Purpose of a programme or project team
The programme or project team ('the team') is a group of individuals with appropriate and complementary professional, technical or specialist skills. Under the direction of the programme manager or the project manager, the team is responsible for carrying out the work detailed in the programme or project plan. The size and makeup of the team will depend on the nature of the work being undertaken and, on occasion, may be supplemented by specialists at key points in the programme or project. It may also include staff from different organisations working together as part of the team.
Teams working in a programme environment will tend to need less technical but more business and management based skills and experience than those working in a project environment.
Specific responsibilities of the programme or project team
The team is collectively responsible for:
- assisting the programme or project manager to deliver programme or project objectives
- carrying out the elements (within their technical expertise) of the programme or project they are tasked with
- providing administrative support to the programme or project manager and Senior Responsible Owner (SRO) - perhaps through the setting up and resourcing of a programme or project management office
- advising the programme or project manager if any risks arise that are likely to affect delivery of programme or project objectives and to be part of the risk reduction process
- providing information for programme or project documentation
- producing programme or project products as planned to the required level of quality and to timescales
Skills and attributes needed to be a team member
The team should be able to:
- provide technical expertise in support of delivery objectives
- understand the overall business aim of the programme or project and how their expertise contributes to that aim
- understand and apply recommended programme and project management standards such as Managing Successful Programmes (MSP), PRojects IN Controlled Environments2 (PRINCE2), Management of Risk (MoR)
- maintain the programme or project documentation in line with the quality and configuration plans