IT SOFTWARE PROJECT MANAGEMENT: IMPACT OF TEAM COHESIVENESS ON PRODUCTIVITY AND PERFORMANCE

The efficiency of IT projects and, in particular of those that are software intensive, is determined by the productivity of the projects team members. A large number and variety of researchers have proved that team cohesiveness has a major impact on productivity. This paper analyses the determinants of team cohesiveness, the impact of project goals and specific factors, e.g. team size, challenges or exclusivity, available to project managers for use in enhancing the desirable team effects. This paper also points out however, the inevitable dangers and the potentially, negative influence, which a strongly coherent team may have on project team productivity. In summary this paper will analyze the bottom-up relationship between all of the elements, from actions encouraging team cohesiveness up to software project performance. An awareness of this relationship led to the project management methodology of L-Timer (TM) presented at this conference.