W.10 Project resource management

Human resource management theories

- Motivation theories (Maslow, Herzberg and McGregor) - Covey's 7 habits to improve effectiveness - Daniel Goleman (emotional intelligence and primal leadership)

benefits of resource loading

- When resources are used on a more constant basis, they require less management - It may enable project managers to use a just-in-time inventory type of policy for using subcontractors or other expensive resources - It results in fewer problems for project personnel and accounting department - It often improves morale

Team building activities

- physical challenges - psychological preference indicator tools (Myers-Briggs, Type Indicator, Social Styles Profile, DISC Profile)

Process of project resource management

- planning resource management - estimating activity resources - acquiring project team/resource - developing the project team - manage project team - control resources

Contents of the human resource plan

- project organisational charts - work definition and assignment process - responsibility assignment matrices - staffing management plan (when and how people will be added/taken off project) - resource histogram (column chart showing number of resource assigned to a project over time)

The five dysfunctions of teams are:

1. Absence of trust 2. Fear of conflict 3. Lack of commitment 4. Avoidance of accountability 5. Inattention to results

conflict handling modes

1. Confrontation 2. Compromise 3. Smoothing 4. Forcing 5. Withdrawal 6. Collaborating

Tools and techniques for managing project teams

1. observation and conversation 2. project performance appraisals 3. interpersonal skills 4. conflict management

Resource assignment

After developing a staffing management plan, project managers must work with other people in their organizations to assign personnel to their projects or to acquire additional human resources needed to staff the project

Covey's 7 habits to improve effectiveness on projects

Be proactive Begin with the end in mind Put first things first Think win/win Seek first to understand, then to be understood Synergise Sharpen the saw

Importance of human resource management

Corporate executives argue people are the most important asset - People determine the success and failure of organizations and projects

Smoothing

De-emphasize areas of difference and emphasize areas of agreement - the accommodating approach - best used when the relationship is of high importance and the task is of low importance

Collaborating

Decision makers incorporate different viewpoints and insights to develop consensus and commitment - Even though managers might not agree on a decision, they commit to following it in the best interests of the organization - Task and relationship is of high importance

Confrontation

Directly face a conflict using a problem-solving approach - Allows affected parties to work through their disagreements - Also called problem-solving mode or win/win - When the task and relationship are both of high importance

Issues that arise when there is no conflict

Groupthink: Conformance to the values or ethical standards of a group. Groupthink can develop if there are no conflicting viewpoints - Can limit innovation, boxes team members with a particular viewpoint

Developing the human resource plan

Involves identifying and documenting project roles, responsibilities and reporting relationships

Keys to managing people

Look at past theories extensive research on human resource management

Motivation theories (Maslow, Herzberg and Mcgregor)

Maslow (people's behaviours are guided by a sequence of need) Herzberg, motivation can be distinguished between motivational factors and hygiene factors McGregor X and Y theory (human relation approach to management)

Withdrawal

Retreat or withdraw from an actual or potential disagreement - avoiding approach - the least desirable conflict-handling mode, unless the task and relationship are both of low importance.

Forcing

The win-lose approach Project managers exert their viewpoint at the potential expense of another viewpoint. - If the task is of high importance and the relationship is of low importance, this mode can be very effective.

Project resource management

To identify, acquire and manage the resources needed for the successful completion of the project.

Compromise

Use a give-and-take approach - They bargain and search for solutions that bring some degree of satisfaction to all the parties in a dispute. - This mode works best when both the task and relationship are of medium importance.

motivational factors:

achievement, recognition, the work itself, responsibility, advancement, and growth, which produce job satisfaction

hygiene factors:

cause dissatisfaction if not present, but do not motivate workers to do more. Examples include larger salaries, more supervision, and a more attractive work environment

process: Control resources and stage

controlling and monitoring ensuring that the physical resources assigned and allocated to the project are available as planned, as well as performing corrective action as necessary

process: Developing the project team and stage

executing building individual and group skills to enhance project performance

process: Acquiring resources/project team and stage

executing getting the necessary resources and personnel required for the project

process: Managing the project team and stage

executing tracking team member performance, motivating team members, providing timely feedback, resolving issues and conflicts, and coordinating changes to help enhance project performance

Tuckman model of team development

forming, storming, norming, performing, adjourning

Conflict can be...

good

What does conflict often produce

important results, such as new ideas, better alternatives, and motivation to work harder and more collaboratively

process: Estimate activity resources and stage

planning estimating team resources and the type and quantities of material, equipment and supplies necessary to perform project work

process: Planning resource management and stage and key output

planning stage defining how to estimate, acquire, manage and utilize physical and team resources - human resource plan

Key outputs of acquiring the project team

project staff assignments, resource calendars, project management plan updates

Two ways available to help use project staff effectively

resource loading: - refers to the amount of individual resources that an existing schedule requires during specific time periods - helps PM understand demand of a project on resources and schedules resource levelling: resolving resource conflicts by delaying tasks - The main purpose of resource leveling is to create a smoother distribution of resource usage and reduce overallocation

Research suggests that in terms of conflict...

task-related conflict often improves team performance, but emotional conflict often depresses team performance

Other ways to develop the project team

training and team building activities to help people understand themselves, each other, and how to work better in teams reward and recognition systems (can promote teamwork)

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

(level 1) Physiological (level 2) Social (level 3) Relationships (level 4) Self Esteem (level 5) Self Actualization