Unit 5: Understand the principles of leadership and teamwork

Question 1

5.3

Describe 2 benefits of effective team work

Explain 3 characteristics of an effective team

Answer 1

Benefits

Improved motivation - the team members feel a sense of purpose and belonging through the achievement of previous positive output results reached as a team. This sense of purpose and belonging will allow the team members to thrive, working as efficiently as possible.

Good problem solving - Open communication leads to excellent team problem solving skills through the sharing of ideas, knowledge, and experience which results in discovering ways to overcome problems.

Characteristics

Clear roles and responsibilities
Effective teams have clear roles and responsibilities based on their skills. The PM allocates tasks based on skills and ability in effective teams and each team member knows where they fit in and what is expected of them.

Open Communication
Effective teams have clear and open communications resulting in the team understanding each others activities and discussing any problems arising to resolve quickly and efficiently.

Common Goals
Effective teams share a common goal communicated to them by the PM. By having a common goal, they work together to deliver the project outputs and objectives.

Question 2

5.4 - Explain 3 challenges a PM faces leading a virtual team

Answer 2

Leading a virtual team can bring challenges such as:
Difficult to build deep relationships and trust virtually than it is in person.
Difficult to detect the first signs of conflict developing resulting in managing and resolving conflict being delayed until it builds up to be more detectable virtually.
Difficult to feel part of a team due to lack of office / informal conversations that happen naturally over a coffee break.