One of the most important aspects a project manager faces is finding the right people that are required for each project. People are the most important asset to an organization. Human resource management, especially in IT, is challenging. In fact, well-qualified people are both difficult to find and keep.
What steps are required in getting the best team? According to Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide), there are four human resource management processes.
- Human resource planning: Identify and document the roles, responsibilities and reporting relationships. Additionally, provide an organizational chart in support of the project, along with a staffing management plan.
- Acquire project team: Find the right people with the needed skill sets for the project. This will include staff assignments, personnel availability and updates to the staffing management plan.
- Develop project team: Improve both the competencies and interaction of the team. The interaction within the team is the most challenging aspect. Oftentimes, team-building skills will be necessary to enhance this interaction.
- Manage project team: Track the team's performance, provide both motivation and feedback, resolve conflict and coordinate changes to enhance team and project performance.
Beyond these aspects, there is the human side to managing a project. The personalities of the staff also need to be taken into consideration. Here are some questions the project manager should ask before putting a team together.
- Will all the parties work well together?
- Will this assignment benefit both the employees and the project?
- What skills sets do I need to make this project a success?
- Is there enough staff with the right skills from which to draw?
There will also be necessary outputs that will be required for the project, such as the staffing management plan, responsibility assignment matrix (RAM), project organizational chart and an organizational breakdown structure (OBS).
The overall goal in developing the project team is to make sure all parties can work together to achieve a successful outcome. This is probably the most critical aspect in putting together an IT project team.
The team may need some training in individual and team development. This type of training helps for smoother working relationships within the team. There will also be specific training relevant to a specific technical assignment. For example, an individual may need refresher training on a certain programming language.
The selected staff should have most of the required skills necessary to make the project meet its goals and objectives. The complexity of the project and its duration should determine what training is needed.
Finally, communication is the most important aspect in building an IT project team. Top management, stakeholders, project managers and their teams must be able to build trust from the start. Both trust and communication go a long way in making sure the project is a success.
