identified as having more of a leadership role than a supporting role.

Team Contract (Team Charter)

As part of your team work during our class, and likely in the professional context, it is imperative you have agreed on expectations of what constitutes acceptable work, delegation of tasks, and clear and consistent communication among team members or project members. While in a professional setting you may not create a contract or charter, for our class purposes I will ask that all teams work together to create a set of shared expectations through a Team Charter or Team Contract.

When you discuss team roles and expectations, you likely will discuss the following items listed below. Please note this is not a comprehensive list of items, as you may add others.

• Delegation of tasks: It is clear that everyone knows their role on the project and what their tasks are for making the project successful
• Stake in the project: Everyone should have some buy-in in the project where they gain benefit and/or have a sense of ownership over a part or whole of the project.
• Leadership: Some teams may have one designated leader, but other times leadership may be shared over specific project tasks.
• Project mapping or project roadmap: The team should have created a project roadmap for all tasks needed to be completed during the project, along with clear expectations and deadlines. Many times companies and project teams will use online platforms for mapping out a project.
• Clear goals/objectives and expectations of team/project: Objectives and goals for a successful project should be clear with all expectations clearly shared among teammates.
• Flexibility: All projects should have built in flexibility in case deadlines cannot be met for good reasons. This creates more of an Agile project management style.

If you create a Team Contract for a class, you likely will discuss the items above, along with several others, such as grade expectations for the project. The important piece is that you all work together and communicate effectively to create a successful project. Realize a teacher, like a boss or supervisor, is also a source of support for completing a project.