The Challenges

Introduction

Challenge 1 - Integration of Tasks and Teams
Business projects need to be integrated into on-going business activities and other projects through work breakdown structures that show the task relationships. In addition, the team relationships (that overlay task relationships) are needed to keep track of who needs to see what task.

A key element of team relationships is ensuring that one and only one person is responsible for each task and each action. Without this discipline, it is literally impossible to manage accountability through a complex changing web of projects, tasks, teams and individuals.

Challenge 2 - Team Relationships and an Individual's view
Each individual wants to see task information from their perspective. The graphic on the left below shows the person in the middle is involved in four tasks each with a task team. So their task view would show the four tasks. In the real world, an individual will be involved in many teams with some team members being involved in other teams. The graphic on the right shows how even a relatively small number of people can generate complex team interrelationships. Presenting tasks based on task team membership ensures that everyone only sees the tasks that are relevant to them.

Challenge 3 - Balancing Task Breakdowns and Action Lists
Too many task breakdowns make tasks difficult to understand. Action Lists for each task identify the actions required to complete a task. Team members find that an Action List for a task is easier to understand (get their mind around) than a series of breakdowns.