DREAM Teams – Project Team Principles

Sunday 30 January 2011 - Filed under Communication + gaps + GTD + project management + Teams

When building project teams, remember that DREAM Teams are winning teams. DREAM stands for Decision Makers, Representation, Expertise, Ability and Manageability.

Decision Makers – Involving decision makers (management) on project teams is essential, but projects represent additional burden on already limited schedules. Most decision makers understand the need for their participation and will embrace decision-point activities when demands on their time are respected, planned for and efficiently coordinated with their other duties. In cases where management appoints a “decision delegate” [entrusting limited decision-making authority], it is imperative that all guidelines/parameters surrounding the extension of trust be followed implicitly. A project is not a license to assume/abuse authority. Any extended decision-making authority must be officially/openly expressed and outlined in the project documentation.

Representation – Appropriate stakeholder representation is key to the success of any project. Project stakeholders include anyone affected, anyone responsible for people and/or areas affected, management and those charged with the completion of the project. Stakeholder representatives act as agents of all stakeholders and have a duty to ensure that the needs of the many are reflected in the activities of the few.

Expertise – The inclusion of appropriate SMEs (subject matter experts) assures that the right knowledge, skills and expertise are brought to bear on project objectives/solutions.

Ability – Project teams need members with the ability to carry out their individual tasks. A person’s ability is not only demonstrated by his or her talents and skills, but also his/ her “avail-ability.” For teams to perform successfully they need the opportunity and the “cap-ability”.

Manageability – Project management is not possible if the team is not manageable. Limiting the size of project teams increases manageability and allows for more projects to proceed. Furthermore, managing how often, how long and how many team members are involved in each activity buys back valuable time, allowing more work to proceed simultaneously.

How to leverage the DREAM acronym…
When assembling teams, ensure they have all the needed ingredients. A successful project DREAM Team…
D. (Decision Makers) ... includes the involvement of the appropriate decision makers or their delegates.
R. (Representation) … has appropriate stakeholder representation.
E. (Expertise) …has the needed expertise.
A. (Ability) … consists of those with the ability to devote themselves to the team and the project.
M. (Manageability) … is manageable when it is the right size with the right people in the right places.

2011-01-30  »  Russ Leseberg