PMI’s San Francisco Bay Area Chapter Presents Remote Project Teams by: Joan Knutson, President PM...

PMI’s

San Francisco Bay Area Chapter

Presents

Remote Project Teams

by:

Joan Knutson, President

PM Guru Unlimited

by:

Joan Knutson, President

PM Guru Unlimited

Teams aren’t cohesive

just because you say they are.

You have to work at it,

especially remote teams.

Teams aren’t cohesive

just because you say they are.

You have to work at it,

especially remote teams.

Schedule

Quality

Resources

Teams

Remote

Global

Virtual

Distance

CriteriaCriteria

Different

• country . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

• state / province . . . . . . . . .

• city / town . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

• campus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

• building . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

• floor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

• cubicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Different

• country . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

• state / province . . . . . . . . .

• city / town . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

• campus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

• building . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

• floor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

• cubicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

YES NO

Topics

Cohesive, Productive Remote Teams

Topics

Cohesive, Productive Remote Teams

Difficulties

8 Guidelines

Difficulties

8 Guidelines

Logistics DifficultiesLogistics Difficulties

Geography

Travel Time

Time Zones

= Coordination

= Lost Work

= Scheduling

Organizational DifficultiesOrganizational Difficulties

Protocols

Not Invented Here (NIH)

Language

Winner / Loser

Ownership

Slang / Acronyms

Cultural DifficultiesCultural Difficulties

Etiquette

Language

Norms

Insensitivity

Misunderstanding

Inappropriateness

Difficulties Result InDifficulties Result In

Incorrect assumptions

Unfounded fears

Overreaction creating bureaucracy

Impatience to follow processes

Incorrect assumptions

Unfounded fears

Overreaction creating bureaucracy

Impatience to follow processes

Topics

Cohesive, Productive Remote Teams

Topics

Cohesive, Productive Remote Teams

Difficulties

8 Guidelines8 Guidelines

Difficulties

8 Guidelines8 Guidelines

#1 Be Sensitive to Culture#1 Be Sensitive to Culture

Think before speaking

Ask if appropriate

Share if inappropriate

Research likes and dislikes

Conduct seminars

Co-locate teams

Make expatriate assignments

Think before speaking

Ask if appropriate

Share if inappropriate

Research likes and dislikes

Conduct seminars

Co-locate teams

Make expatriate assignments

Culture is the acceptable protocol relative to how one behaves and communicates.

#2 Orchestrate Face-to-face Meetings#2 Orchestrate Face-to-face Meetings

What they look like

How they hold their heads

Their hot buttons

What makes them laugh

Their kids, pets ...

Personal “inside” stories

What they look like

How they hold their heads

Their hot buttons

What makes them laugh

Their kids, pets ...

Personal “inside” stories

No amount of money is too much.

#3 Provide a Consistent Communication Protocol#3 Provide a Consistent Communication Protocol

Schedule

• same day

• same agenda

Held on time

Same reports

Accessible project database

Schedule

• same day

• same agenda

Held on time

Same reports

Accessible project database

What a remote team needs most is stability.

#4 Establish Roles and Responsibilities#4 Establish Roles and Responsibilities

Within context of team

Relative to tasks in WBS

Within context of team

Relative to tasks in WBS

Who am I?

Who are you?

What do I do?

What do you do?

#5 Isolate Single Point of Contact#5 Isolate Single Point of Contact

Receive message

Filter

• handle

• forward in batch mode

Feedback to sender

Follow-up to closure

Receive message

Filter

• handle

• forward in batch mode

Feedback to sender

Follow-up to closure

Should everyone at every location be encouraged to talk to everyone at every other location?

#6 Initiate “Inclusive” Celebrations#6 Initiate “Inclusive” Celebrations

Cut the cake(s); champagne

Trinkets

Picture bulletin board

Chain letter

Bartholomew

Cut the cake(s); champagne

Trinkets

Picture bulletin board

Chain letter

Bartholomew

One of those intangible ways that energize teams to be cohesive.

#7 Educate on E-Mail, Teleconferencing, Videoconferencing

#7 Educate on E-Mail, Teleconferencing, Videoconferencing

Teleconferences

Video conferences

Webcasts

E-mail

Teleconferences

Video conferences

Webcasts

E-mail

Provide the best technology and associated training available.

#8 Add Time & Money to the Project Plan#8 Add Time & Money to the Project Plan

To . . .

Set up protocols

Have teams contribute

Take trips

Pay for technology

Use gimmicks

Remote

Global

Virtual

Distance

SummarySummary

Topics

Cohesive, Productive Remote Teams

Topics

Cohesive, Productive Remote Teams

DifficultiesDifficulties

8 Guidelines8 Guidelines

DifficultiesDifficulties

8 Guidelines8 Guidelines

DifficultiesDifficulties

Logistics• geography• travel time• time zones

Logistics• geography• travel time• time zones

Organization• protocols• NIH• language

Organization• protocols• NIH• language

Culture• etiquette• norms• language

Culture• etiquette• norms• language

Difficulties Result InDifficulties Result In

Incorrect assumptions

Unfounded fears

Overreaction creating bureaucracy

Impatience to follow processes

Incorrect assumptions

Unfounded fears

Overreaction creating bureaucracy

Impatience to follow processes

8 Guidelines For Managing Remote Teams

8 Guidelines For Managing Remote Teams

1. Be sensitive to culture

2. Orchestrate face-to-face meetings

3. Provide a consistent communication protocol

4. Establish roles and responsibilities

5. Isolate single point of contact

6. Initiate “inclusive” celebrations

7. Educate on e-mail, teleconferencing, etc.

8. Add time and money to the project plan

1. Be sensitive to culture

2. Orchestrate face-to-face meetings

3. Provide a consistent communication protocol

4. Establish roles and responsibilities

5. Isolate single point of contact

6. Initiate “inclusive” celebrations

7. Educate on e-mail, teleconferencing, etc.

8. Add time and money to the project plan

Teams aren’t cohesive just

because you say they are.

You have to work at it,

especially remote teams.

Sorry . . .Sorry . . .

No singing contest this No singing contest this year, maybe next year.year, maybe next year.

Questions & CommentsQuestions & Comments

Joan KnutsonJoan Knutson

PM Guru UnlimitedPM Guru Unlimited

1 (866) 4-PM-Guru1 (866) 4-PM-Guru

jk@joanknutson.comjk@joanknutson.com

www.joanknutson.com

Speaker, Consultant, Courseware DeveloperSpeaker, Consultant, Courseware Developer

Copyright © 2005 PM Guru Unlimited