Human Resource Management


–        Processes required to make the most efficient use of people
–        3 major processes:
•          Organizational Planning
•          Staff Acquisitions
•          Team Development



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–        Keep in mind of transient nature of projects
–        Apply techniques that apply to current project needs
–        Ensure HR compliance with project management activities
–        1,9 manager = good relationship with team
–        Project Organization
•          Conflict between PM and Functional Managers
•          Dual allegiance of team members
•          Complex prioritization of resources
•          Loss of developed procedures on project dissolution
–        Compromise = both sides will lose
–        Delegation
•          Defer the decision
•          Interpreted as passive
•          Emphasize task vs. personnel
•          Can be frequently used
–        If there is a team of experts, PM decisions will promote high satisfaction
–        Functional/Project Managers likely to exercise:
•          Power
•          Authority
•          Influence
–        Traditional organization forms have no single point of contact for client/sponsor
•          Organizational Planning
–        Identifying, documenting and assigning project roles, responsibilities, and reporting relationships
•          Individual and group assignments
•          Internal and external employees
•          Linked with communication planning
•          Inputs to Organizational Planning
–        Project Interfaces
•          Organizational interfaces – formal and informal reporting relationships among organizational units
•          Technical interfaces - formal and informal reporting relationships among technical disciplines
•          Engineers, manufacturers, electrical, etc.
•          Interpersonal interfaces – formal and informal reporting relationships among individuals
–        Staffing Requirements – define skill sets from individual/group in particular time frames
–        Constraints – factors that limit project team’s options
•          Organizational structure (strong vs. weak matrix)
•          Collective bargaining agreements – contractual arrangements
•          Preferences of project management team
•          Expected staff assignments
•          Tools & Techniques for Organizational Planning
–        Templates – reuse a similar project’s role and responsibility definitions
–        Human Resource Practices – corporate policies, guidelines, and practices
–        Organizational Theory – how organizations are structured
–        Stakeholder Analysis – needs of stakeholders are ensured
•          Outputs from Organizational Planning
–        Role and Responsibility Assignments – can vary over time, closely linked to scope definition.  Utilizes a Responsibility Assignment Matrix (RAM) to define responsibility for each item in the Work Breakdown Structure/task list
–        Staffing Management Plan – when and how personnel are included and removed from the project team
•          Resource leveling, reduce transition periods, eliminate “dead time” between assignments, sensitivity to morale
–        Organizational Chart – display reporting relationships
–        Supporting Detail
•          Organizational impact
•          Job descriptions
•          Training needs
•          Staff Acquisition
–        Ensure resources are available for project work
•          Inputs to Staff Acquisition
–        Staffing Management Plan
–        Staffing Pool Description
•          Previous experience
•          Personal interests
•          Personal characteristics
•          Availability
–        Recruitment Practices
•          Tools & Techniques for Staff Acquisition
–        Negotiations with functional managers and other teams
•          Staff utilization and corporate politics
–        Pre-assignment – result of a competitive proposal, or an internal initiative
–        Procurement – outside services are needed (lacking internal skills or availability can not be met)
•          Outputs from Staff Acquisition
–        Project staff assigned
–        Project Team Directory – contact list
•          Team Development – enhancing stakeholders to contribute along with maintaining the project team’s functionality
–        Personal development is the foundation
–        Team members often balance responsibilities to a functional manager and project manager
•          Critical to success of project
•          Inputs to Team Development
–        Project Staff
–        Project Plan
–        Staffing Management Plan
–        Performance Reports
–        External Feedback
•          Periodic measurements of performance
•          Tools & Techniques for Team Development
–        Team-building activities
–        General Management Skills
–        Reward and recognition systems
•          Promote desired behavior
•          Must be achievable; apply to the project
•          Cultural differences recognition
–        Co-location – place members in physical location
–        Training – enhance skills, knowledge, and capabilities of project team
•          Must be factored in cost analysis of project
•          Outputs from Team Development
–        Performance Improvements
•          Individual skills
•          Team Behavior
•          Identify more efficient methods of work
–        Input for performance appraisals
•          Review Guide Tips
–        Roles and responsibilities
•          Project Manger – plan, estimate and schedule of project
•          Team – help prepare the WBS, Network Diagrams, and estimate time for tasks, complete tasks
•          Senior Management – approve Overall project plan, budget and schedule and to approve any changes that are made to those figures
•          The person experiencing the problem must try to solve it themselves as long as means are in their control
–        Powers:
•          Formal (legitimate)
•          Reward
•          Penalty (coercive)
•          Expert (earned)
•          Referent – authority of a higher position
–        Best are Expert and Reward; Penalty is the worst
•          Formal, Reward and Penalty derived from PM’s position within the company
–        Conflict
•          Inevitable consequence of organizational interactions
•          Can be beneficial
•          Resolved by identifying the causes and problem solving by people that are involved & their immediate manager
•          Nature of project
•          Limited power of the project manager
•          Necessity for obtaining resources from functional managers
–        Avoid conflict
•          Informing the team
•          Clearly assigning tasks without ambiguity
•          Challenging and interesting work assignments
–        Conflict Sources (in order of frequency)
•          Schedules
•          Project Priorities
•          Resources
•          Technical opinions
•          Administrative Procedures
•          Cost
•          Personality
–        Motivational Theories
•          Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs – people work to get a chance to contribute and use their skills
•          ‘self-actualization’
•          McGregor’s Theory of X and Y
•          X – people need to be watched every minute
•          Y – people willing to work without supervision
•          Herzberg’s Theory – poor hygiene factors destroy motivation but improving them will not improve motivation
•          Motivating Agents
•          Responsibility
•          Self-actualization
•          Professional growth
•          Recognition
–        Responsibility Charts
•          Matrix – cross references team members with tasks (does not show time – when job is done)
•          Histogram – months vs. number of resources
•          Gantt Chart – shows when staff allocated to tasks
–        Leadership Skills
•          Directive
•          Facilitating
•          Coaching
•          Supportive
–        Team Building Skills
–        Projectized Organization
•          Conflict between PM and Functional Managers
•          Dual Allegiance of team members
•          Complex prioritization of resources
•          Loss of developed procedures on project dissolution
–        Compromise – both sides will lose
–        Delegation
•          Defer the decision
•          Interpreted as passive
•          Emphasize task vs. personnel
•          Can be frequently utilized