Tools and techniques to develop team process in resource management are crucial because they help project managers meet the project objectives within the project’s triple constraints. So, in this article, we’ll discuss 08 tools and techniques for team development in resource management.
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Develop Team Process in Resource Management
Resource management in project management plays a vital role throughout the project life cycle. According to the PMBOK (Project Management Body of Knowledge) 6th edition, it has six processes as follows.
- Plan project resource management
- Estimate activity resources
- Acquire project resources
- Develop project team
- Manage project team
- Control project resource
According to this process, let’s explore what is develop a project team. Developing a team is a crucial process in resource management because it helps you improve competencies, team members’ interaction, and the entire team environment to improve project performance. Furthermore, project managers can improve teamwork, enhance interpersonal and team skills, motivate team members, and improve overall project performance by developing a team. So, let’s discuss 08 tools and techniques needed to develop a team in resource management.
08 Tools and Techniques to Develop Team Process in Resource Management
As a project manager, you can use the following tools and techniques (according to the PMBOK 6th edition) to develop a team in resource management.
Communication Technology
Communication technology is another crucial tool for identifying team development issues or problems in virtual teams and colocated. It helps build a friendly environment for the colocated team and a better understanding of the virtual team. However, as a project manager, you can use different communication technology methods such as video conferencing, audio conferencing, email/chat, or shared portals (example for shared portals: collaboration tools, website, project management software internet).
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Interpersonal and Team Skills
Interpersonal and team skills are another great technique for developing a team. Project managers can ensure effective conflict management, influencing, negotiation, motivation, and team building between team members by using interpersonal and team skills.
- Conflict management – every project manager needs this skill to resolve conflicts in a constructive way because it helps them to enhance a high-performing team.
- Influencing – project managers can use this skill in this process to gather relevant information for addressing crucial issues or problems and reach agreements while maintaining mutual trust.
- Negotiation – as a project manager, you should have this skill because it helps you reach consensus between team members on project needs and build trust among the team members.
- Motivation – this skill is crucial for project managers because it provides a reason for someone to act positively. However, project teams are motivated by empowering them to participate in decision-making and encouraging them to work independently.
- Team building – conducting team activities helps improve the team’s relations and build a collaborative and cooperative working environment. Furthermore, team-building activities help your team members to work together more effectively. However, informal communication and activities can help establish trust and build better working relationships. Typically, team building is essential during the initiation phase of the project. But don’t forget to continue this throughout the project life cycle. As well as regularly monitor team performance to understand if any actions are needed to avoid or correct various team problems effectively and efficiently.
Related Post: Top 10 interpersonal skills for project manager
Individual and Team Assessments
Individual and team assessments are another vital tool because they give the project managers and team members insight into areas of weaknesses and strengths. However, these tools help project managers understand their team members’ behaviors. For example,
- Aspirations
- Preferences
- How do they make decisions
- How they interact with people
- How they process and organize information
Furthermore, this will help project managers improve understanding, trust, and communication among team members and facilitate more productive teams throughout the project. So, the following are some tools for conducting effective individual and team assessments.
- Surveys
- Specific assessments
- Focus groups
- Structured interviews
Project Meetings
As a project manager, you can use meetings to discuss and identify crucial information for developing the team. The project manager and team members are involved in the meetings as attendees. The following are examples of types of meetings.
- Team building meetings
- Team development meetings
- Project orientation meetings
Related Post: 8 reasons why team meetings are important for project collaboration
Colocation
Placing all active team members in the same physical location is crucial because it helps improve their ability to perform as a team. However, this can be temporary. But, colocation helps enhance communication and a sense of community.
Virtual Teams
Project managers can acquire many benefits like reduced costs and less travel and relocation expenses by using a virtual team for developing a team. So, virtual teams can use technology like project management software or collaboration tools to create an online team environment for conducting conversations to discuss issues, storing files, and keeping a team calendar.
Training Facilities
As a project manager, you can provide formal or informal training facilities for developing your team. Here are some examples of training methods.
- Online training
- Classroom training
- Computer-based training
- Mentoring
- Coaching
- On-the-job training from another team members
These are formal training methods. However, informal training may be a great way to develop your team. So, unplanned (informal) training takes place as a result of conversation and project performance appraisals conducted during the management of the project team. Typically, project managers add their training costs to their project budget. Furthermore, this training may help future projects.
Recognition and Rewards
Recognition and rewards are another vital part of the development of the team process. The actual plan for rewarding people is developed during the plan resource management process. However, project managers can make decisions formally or informally while managing the project team.
Furthermore, most team members are motivated by an opportunity to grow, be appreciated, accomplish, and apply their skills to meet new challenges at the right time. On the other hand, it helps project managers stay within the project’s triple constraints. Moreover, a better strategy for project managers is to give the team recognition throughout the project rather than waiting until the project is completed.
Conclusion
Project managers can use tools and techniques to develop team processes, including communication technology, interpersonal and team skills, individual and team assessments, project meetings, colocations, virtual teams, training facilities, and recognition and rewards.
