Identify five considerations for assembling an effective team and discuss best practices for each

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Answer: 1. How big should my team be? Create teams of three to five people, which are typically more productive than larger ones. Research in teamwork has shown that as teams grow larger, individuals contribute less effort. Appoint an odd number of people to eliminate the possibility of a 50/50 split if the team votes on a decision. Break into subteams to complete different parts of the project if you need more people on a team to complete a more complex project.

2. What are the skills needed to complete this team project effectively? Identify the work that needs to be done and the skills necessary for doing it. For example, if your project involves market research, identify who has experience conducting surveys.

3. Who has the time and resources to contribute effectively to the team project? Ask colleagues with area expertise to join the team or to recommend a substitute. You may have someone in mind, but if that person is too busy to do a good job on your team, get a personal recommendation for an alternative.

4. Who may be most interested in this topic (and therefore motivated to participate)? Consider prior experience and professional development. You may know someone who has worked on the topic before, or you might consider a new employee who you know is eager to learn about the topic.

5. Who is easy to work with? Consider interpersonal skills as well as project-specific skills. To do their project well, team members need more than just skills and knowledge. They also need to know how to work with others and be able to identify, confront, and resolve issues as they arise.