Every experienced project manager knows how important the project team is in the execution of a project. This applies to both small tasks and complex projects. In each individual case, the correct composition of the project team is particularly important.
What makes a project team?
The project team is a group of people who work together on a task - a project.
The project team usually consists of:
- the project manager
- the other managers, such as the Sub-project managers
- the other members of the team carrying out the necessary work.
The structure of the respective project team varies greatly from project to project and essentially depends on which project goals are to be achieved and which tasks are to be performed.
The composition of a project team - The most important basics
Cooperation in a team is more than the sum of the individual work performances. Teamwork determines how well, how quickly - and even if at all - the envisaged project goals can be achieved.
When putting together his team, the project manager should therefore pay attention to the following points:
The personality type
Working in a team is not easy for everyone.
For introverted personalities it can be difficult to establish or maintain informal communication with other members. If the project is dependent on such employees from a professional point of view - for example in the area of programming - it is important to give them personal space at work. This can already be ensured by a quiet corner in the shared office or by the extended home office option. In this way conflicts can be avoided which could put a heavy strain on the entire team.
The team spirit
If several similarly qualified people are available, it is the task of the project manager to select those who best fit into the team.
However, the work is not done with the selection of suitable members. Team spirit should also be emphasized in the course of the project. This includes, for example, advocating at management level for the decisions that mean the best for the team. But it also means involving the team as a whole in the decision-making process wherever possible.
If a sense of unity develops in the project team, which includes each individual team member, it is a stable basis for successful cooperation.
The responsibility structure
Too much division of responsibility can be problematic for teamwork, as members who perform key tasks can quickly become demotivated. It is therefore advisable to clearly divide responsibilities.
Once the responsibility structures have been established, project management can immediately recognize and appreciate a good performance.
If the work of the individual in the team is duly recognized, it increases personal commitment. The productivity of the entire team is increased.
When considering these points, the project manager should also be aware that it takes time to put together a project team. It is therefore important to give the project planning enough time to fulfill this task optimally.
Putting the project team together - Sympathy as a trap
It often happens that the project manager selects his team according to personal preferences.
This can be very problematic, because sympathy is the unconscious search for similarity. If the team is selected for these reasons, the result is a homogeneous group of people who have similar opinions and related character traits. If such a group is confronted with a task that is not only about mere work capacity, but also about diversity of experience, people will be overwhelmed.
It is therefore strongly recommended to pay attention to diversity in team building, even if a heterogeneous team is more conflictual and more difficult to manage. People with different character traits, attitudes and life paths bring valuable approaches and thus - in difficult situations - contribute to solutions that might otherwise not be achievable.
Leading the project team correctly with the project management software from Can Do
If the project team is correct, i.e. if it is ideally suited in terms of expertise and has a diverse and heterogeneous personal composition, the task of the project team must be well distributed.
In order to meet this challenge in the best possible way, the project management should decide on the project management software that makes the project team tasks most clearly arranged and thus the easiest to administer.
Can Do's individually adjustable software, equipped with versatile tools, provides a multitude of possibilities and examples to lead the project team in a goal-oriented manner and thus make the project a success.
Conclusion
The project team has a key function in the implementation of projects. The right composition of the team is therefore crucial for the overall success of the project.
Can Do is the right partner at your side when it comes to finding the exactly fitting software solution for your project, regardless of whether you choose conservative or agile project management.
We are happy to advise you in Germany as well as in Switzerland.
Can Do is the right partner at your side when it comes to the exactly fitting software solution for your project, regardless of whether you opt for conservative or agile project management.
