Understanding the Roles and Responsibilities of a Project Team
The importance of defining the roles and responsibilities of each member within a project team cannot be overstated. Properly defining the roles of each member is critically important for proper management of the progress of the project, successful communication throughout the project life-cycle, accountability for performance, and clarity of who is in charge of making decisions at different points in the project.
When forming a project team, a Project Manager (PM) is responsible for clearly allocating responsibility and authority to each member, based on the unique skills and abilities of the individuals on the team. The roles and responsibilities may be broadly divided into the following categories:
Leadership: The Project Manager is responsible for guiding the team towards successful completion of the project. The PM generally has the greatest knowledge of the project objectives, scope, and timeline, and thus is ultimately accountable for the projects success or failure. The Project Manager also sets project priorities, addresses conflicts within the team, monitors schedule and budget, and acts as the sole point of contact between the team and external stakeholders.
Planning and Execution: The project team is responsible for developing a plan for the project, outlining the objectives and activities necessary to achieve them. Depending on the size of the project, this plan may require sub-plans from team members to focus on specific aspects of the larger project. Team members involved in planning also develop budgets and timelines for the project, ensuring accuracy and inefficiency.
Collaboration: The project team is responsible for making sure that all team members are working together towards a common goal. Collaboration is especially important for multi-disciplinary teams, where coordination between different areas of expertise can be challenging.
Monitoring and Reporting: The project team is responsible for monitoring the progress of the project, reporting on any deviations from the plan, and adjusting the plan accordingly.
In summary, each member of a project team has a important role to play, and it is essential that guidelines are in place to ensure that each of these roles is understood by all. The responsibilities described above may vary, depending on the size of the project, the complexity of the task, and the size of the team. However, a solid understanding of the roles and responsibilities of each member is essential in order to ensure a successful project outcome.
