Issue 8 – Part-time Project Team Members
Having part-time resources on the project may be the riskiest issue
In hindsight, this may be the riskiest issue even on straightforward projects. Nonetheless, in reality, part-time project members are quite common. This is when a team member has other work responsibilities, typically in the functional area of the project. These resources can dedicate only agreed time to your project. This in itself is not an issue. It is when the person does not report directly to you but also to a functional manager in their department that causes the project risk.
Don’t get me wrong. I absolutely sympathize with part-time project team members. The problem is not the part-time team member, it’s the part-time assignment that increases project risk. The part-timer is trying to keep everyone happy and is constantly juggling the demands of both roles. As the project manager, you must work with both the functional manager and part-time team member to prevent added risk. An agreement can be instituted before the part-time team member begins its work.
Written Agreement
Forget about being uncomfortable with an agreement. If your culture allows for it, you might wish to get a commitment in writing from both the functional manager and part-time team member. There is no guarantee that the part-time resource will not get pulled away from your project to complete functional work. Nonetheless, a signed written agreement minimizes the risk. You, the project manager can use this agreement if it becomes necessary.
Communication
When a part-time team member is doing their “normal” job the full-time team members are solving problems, exchanging information and making decisions. It behooves the project as a whole to have a communication plan for the whole project team. Larger projects may use a push method of communication with an intranet, smaller projects should keep an up-to-date status and issue reports to bring the part-timer up to speed.
Clear Expectations
Let’s break up this blog with a bit of humor. Here’s a scene from Office Space. If you have ever worked in an office this is a must see...
Ok, now that we’ve gotten that out of our system….Many times part-time project resources spend their time on work that is straightforward and unambiguous. The project manager must create a clear-cut set of responsibilities and expectations. The greater detail, the better to enforce productivity in the part-timer.
Team Building
A prerequisite for managing a part-time team member is to create a cohesive and content project team. Project Managers must facilitate the part-timer’s fit-on on the team. Nurture relationships to ensure the success of the part-timer’s fit on the team.
A prerequisite for managing a part-time team member is to create a cohesive and content project team. Project Managers must facilitate the part-timer’s fit-on on the team. Nurture relationships to ensure the success of the part-timer’s fit on the team.
In a perfect world, you will have enough full-time resources to make-up the difference. Even so, a signed agreement, clear responsibilities, communication and distributed knowledge will still play a large role in managing part-time team members. In general, a full-time project team member will be better than a part-time member. The four tactics above can lessen the risk of the project.
Next in this blog series is Changes in the Environment. Stay tuned folks and thanks for your comments.
