Project Management Lessons Learned

Nobodys perfect, but a team can be.

Title of an Article by Meredith Belbin, included in a Bates Project Management course taken many years ago
Boyd Carter Cap Gemini Ernst & Young December 12, 2001

Project Management Lessons Learned

The essence of TEAM Designated roles of team members Psychological roles of team members Optimal traits for each role Optimal attitude R.I.S.E. TEAM

The Essence of TEAM

"No coach has ever won a game by what he knows; it's what his players know that counts. "I'm just a simple plowhand from Arkansas, but I have learned over the years how to hold a team together. How to lift some men up, how to calm others down, until finally they've got one heartbeat, together, a team." Coach Bryant instinctively knew that a team member had two roles, one the designated role of the player; the other, the psychological role the player defaults to under stress. He excelled at managing that psychological role.
With three hundred twenty-three career wins, Bryant was lauded as the winningest coach in college football history. His leadership was the Alabama Crimson Tide's cornerstone to two hundred thirty-two wins, six national championships, and twenty-three straight bowl appearances.

Designated Roles of Team Members

Plan the Project and select the team based on: Known externals Skills Required, Skills Available and Time Constraints Team members must own their roles and their time allocations Therefore Role Owners must participate in the planning!!!

Psychological Roles of Team Members

Plant - very creative, the ideas person Resource Investigator - extrovert, good at making outside contacts and developing ideas Monitor Evaluator - shrewd and prudent, analytical Shaper - dynamic and challenging Co-ordinator - respected, mature and good at ensuring that talents are used effectively Implementer - practical, loyal and task orientated Completer Finisher - meticulous and with attention to detail also full of nervous energy Team Worker - caring and very person orientated Specialist - high technical skill and professional as opposed to organisational prime loyalties

Optimal Traits for Each Role

Coordinator - respected, mature and good at ensuring that talents are used effectively Traits: Stable Dominant Extrovert Designated Role
Project Manager

Plant - very creative, the ideas person Traits: Dominant, very high I.Q., introvert Designated Role Logical Design / JAD Leader Resource Investigator - extrovert, good at making outside contacts and developing ideas Traits: Stable, dominant, extrovert Designated
Role Client Interface / User Requirements / User Access

Monitor Evaluator - shrewd and prudent, analytical Traits: High I.Q., stable, introvert Designated Role Physical Design Shaper - dynamic and challenging Traits: Anxious, dominant, extrovert Designated Role Team Leaders

Optimal Traits for Each Role

Implementer - practical, loyal and task orientated Traits: Stable and Controlled Designated Role Documentation Completer Finisher - meticulous and with attention to detail also full of nervous energy Traits: Anxious, introvert Designated Role
Developers

Team Worker - caring and very person orientated Traits: Stable, extrovert, low in dominance Designated Role Administration Specialist - high technical skill and professional as opposed to organisational prime loyalties Traits: Very high I.Q., introvert, passive, single-minded Designated Role Subject Matter Expert

Optimal Traits for Combined Roles

Coordinator / Shaper Designated Role Project Manager / Team Leaders Traits: stable dominant, extrovert / anxious, dominant, extrovert Implementer / Team Worker Designated Role Documentation / Administration Traits: stable and controlled / stable, extrovert, low in dominance Completer Finisher / Specialist Designated Role Developers / Subject Matter Experts Traits: anxious, introvert / very high I.Q., introvert, passive, single-minded Plant / Monitor Evaluator Designated Role Logical Design / JAD Leader / Physical Design Traits: dominant, very high I.Q., introvert / high I.Q., stable, introvert Resource Investigator Designated Role Client Interface / User Requirements / User Access Traits: stable, dominant, extrovert

Optimal attitude R.I.S.E. TEAM

(Or How to Manage the Psychological Role)

Respect for the Individual Integrity in Our Dealings With Others Stewardship of Resources in our Care Excellence in Everything We Do TEAM Principles Must Prevail