Define team ground rules

Enablers

• Collectively define ground rules.
• Communicate ground rules with team members. (ECO 1.12.1)
• Establish an environment that fosters adherence to ground rules. (ECO 1.12.2)
• Manage and rectify ground rule violations. (ECO 1.12.3)

Deliverables, and Tools

Team Charter

The team charter is a document that enables the team to establish its values, agreements, and practices as it performs its work together.

A good team charter should include:

• The team’s shared values.
• Guidelines for team communications and the use of tools.
• How the team makes decisions.
• How the team resolves conflicts when disagreements arise.
• How and when the team meets.
• Other team agreements (such as shared hours, improvement activities).

Ground Rules

Ground rules are defined as setting clear expectations regarding the code of conduct for team members.

Ground rules include all actions that are considered acceptable and unacceptable in the project management context.

Benefits:

• Sets performance and communication expectations
• Decreases risk of confusion
• Improves performance

Negotiation Skills

Negotiation includes team discussions aimed at reaching agreement.

Teams might negotiate:

• Roles and responsibilities
• Priorities
• Assignments
• Deliverables

All team members should develop good skills in negotiation among themselves and with other stakeholders as required.

Communication Between Internal and External Team Members

Regular communication with stakeholders outside of the team will enable:

• Collaboration between team and external teams or stakeholders
• Team charter should include communication protocols:
  • For internal team members (team meetings, shared calendars, etc.)
  • For external stakeholders to generate feedback, manage dependencies, and ensure alignment

Team Norms

Establish expected behaviors of the team at the beginning of the project.

Enable teams to handle challenges as the project progresses.

Team norms should include:

• Meetings
• Communications approaches
• Managing conflict
• Shared values
• Decision-making

Conflict Management

Application of one or more strategies to deal with disagreements

Effective conflict management leads to improved understanding, performance, and productivity

Ineffective conflict management leads to:

• Destructive behavior
• Animosity
• Poor performance
• Reduced productivity

Use various conflict resolution methods

Brainstorming

A facilitator works with the team to identify a series of potential solutions to a given problem.

Then performs various types of analysis to assist the team in selecting the most appropriate alternatives.

Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct

Guidelines to Manage and Rectify Ground Rule Violations

• In the team charter, the ground rules are established.
• Violations of the team’s ground rules, the team and the project manager should assess opportunities for remediation.
• For serious violations, removing or replacing the offending team member may be required.
• Team needs to focus on its core values that include accountability, shared expectations, and transparency where appropriate.