1 Challenges/Trends in Product Development Projects

From experiences in CS 410 and CS 350 we know that collaboration comes with challenges. This is especially true when groups do not work well as a collective unit–especially when members disappear.

Product development is impacted by additional issues:

• Project sizes continue to grow
• Projects are getting more diversified
• Project completion times are getting shorter
• Project team sizes are increasing
• Project costs are being (prorated) reduced
• Project Planning is a large compendium of written documents

2 Why Collaborate?

We spent almost the entirety of CS 410 collaborating. Your team researched a problem domain, built presentations, design a software solution, and (to some degree) started prototyping. At its core, what does collaboration entail?

• Group efforts toward a single goal
• Shared production responsibilities across borders
• Efficient and effective use of diversified resources
• Dedicated group actions

Why is collaboration necessary?

• Project growth requires larger efforts for planning
• Project diversification requires larger staff
• Shorter completions require more concentrated efforts
• Team size growth requires expanded team communication
• Reduced costs demand increased efficiency
• Written documents are beyond a single person’s efforts

2.1 Advantages

• Division of Labor: Increased effectiveness of group members’ activities (divide and conquer)
• Speed: Reduced time in processing (efficiency in numbers)
• Expertise:
  • Effective utilization of multi-disciplines
  • Ability to employ global resources
  • Check on Conditioned Reasoning:
  • Improved quality from multiple reviewers
  • Helps prevent oversight and mistakes
• Synergy:
  • Generates new ideas
  • Clarifies concepts
• Group Learning and Ownership:
• Fosters organizational identity
• Hone skills/expand knowledge
• Control and empowerment
• Potential for reduction in levels of management

2.2 Disadvantages

• “Group Think”
  • Potential to stifle individual qualities/contribution
  • Domineering members can override complacent members
  • May lead to middle-of-the road solutions to satisfy group differences
• Withholding of Effort or Information
  • Resistance to team leader
  • Concern over sharing ideas/receiving recognition
  • Less contribution than in individual environment
  • Group accountability buffers individual accountability

3 Critical Team Values

• Mutual Respect
• Loyalty – to each other, to the effort
• Diversity – complimentary (as opposed to competing) mix of capabilities
• Trust – open/honest/effective communication

4 Team Member Responsibilities

• Listen
• Be open to new ideas and experiences
• Be ready/willing to learn
• Respect others as they respect you
• Be patient
• Don’t always be assertive or competitive
• Don’t always need to be right
• Give everyone special treatment

5 Ideal Collaboration Group Makeup

• Dynamic individuals
• Professional perspective
• Team Player
• Well defined goal
• Diversified group (background and profession)

6 Good Collaboration Method

• Elected team leader
• Agree on a purpose/objective/charter
• Establish a mechanism to foster open communications among all team members
• Develop a schedule and WBS
• Establish overall approach, style guides, formatting and communications conventions
• Assign Tasks
  • Achievable
  • Definitive completion
  • Measurable milestones
• Defined review process
• Document the Collaboration/team approach