PMAL 205: Project Teams and Leadership
(23S-C-2G)
Group 6
Team Members
Nidhi. (229576630)
Jagpreet Kaur (229579770)
Keshav Dev Singh Pawar (229578510)
Brijesh Lakhiya (229572020)
Mohammad Hamza Habib (229572220)
May 30, 2023
Team Case Study 1- Part 1 (Online)
Prof. Ashish Gupta
Team selection is a crucial aspect of project management as shown in Figure 1 of the case study also, and
the success of any project relies heavily on the composition of the team. In this essay, we explored the key
factors influencing decision-making in team selection, examines the potential political issues that can
arise, recommends five team members for Raef's project, and evaluates Raef's effectiveness in team
selection.
Key Factors for Raef in Decision-making:
Raef should first focus on expertise and skills as these play a pivotal role. Also, Raef must ensure that
each team member possesses the necessary knowledge and capabilities required for the project's
successful execution. Additionally, experience is crucial. Evaluating candidates' relevant professional
backgrounds and track records of successful project delivery can help Raef identify individuals with the
expertise needed to excel in their respective roles. Compatibility and collaboration are equally important
factors. Raef should prioritize team members who can work well together, fostering a positive and
cooperative environment like here Alison was found to be very enthusiastic which can lead to keeping the
team environment energetic and happy. This enhances productivity and synergy within the team, enabling
effective communication and collaboration. Diversity is another critical aspect to consider which by
seeing the Raef plan for selection is seen clearly. By incorporating individuals with different perspectives,
backgrounds, and ideas, Raef can enhance creativity and problem-solving within the team. A diverse team
can bring a range of innovative solutions to the table and offer different viewpoints, leading to better
decision-making.
Political issues in team selection:
While team selection should ideally be free from politics, it is essential to acknowledge the potential
political issues that can arise which is clearly seen in the case study where Rae Beth Merson in her talk
somehow was trying to convince Raef to select Simon and Philips in the project. In this way, politics can
introduce biases and hinder the selection of the most qualified individuals. For instance, personal or
organizational relationships may influence the decision-making process, leading to the selection of
individuals based on favouritism rather than merit. External pressures, such as undue influence from
stakeholders or superiors, can also compromise the team selection process. Therefore, to ensure fairness
and transparency, it is crucial to establish clear selection criteria based on objective measures of
qualifications and competence. Implementing a structured selection process, including interviews,
assessments, and reference checks, can help mitigate the impact of political factors. Apart from this, the
person interviewing the candidate should not know the candidate personally in any way whether it be
direct or indirect.
According to us, the following team members should be chosen for the team:
1. Alison: Although Alison has less work experience but the enthusiasm which she is having is very
good for the team. As this project is new to all which no one has ever done before so many times
the time will come when people will be losing hope, getting tensed so this kind of one person will
help to cheer all. Apart from this her high motivation to learn new things and not running away
from hurdles is much required in a good team.
2. Elroy: His work experience of 22 years will be increasing the efficiency of the team. His
belonging to the product manufacturing team will be a plus point as he can give much better ideas
on how to manufacture the product at a cheaper price without investing much in it and making
maximum profit from it by keeping in mind the reputation and standard of the company.
3. Daniel Swenson: He is also having a lot of experience in the design field which is an asset for the
team. Apart from experience, he is a young person who is very innovative and in his past record
because of his innovative ideas got funds from government bodies also. This having funding from
the government proves his value to be in the team as having been funded by the government
really needs to be innovative. His way of asking for somewhat freedom showcases his leadership
qualities which we think if every member of the team has then that team can overcome any
problem much more efficiently and fastly.
4. Margaret Sobel: Her 18 years of design prototypes is the perfect experience for the team. She
had also led a team for consecutive 3 years in her career so will be much more understanding of
the budget, timelines, and scope of the project and will prove to be a good helping hand for Raef
also.
5. Billy Brown: His experience in material buying will help to collect the raw material at a cheaper
price, saving a lot of money. His 32 years of experience in the same company will also prove to
be beneficial as he will be having good contacts in the company which will help in the project if
needed at any point in time.
Evaluating Raef's Effectiveness:
Choosing or creating a group or team requires a complete mindset which looks towards balance and an
equal amount of behaviour with everyone so that it doesn’t create any kind of discrimination. Moving
further to the main thing, the way Raef selected a project team is very impressive and he also smartly
collected a group of skilled and confident people as well. He thought of making a team where all the mates
equally think about making a positive and successful output of the project allotted. He was very specific
about his choices and choose the group mates accordingly. Also, to make this thing of team selection got
even more specific as he also asked plenty of questions to the candidates just to make his mindset clear and
to know whether the person is having any interest in the job or not, which ultimately brought confidence to
Raef that he choose and made a very superior group where he proudly assembled every kind of person who
was equally talented in different working areas and was able to build a diverse team. This team was free
from political influences and biases. So according to us, Raef made a good team.