S06 Planning Phase III: Planning the kick off

Question 1

Why do we need a kick off

Answer 1

Members get to know each other
demonstrate managers authority
help people understand objectives
gain support from stakeholders
opportunity to ask questions

Question 2

When do we hold kick off

Answer 2

Small project at the beginning of design or execution phase

Big project at the beginning of each phase

Question 3

what needs to be in place before the kickoff

Answer 3

Agreed objectives
Agreed Budget
Agreed initiation document

Question 4

Have in place before putting a team together

Answer 4

• Project vision;
• Project definition;
• Secured budget;
• Identified job roles and responsibilities;

Question 5

Team formation: Forming

Answer 5

• Most team members are positive and polite. Some are anxious, as they haven’t fully understood what work the team will do. Others are simply excited about the task ahead.
• This stage can last for some time, as people start to work together, and as they make an effort to get to know their new colleagues.
• As leader, you play a dominant role at this stage, because team members’ roles and responsibilities aren’t clear.

Question 6

Team formation: Storming

Answer 6

This is the stage where many teams fail.
• Storming often starts where there is a conflict between team members’ natural working styles. People may work in different ways for all sorts of reasons but, if differing working styles cause unforeseen problems, they may become frustrated;
• Some may question the worth of the team’s goal, and they may resist taking on tasks;
• Team members who stick with the task at hand may experience stress, particularly as they don’t have the support of established processes, or strong relationships with their colleagues.

Question 7

Team formation: Norming

Answer 7

• This is when people start to resolve their differences, appreciate colleagues’ strengths, and respect your authority as a leader;
• Now that your team members know one another better, they may socialize together, and they are able to ask one another for help and provide constructive feedback. People develop a stronger commitment to the team goal, and you start to see good progress towards it;
• There is often a prolonged overlap between storming and norming, because, as new tasks come up, the team may lapse back into behaviour from the storming stage.

Question 8

Team formation: Performing

Answer 8

• The team reaches the performing stage, when hard work leads, without friction, to the achievement of the team’s goal. The structures and processes that you have set up support this well;
• It feels easy to be part of the team at this stage, and people who join or leave won’t disrupt performance.

Question 9

Team formation: Adjourning

Answer 9

• Many teams will reach this stage eventually. For example, project teams exist for only a fixed period, and even permanent teams may be disbanded through organizational restructuring;
• Team members who like routine, or who have developed close working relationships with colleagues, may find this stage difficult, particularly if their future now looks uncertain.