Project Human Resource Management Chapter 9

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Questions and Answers

What strategy do most IT firms employ to manage understaffing?

Hiring temporary workers

Increasing salaries for existing employees

Requiring workers to put in more hours (correct)

Reducing project timelines

What is the first step in Project Human Resource Management?

Acquiring the project team

Planning human resource management (correct)

Developing the project team

Managing the project team

What percentage of IT firms report difficulty in finding new staff?

68 percent (correct)

40 percent

58 percent

75 percent

Which process focuses on enhancing individual and group skills in a project team?

Developing the project team Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of businesses express concern regarding the quality and quantity of IT talent available for hire?

58 percent Signup and view all the answers

What does the letter 'R' represent in a RACI chart?

Responsible Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of a staffing management plan?

To detail when and how team members are added or removed Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes a resource histogram?

A column chart for resource allocation over time Signup and view all the answers

Which statement regarding acquiring a project team is most accurate?

Recruiting the right team members is crucial for project success Signup and view all the answers

What is one method companies use to incentivize employee recruitment?

Providing bonuses for each recruited employee's work hours Signup and view all the answers

Why has enrollment in U.S. computer science and engineering programs significantly decreased since 2000?

A perceived lack of career prospects in technology Signup and view all the answers

What is a key quality of the project manager regarding team recruitment?

They must effectively delegate recruitment tasks Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect is NOT commonly included in a resource assignment plan?

Cost-saving measures Signup and view all the answers

What is considered a key factor in the success or failure of organizations and projects?

Human resources Signup and view all the answers

Which concept relates to managing project team dynamics and improving effectiveness?

Emotional intelligence Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'resource loading' refer to in project management?

Assessing time requirements for resources Signup and view all the answers

Which strategy is mentioned as a proactive approach for organizations to meet workforce needs?

Improving employee benefits Signup and view all the answers

What is a projected outcome in the demand for project management jobs from 2010 to 2020?

15.7 million new project management jobs Signup and view all the answers

What was a significant trend observed in the IT labor market by the end of 2014?

Growth in mobile-broadband subscriptions Signup and view all the answers

What primarily drives intrinsic motivation in individuals?

The enjoyment of the activity itself Signup and view all the answers

What major change did Yahoo's CEO implement in 2013 regarding employee work policies?

Implemented mandatory in-office work Signup and view all the answers

According to Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, what drives human behavior?

A sequence of needs Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is considered a motivational factor according to Herzberg?

Recognition Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect of human resource management aids in team building?

Training and team-building activities Signup and view all the answers

What role does emotional intelligence play in project management?

It aids in understanding and managing team dynamics. Signup and view all the answers

What does project human resource management involve?

Planning, acquisition, and team development Signup and view all the answers

What technology is suggested to assist in project human resource management?

Project management software Signup and view all the answers

What are hygiene factors as defined by Herzberg?

Factors that cause dissatisfaction if absent Signup and view all the answers

Which theory emphasizes that people are motivated by the desire for personal achievements and growth?

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes extrinsic motivation?

Involvement to achieve a reward or avoid a punishment Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of managing people focuses on influence and power?

Leadership dynamics Signup and view all the answers

What does resource loading help project managers understand?

The amount of resources required for a project Signup and view all the answers

What is an implication of overallocation in project management?

Resources are over-assigned for a given timeframe Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a source for identifying best companies to work for?

Harvard Business Review Signup and view all the answers

What is the main purpose of resource leveling?

To create a smoother distribution of resource usage Signup and view all the answers

Which company was recognized by Fortune Magazine as one of the best places to work for in 2015?

Google Signup and view all the answers

What does resource loading indicate about a project schedule?

It might reveal potential resource scarcity Signup and view all the answers

What do researchers suggest organizations should reconsider for IT talent?

Hiring practices and incentives Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes overallocation?

A situation where resource demand exceeds supply Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary benefit of resource leveling in project management?

Enables a just-in-time inventory policy for resources Signup and view all the answers

Which stage in the Tuckman Model of Team Development occurs after norming?

Performing Signup and view all the answers

What is the main purpose of team development in project management?

To help team members work together more effectively Signup and view all the answers

Which Myers-Briggs Type Indicator dimension indicates a preference between being outgoing and reserved?

Extrovert/Introvert Signup and view all the answers

Which group of individuals is most drawn to technology fields according to the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator?

NTs or rationals Signup and view all the answers

What team-building activity is suggested for improving understanding in teams?

Psychological preference indicator tools Signup and view all the answers

In the Social Styles Profile, which two styles may struggle to get along due to their opposing characteristics?

