Execution & Team Collaboration


  • Roles & Responsibilities (RACI Matrix)
  • Communication Plans
  • Risk Management Basics
  • Virtual Collaboration Tools
  • Conflict Resolution
  • Time Management
  • Agile Stand-Up Meetings

Assigning Roles & Responsibilities

RACI Matrix

Clarifies who does what in a project to avoid confusion:

  • Responsible (R): Does the work
  • Accountable (A): Ultimately answerable
  • Consulted (C): Provides input
  • Informed (I): Needs updates

Example: School Fundraiser

R: Students setting up booths
A: Project manager
C: Teacher advising on logistics
I: Principal receiving updates

Learn more about RACI Matrix 🔗📷

Communication Plans

Defines how, when, and with whom project updates are shared to ensure stakeholders stay informed without unnecessary meetings.

Example Communication Plan:

  • Weekly email updates for sponsors
  • Daily 10-minute stand-up meetings for team
  • Bi-weekly detailed reports for management

Key considerations:

  • Audience (who needs what information)
  • Frequency (how often updates are needed)
  • Channel (email, meetings, reports)

Risk Management Basics

Risk = Probability × Impact

Risk Management Process:

  1. Identify potential risks
  2. Assess probability and impact
  3. Develop mitigation plans
  4. Monitor and control risks

Example: IT Project

Risk: Software bugs delaying launch
Impact: High
Probability: Medium
Mitigation: Test prototypes early

Learn more about Risk Management 🔗📷

Virtual Collaboration Tools

Essential Tools for Teamwork:

  • Slack: Quick messaging and channels
  • Trello/Asana: Visual task tracking
  • Google Meet/Zoom: Virtual meetings
  • Google Docs: Collaborative editing

Best Practices:

  • Establish clear naming conventions
  • Set notification expectations
  • Create dedicated channels/spaces for topics
  • Document important decisions

Conflict Resolution in Teams

Common Causes:

  • Miscommunication
  • Unclear roles
  • Competing priorities
  • Personality clashes

Resolution Strategies:

  • Active listening
  • Mediation by neutral party
  • Revisiting project goals
  • Focusing on interests, not positions

Example: Two team members disagree on design approach
Solution: Facilitate discussion to find common ground based on project requirements

Time Management in Execution

Eisenhower Matrix:

Urgent Not Urgent
Important Do now Schedule
Not Important Delegate Drop

Application:

Urgent & Important: Fix critical bug before launch
Not Urgent but Important: Plan next phase of project
Urgent but Not Important: Answer non-critical emails (delegate)
Neither: Social media browsing (drop)

Agile Stand-Up Meetings

15-minute daily check-ins where each team member answers:

  1. What did I do yesterday?
  2. What will I do today?
  3. What obstacles are in my way?

Best Practices:

  • Stand up (keeps meeting short)
  • Same time every day
  • Focus on progress and blockers
  • Detailed discussions happen after
Learn more about Stand-Up Meetings 🔗📷

Check Your Understanding

In a RACI matrix, what does "Accountable" mean?

Check Your Understanding

Give an example of a project risk and how you'd mitigate it.

Check Your Understanding

Why is a communication plan important in project management?

Key Takeaways

Execution & Team Collaboration

  • Use RACI matrix to clarify roles and responsibilities
  • Develop a communication plan to keep stakeholders informed
  • Identify and mitigate risks using probability × impact
  • Leverage tools like Slack and Trello for collaboration
  • Resolve conflicts through active listening and mediation
  • Prioritize tasks using the Eisenhower Matrix
  • Conduct effective stand-up meetings for team alignment

Homework: Submit a risk assessment worksheet for a hypothetical project