Hut, Hut… Wait!

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Forming a team to research and solve a problem is the right thing to do in the face of a challenge, but it isn’t always the right approach to every situation. To get the best possible results, individuals must ask themselves, “Is a team appropriate at this time?”

Unfortunately, when people assume the answer to that question is yes, without thoroughly considering things like requirements, goals, resources, and time, they start the team building process right away – ultimately planning an imperfect strategy before they even get started.

This article poses five questions you should ask before creating a team.

Requirements

Does your project really require a team? This is perhaps the most important question you’ll ask.  We all value collaboration and teamwork – but they don’t have to go together. There’s a big difference between putting people on a team, and asking them to help on an as-needed basis. Perhaps the latter strategy could be a better fit for your problem. 

Goals

Is the goal clear? Never form a team when a goal isn’t crystal clear. A team can develop a problem statement and solve a problem, but they can’t apply that statement or solution to a goal that isn’t clearly defined.  Once a goal is clear, you can continue on.

Resources

Will the team have the resources they need to succeed? If not, will you be the person to provide those resources? Teams are effective when they know what they have to work with. That includes skills, budget, time, support and more. A lack of resources could push teams toward creative, out-of-the-box solutions, however it’s a risk. A lack of resources could contribute to frustration and low productivity as well.

Importance

How important is your problem? Not all projects or problems are created equal, so you might want to consider your situation’s importance before dedicating those resources.  Think about your overall plan and see where the problem fits into your big picture. Then ask yourself, “Does this problem have to be solved now? What would happen if its solution were delayed?”

Time

Is there time? It can take a lot of time to form a team, especially if you’re working on a large project.  Is there time for all that, relative to the need for a solution or answer? To get an idea of just how much time it takes to form an outsourcing team, check out “Preparing the Outsourcing Team.” 

Through that link, you’ll learn even more about the team building process and whether or not it’s a feasible strategy for you. Then check out our Outsourcing Collaboration Tool for a database management approach should you decide the answer is, “yes.”