| > | | | | experience has been. |
| Project managers and those associated with projects | | | | The closer your score is to 14, the greater the |
| typically like to measure things. You use words like | | | | likelihood any projects you manage in the future will |
| tons-per-day; cubic-feet-per-minute; | | | | be no more successful than any you have had in the |
| megabits-per-second; and so on. Here is a new one | | | | past. You probably tell the facilitator how much time |
| for you. Would you be interested in knowing the | | | | they can have, what you want on the agenda, and |
| team building success potential index (TSPI) of your | | | | then second-guess them as they try to provide the |
| next project? If so, here is a non-scientific, but very | | | | service you want. It is unlikely facilitators are eager |
| pragmatic, way to predict it. | | | | to do more than one project with you. Think about |
| Project managers and those associated with projects | | | | this: how would (or do) you like the client telling you |
| typically like to measure things. You use words like | | | | how to run the project even though they are paying |
| tons-per-day; cubic-feet-per-minute; | | | | you to do it? You can bet the facilitator feels the |
| megabits-per-second; and so on. | | | | same way! |
| Here is a new one for you. Would you be interested | | | | Score of 22-28 = A score in this range indicates you |
| in knowing the team building success potential index | | | | have more willingness than the 14-21 group to |
| (TSPI) of your next project? If so, here is a | | | | consider there may be better ways to approach the |
| non-scientific, but very pragmatic, way to predict it. | | | | use of a project facilitator. There may have been |
| Select a response for each statement that is closest | | | | enough situations in your past project experience for |
| to your true feelings. When you finish, sum your | | | | you to consider alternatives to the traditional process |
| scores, and use the reference table at the end to | | | | (see the 14-21 group comments above), but it will be |
| determine your next project's TSPI. | | | | difficult for you to actually do it because old habits |
| 1 = agree strongly 2 = agree somewhat 3 = disagree | | | | are hard to break. |
| somewhat 4 = disagree strongly | | | | Although your project's potential for successful team |
| 1.___ From a project standpoint, there is no useful | | | | building is still low, there is hope if you will consider |
| difference between these phrases: "The work | | | | giving the facilitator your "scope" of desired team |
| project people do" and "the project people who do | | | | building outcomes like the client gives you in the |
| the work". | | | | project scope. Tell them as specifically as you can |
| 2. ___ Project people who are paid well should be | | | | "what" you want delivered because of their efforts |
| expected to work well. | | | | and let them figure out the "how". This takes a little |
| 3.___ The "storming phase" of a project's team | | | | of the project load off of your shoulders and allows |
| development is inevitable. | | | | them to use their specialized skills. Your answer to |
| 4.___ Team building facilitators are best used in | | | | question 11 means a lot in this case. We discuss your |
| planning and leading kick-off meetings and being | | | | answer later. |
| available if a project gets stuck in a development | | | | Score of 29-42 = Scores in this range indicate one of |
| phase. | | | | two probabilities. You are:a. New to project |
| 5. The nature of a project's matrix organization will | | | | management and have not had time to bury your |
| nearly always cause these typical problems:a. ____ | | | | open-mindedness in the concrete of |
| Team members with little or no project focus.b. | | | | "the-way-we-have-always-done-it" or,b. Your projects |
| ____ Team members with decreased motivation.c. | | | | have been so painful you are willing to try anything |
| ____ Team members with decreased creativity and | | | | that may bring relief. |
| thinking "outside the box".d. ____ Project | | | | Either one does not matter as much as that you find |
| management having to monitor the individual | | | | a facilitator who can answer this question to your |
| performance of the members.e. ____ Team | | | | satisfaction, ""How, specifically, would you design a |
| members lacking goal alignment with the project's | | | | team building process for the duration of our project |
| management. | | | | that would make team members want to work |
| 6.___ The different education levels found on a | | | | together on another project as soon as possible?" |
| project nearly always lead to communication barriers | | | | Score 43-56 = Scores in this range suggest a high |
| between members. | | | | probability of successful team building on your project |
| 7.___ Dissimilar personal values are inherent on a | | | | because many of your answers were "3" or "4". This |
| project causing performance to suffer somewhat. | | | | means you disagree with much of the conventional |
| 8.___ Technical specialists on a project ought to | | | | wisdom about project team characteristics. A score |
| know how well they are doing and not have to have | | | | in this range also means you are somewhat of a |
| someone tell them. | | | | maverick in the PM world because you realize the |
| 9.___ Friction between professional, support, and | | | | path to a successful project is through the hearts of |
| craft employees is embedded in projects because of | | | | the team members: not through their heads. You |
| their diverse backgrounds. | | | | understand their heads tell them what their job is but |
| 10.___ Project "success" means the client is satisfied | | | | their hearts tell them why they should care about |
| and we got paid. | | | | doing more than just enough to get by. |
| 11.___ You can do things the way you always have | | | | Your selection of a facilitator is more focused on a |
| and still expect different results. | | | | strategy to help team members develop |
| Your TSPI is the total of scores on questions 1-10 = | | | | professionally and personally while on your project |
| _________. | | | | instead of just doing what they are paid to do. |
| Score of 14-21 = There is little potential for enduring | | | | Your project team building success potential is the |
| project team building success over the life of the | | | | highest of all --congratulations! |
| project. Your projects will have difficulty getting out | | | | Note: There is a glimmer of hope for you if your |
| of the forming stage and once into "storming", it will | | | | score was less than 28 only if you answered |
| never really subside. There will always be an | | | | question 11 with a 3 or 4! This indicates you are sane |
| undercurrent of dissention regardless of how it | | | | enough to realize that expectations of different |
| appears on the surface. | | | | results require different ways of doing things. If you |
| There may be some evidence of "norming" and | | | | answered with a 1 or a 2, you also fail when making |
| "performing" in isolated pockets but it will not be | | | | New Year's resolutions because you do not seem to |
| consistent through the entire project. It will be very | | | | realize that you can't do things the way you always |
| difficult for you to consider any team building process | | | | have and expect different results! |
| that differs in any respect to what your past | | | | |