Chapter 9: Managing Project Resources

adjourning

The last of the five stages of the Tuckman ladder. Once the project is done, either the team moves on to other assignments as a unit or the project team is disbanded and individual team members go on to other work.

authority power

Project management team members may have authority over other project team members, the ability to make decisions, and the authority to sign approvals for project work and purchases.

coercive power

The project manager has the authority to discipline the project team members. This is also known as penalty power.

collaborate/problem-solving

This approach confronts the problem head-on and is the preferred method of conflict resolution. Multiple viewpoints and perspectives contribute to the solution.

collective bargaining agreement constraints

Contracts and agreements with unions or other employee groups that may serve as constraints on the project.

competency

This attribute defines what talents, skills, and capabilities are needed to complete the project work.

compromising

This approach requires that both parties give up something.

expert power

The project manager's authority comes both from experience with the technology the project focuses on and from expertise in managing projects.

forcing power

The person with the power makes the decision.

formal power

The project manager has been assigned the role of project manager by senior management and is in charge of the project.

forming

The first of the five stages of the Tuckman ladder, in which the project team meets and learns about their roles and responsibilities on the project. Little interaction among the project team happens in this stage as the team is learning about the project and project manager.

halo effect

The tendency to judge a person with one observed positive characteristic as having other positive characteristics even though the characteristics are not, in fact, related.

Herzberg's Theory of Motivation

Frederick Herzberg's theory of the motivating agents and hygiene agents that affect a person's willingness to excel in his career.

hierarchical organizational chart

A chart showing the relationship between superior and subordinate employees, groups, disciplines, and even departments.

issue log

A logbook of the issues the project team has identified and dates as to when the issues must be resolved by. The issue log may also include team members or stakeholders who are responsible for finding a solution to the identified issues.

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

Abraham Maslow's theory of the five needs all humans have and work toward.

McClelland's Theory of Needs

A theory developed by David McClelland that states that our needs are acquired and developed by our experiences over time. All people are, according to this theory, driven by one of three needs: achievement, affiliation, or power.

McGregor's Theory of X and Y

Douglas McGregor's theory that states management views workers in the Y category as competent and self-led and workers in the X category as incompetent and needing to be micromanaged.

multicriteria decision analysis

A method to rate potential project team members based on criteria such as education, experience, skills, knowledge, and more.

norming

One of the five stages of the Tuckman ladder, in which project team members go about getting the project work, begin to rely on one another, and generally complete their project assignments.

organization chart

A traditional chart that depicts how the organization is structured by department and disciplines. This chart is sometimes called the organizational breakdown structure (OBS) and is arranged by departments, units, or teams.

Ouchi's Theory Z

William Ouchi's theory is based on the Japanese participative management style. His theory states that workers are motivated by a sense of commitment, opportunity, and advancement.

performing

One of the five stages of the Tuckman ladder. If a project team can reach the performing stage of team development, they trust one another and work well together, and issues and problems get resolved quickly and effectively.

political interfaces

The hidden goals, personal agendas, and alliances among the project team members and the stakeholders.

RACI chart

A matrix chart that includes the activities of responsible, accountable, consult, and inform.

referent power

The project team personally knows the project manager. Referent can also mean that the project manager refers to the person who assigned him the position.

resource breakdown structure (RBS)

A hierarchical chart that can decompose the project by the type of resources used throughout it.

resource management plan

A plan that defines staff acquisition, the timetable for staff acquisition, the staff release plan, training needs for the project team, any organizational compliance issues, rewards and recognitions, and safety concerns for the project team doing the project work.

responsibility

The work that a role performs.

responsibility assignment matrix (RAM)

A chart that shows the correlation between project team members and the work they've been assigned to complete.

reward

The project manager has the authority to reward the project team.

role

Denotes what a person is specifically responsible for in a project. Roles are usually tied to job titles, such as network engineer, mechanical engineer, and electrician.

smoothing

A conflict resolution approach that smooths out the conflict by minimizing the perceived size of the problem. It is a temporary solution, but it can calm team relations and boisterous discussions.

storming

One of the five stages of the Tuckman ladder, in which the project team struggles for project positions, leadership, and project direction. The project team can become hostile toward the project leader, challenge ideas, and try to establish and claim positions about the project work. The amount of debate and fury can vary depending on whether the project team is willing to work together, the nature of the project, and the control of the project manager.

technical interfaces

The resources that will be doing the project work. The project team identifies the disciplines and specialties that the project will require to complete the project scope statement.

Vroom's Expectancy Theory

A theory that states that people will behave based on what they expect as a result of their behavior. In other words, people will work in relation to the expected reward.

withdrawal

This conflict resolution method sees one side of the argument walking away from the problem, usually in disgust.