Creating team project plans

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Abstract

Chapter Two of the book The Wilder Nonprofit Field Guide to Developing Effective Teams describes best practices for creating project plans for teams that have specific projects with start and stop times.

Issue

Creating project plans in a cooperative, team-based manner increases the ownership each team member has in the plan's successful completion. It can also help the team flesh out details, clarify goals, roles, and responsibilities.

Action

Steps to take when creating team project plans include:

Restate goals and priorities before beginning the planning session to be sure everyone understands and agrees upon them.
Brainstorm milestones, including all the steps members feel are necessary to reach the goal.
Estimate time and resources needed to complete the tasks.
Have team members sign up for each task that suits them best.
Gather a list of concerns and assumptions to avoid surprises.
Compile the completed plan and distribute the list to all members.
Review the plan once it is completed and include any other tasks needed.

Citation

Gilbertsen, B. and Ramchandani, V. The Wilder Nonprofit Field Guide to Developing Effective Teams. Saint Paul, Minnesota: Amherst H. Wilder Foundation, 1999. pp. 32-34.

Posted On

July 11, 2000

For More Information

Resources

From The Resource Center library:

The Wilder Nonprofit Field Guide to Developing Effective Teams

Item number: R1086

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Keywords:

Start-up

Staff

Volunteer management