Abstract

Project teams have become the basic work units for most enterprises, but there are tough challenges, as illustrated by notable project failures featured in the media in recent years. A recent Quality Progress survey revealed a conflicting picture of project team effectiveness. The survey probed five areas vital to project success: project alignment and goals, resources and staffing, training and development, rewards and recognition, and senior executive team. Responses show that many projects are not well managed, contributing to poor performance that could compromise the organization's competitiveness. Moving project teams to higher levels of performance calls for an integrated approach that addresses leadership, process discipline, the performance system, and interpersonal dynamics.