This chapter covers key concepts related to Project HR Management.
The knowledge area of Project HR Management consists of the following processes -
HR Management Processes
Process
Project Phase
Key Deliverables
Develop Human Resource Plan
Planning
Human Resource Plan
Acquire Project Team
Execution
Project Staff assignments
Develop Project Team
Execution
Team performance assessments
Manage Project Team
Execution
Change requests
Develop Human Resource Plan process involves identifying and documenting project roles and responsibilities. The table below gives the inputs, tools and techniques, and Outputs for the Develop Human Resource Plan process -
Develop Human Resource Plan Process
Inputs
Tools and Techniques
Outputs
Enterprise environmental factors
Organization charts and position descriptions
Human resource plan
Organizational process assets
Organizational Theory
Activity resource requirements
Networking
Acquire project team process involves identifying and obtaining the team necessary to execute the project. The table below gives the inputs, tools and techniques, and Outputs for the Acquire project team process -
Acquire project team process
Inputs
Tools and Techniques
Outputs
Project management plan
Pre-assignment
Project staff assignments
Enterprise environmental factors
Negotiation
Resource calendars
Organizational process assets
Acquisition
Project management plan updates
Virtual teams
Develop project team process involves improving the competencies of the team members and improving teamwork between the team. The table below gives the inputs, tools and techniques, and Outputs for the Develop project team process -
Develop project team process
Inputs
Tools and Techniques
Outputs
Project staff assignment
Interpersonal skills
Team performance assessments
Project management plan
Training
Enterprise environmental factors updates
Resource calendars
Team-building activities
Ground rules
Co-location
Recognition and rewards
Responsibility Assignment Matrix (RAM) defines who does what. The Staffing
Management Plan defines when will people get added and removed from the project.
A Project Manager may yield authority over the project team in one of the following ways -
Referent - project team knows the PM
Formal Power - Power due to Project Managers position
Technical Power - Project Manager has strong technical skills in the projects domain.
Coercive Power - The project team is afraid of the power the Project Manager holds.
Conflicts in the team are caused due to the following reasons in decreasing order of occurrences.
Schedules
Project Priorities
Resources
Technical Opinions
So the most common cause of conflicts in projects are issues related to schedules.
Conflicts are best resolved by those in the team.
There are standard conflict resolution techniques available to resolve conflicts. These are (from
best to worst) -
Problem Solving or Confrontation (look at the facts, analyze them and find a solution). This is an example of win-win situation.
Compromising (Find the middle route). This is an example of loose-loose situation.
Withdrawal or Avoidance
Smoothing (Emphasize the agreements)
Forcing (Do it my way). This is an example of win-loose situation.
The process of problem solving has these steps -
Define the cause of the problem
Analyze the problem
Identify solution
Implement a decision
Review the decision, and confirm that the problem is solved.
Manage project team process is the process of tracking team member performance and managing issues within the team. The table below gives the inputs, tools and techniques, and Outputs for the Manage project team process -
Manage project team process
Inputs
Tools and Techniques
Outputs
Project staff assignments
Observation and conversation
Enterprise environmental factors updates
Project management plan
Project performance appraisals
Organizational process assets updates
Team performance assets
Conflict management
Change requests
Performance reports
Issue log
Project management plan updates
Organizational process assets
Interpersonal skills
War room is a technique for team building. As part of this the project team meets in one room.
It helps to create a project identity.
Halo Effect is the assumption that because the person is good at a technology, he will be
good as a project manager.
There are many organizational theories. Some of the main ones are - Expectancy Theory, McGregory Theory,
Herzberg Theory, Maslow's Hierarchy of needs.
Expectancy Theory - People accept to be rewarded for their efforts. This is a motivation factor.
People put in more efforts because they accept to be rewarded for their efforts.
McGregory Theory of X and Y - There are two type of employees. Employees of type X need to be
always watched. They cannot be trusted and need to be micro managed. Employees of type Y, on the other hand,
are self-motivated. They can work independently.
Herzberg Theory - Hygiene factors (salary, cleanliness etc.) if not present can destroy
motivation. However good hygiene alone does not improve motivation. What motivates people is the
work itself. The motivation factors for employees include responsibility, self-actualization,
growth, recognition etc.
Maslow's Hierarchy of needs - there are various levels of needs for an employee. When
a lower level is met, employee attempts to reach the next higher level. The maximum satisfaction is
achieved when the employee reaches the highest level of satisfaction - self-fulfillment. These level
of needs from the highest to lowest are -
Self-fulfillment
Esteem
Social
Safety
Physiology
Questions on Project HR Management knowledge area are available in Questions by Topic.