Drivers and Amiables Signup and view all the answers

What impact does resource leveling have on the accounting department?

Reduces the number of problems Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Chapter 9: Project Human Resource Management

Project human resource management encompasses the processes required to use project personnel in a way that optimizes efficiency and effectiveness.
Corporate executives often state "people are our most important asset," highlighting the importance of human resources management in project success.
The global IT workforce is a significant consideration and has implications for future project management.
By end of 2014, almost 3 billion Internet users and 2.3 billion mobile-broadband subscriptions existed.
By 2020, ICT spending is projected to reach nearly $5 trillion.
Project management has consistently ranked high on lists of in-demand skills.
PMI estimates a demand for 15.7 million project management jobs from 2010 to 2020.
Proactive organizations are addressing workforce needs through improved benefits, redefining work hours and incentives, and actively searching for future workers.
2013 Yahoo CEO memo restricted work-from-home policies, causing a stir in the IT community.
Diebold's CEO took the opposite approach, attracting top workers by supporting remote work.
A 2014 report by CompTIA showed a gap between desired IT skills and available talent.
68 percent of IT firms experienced challenges in finding new staff.
58 percent of businesses are concerned about IT talent quality and quantity.
The common strategy to combat understaffing is demanding longer work hours from employees in most cases.

Processes for Project Human Resource Management

Defining project roles, reporting relationships, responsibilities: planning encompasses identifying and documenting these aspects.
Acquiring the project team: involves recruiting and assigning personnel.
Developing the project team: focusing on skills development and team cohesion.
Managing the project team: includes performance tracking, motivation, feedback, conflict resolution, and change management.
Planning involves developing a resource plan.
Executing: includes acquiring team members and updating project plans.
Monitoring and controlling: involves managing the team, updating project plans, and managing organizational assets.

Key Concepts for Managing People

Motivation theories are crucial as psychologists and theorists have heavily researched this area.
Influence and power: understanding these concepts is essential for project management.
Emotional intelligence plays a key role in managing people effectively.
Leadership styles impact project outcomes significantly.
Herzberg's Motivational and Hygiene factors theory is a crucial theoretical building block for project human resource management.
Motivation factors (achievement, recognition, work itself are associated with job satisfaction).
Hygiene factors (salary, supervision) avoid dissatisfaction but do not necessarily improve motivation.

Techniques to Encourage Teamwork

Covey's 7 principles: Be proactive, Begin with the end in mind, Put first things first, Think win/win, Seek first to understand then to be understood, Synergize, Sharpen the saw
Emphatic listening and rapport: essential for project managers who need to develop rapport with team members.
Emotional Intelligence: project managers may want to use this to better empathize with and understand team members.

Tools for Team and Project Management

Project management software assists in managing tasks related to human resources, assignments, potential shortages or underutilization, and leveling resources.
Responsibility Assignment Matrix (RAM) maps work to responsible individuals.
Resource Histograms display resource allocation over time.
RACI charts (Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, Informed) define roles and responsibilities for project tasks.

Conflict Management in Teams

Conflict management: managing conflicts that arise within the team or between members.
Various conflict-handling modes include confrontation, compromise, smoothing, forcing, withdrawal, and collaboration.
Conflict can be positive if focused on tasks and issues.
Emotional conflict, however, can negatively affect project performance.
Several project team dysfunctions include absence of trust, fear of conflict, lack of commitment, avoidance of accountability, and inattention to results.

General Advice for Project Managers

Project managers should be patient and kind.
Focus on resolving issues instead of blaming people.
Establish efficient and regular project meetings.
Teams may need time for basic development.
Limit team size.
Plan social activities and foster a sense of team identity.
Encourage team members to help each other.

Project Team Essentials

Acquiring qualified team members is crucial.
Effective project managers can recruit individuals who are suited to the roles and timing requirements.
Good staffing plans and incentives are essential for recruiting and retaining quality talent.
Good practices are often demonstrated by successful companies featured in magazine lists or online.
Resource allocation: resource loading assesses the requirements for resources over time. Overallocation occurs when more resources are assigned than are available.

Resource Leveling

Resource leveling allows delaying or accelerating tasks to adjust resources.
Its goal is smoother resource utilization to reduce over-allocation and achieve more balanced workload distribution.

Team Development Techniques

Tuckman model of team development (Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing, Adjourning)
Training and team-building activities foster understanding and collaboration. Tools like the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), social styles profiles, and DISC profiles provide useful insights into individual personality or social preferences.

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Description

Explore Chapter 9 of Project Human Resource Management, which emphasizes the processes essential for optimizing project personnel. Understand the significance of human resources in project success and the projections for IT workforce demand in the future.