A SITUATIONAL APPROACH TO PROJECT TEAM MANAGEMENT – ITS NECESSITY AND RELATED PRACTICAL AND APPLIED ASPECTS

Abstract

Nearly all research work on the personality traits and the management style of a project manager is universal in its nature and postulates conclusions and generalisations that are not adapted to the particular situation in which a project is being implemented. The aim of this paper is to suggest that project team management requires a situational approach that is consistent with the type of project executed. To this purpose, some key professional and personality traits of project managers are examined and several typologies are presented: 1) a typology of project managers – explorers, coordinators, drivers, and administrators; 2) team leadership models– hierarchical, team leader, team coordinator, shared leadership, and self-managed teams; 3) a typology of projects – 13 types of projects grouped in four categories. The paper also presents some options for choosing a project manager and a management model which are consistent with the specific nature of a project, including the stage of its life cycle.