Executing: Human Resources
Human resource execution process make sure the right people are available and placed on the team, that they do their job as well as possible and that their performance is tracked in such a way as to optimize their contribution to the project.
9.2 Acquire Project Team
Process Definition
Acquiring a project team requires confirming human resource availability and obtaining the team in time to execute the project successfully. This can be affected by, among other things, the organizational structure in which the resources are housed.
Process Assessment
Acquiring a project team is often a problem with project managers. Having a human resource plan in place that is shared ahead of time with the HR department will go a long way toward helping them provide you with the people you need.
Figure 30. Acquire Project Team: Inputs, Tools and Techniques, and Outputs. Reprinted from "A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide), 5th Edition" by Project Management Institute, 2013, p. 267. Copyright 2013 by Project Management Institute, Inc. Reprinted without permission.
- Human Resource Plan for Forrest University: This is an example human resource plan created in PMGT 611, the key input to acquiring a project team. It provides the HR team with the information they need to prepare to staff your project in a timely fashion.
- Virtual Teams: This homework problem from PMGT 611 discusses tools and techniques associated acquiring and managing virtual teams for global projects.
- Project Staff Assignments: PMGT 611 homework problem discussing project staff assignments, including an example assignment. The staff assignments are an output from the "Acquire Project Team" process and an input to the "Develop Project Team" and "Manage project Team" processes.
9.3 Develop Project Team
Process Definition
Often a team requires development to improve their competencies, interaction and the overall team environment to satisfactorily achieve project objectives. It is the project manager's job to use this process to provide the project-specific training to accomplish this goal.Process Assessment
Developing a "team" mentality is one of my weaknesses. I assign people tasks and expect them to work together as needed. But many people like team building activities, recognition and rewards and personal assessments to make them feel like part of something larger than themselves. I've learned a lot from this process.
Figure 31. Develop Project Team: Inputs, Tools and Techniques, and Outputs. Reprinted from "A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide), 5th Edition" by Project Management Institute, 2013, p. 273. Copyright 2013 by Project Management Institute, Inc. Reprinted without permission.
- Project Staff Assignments: This input to the team development process from PMGT 611 identifies the needs for each team member, allowing training activities to be defined.
- Ground Rules: Team charters such as this one establish the ground rules for clear expectations regarding acceptable behavior by team members. This is one of the tools for "Develop Project Team." The team charter was developed for PMGT 613.
- Team Building Activities: Team building activities are a technique for developing project teams. This essay is from PMGT 611.
- Team Performance Assessments: Brief essay from PMGT 611 describing the uses and techniques for writing team performance assessments, an output from the "Develop Project Team" process.
9.4 Manage Project Team
Process Definition
Managing a team involves tracking team and individual performance, providing feedback, resolving issues and optimizing performance. This is done through observation, performance appraisals, conflict management, interpersonal skills and maintaining issue logs.Process Assessment
A project manager is asking for trouble if he expects the team to "manage itself." The PM must make an effort to observe, interact with and evaluate team members. And conflict management is, unfortunately, something the PM must spend a lot of time doing.
Figure 32. Manage Project Team: Inputs, Tools and Techniques, and Outputs. Reprinted from "A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide), 5th Edition" by Project Management Institute, 2013, p. 279. Copyright 2013 by Project Management Institute, Inc. Reprinted without permission.
- Conflict Management: Team charters are an important tool for resolving conflict on project team. They clearly identify the ground rules by which conflict can be resolved. The team charter was developed for PMGT 613.
- Interpersonal Skills: This PMGT 501 Lessons Learned paper includes a discussion of the team project for the term, delving into the issues and reality of interpersonal skills required to manage a team over the course of the project. These essay covers tools and techniques for the "Manage Project Team" process.
- Employee Change Request: Employee change requests are one possible output of the team management process. They can be caused by performance issues, unresolved conflict, or just changing project needs.