All Terrain Thinking

A Compendium of things I think are Important

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The 'Whole Brain' Team

Kathleen Melymuka

Veteran project managers say that great project teams include individuals with complementary talents that go beyond IT skills. Here are some classic individual work styles that could help make yours a "whole brain" team.

• • The Architect thinks of options for how things could be done. He never stops at the first solution; he raises and ponders many possibilities. Without him, the team may jump on the first good idea and never consider a better one.
  
  
• • The Facilitator helps the team get to closure. He can present the pros and cons of the architect's various ideas and add insights to help the group narrow the choice. Without him, team members may separate into opposing camps.
  
  
• • The Devil's Advocate is the iconoclast, the troublemaker, the questioner. He forces the group to defend its direction. Without him, the team can too easily fall into groupthink.
  
  
• • The Big-Idea Guy comes up with the "out there" solution. He fuels the brainstorms and enables the team to take leaps of faith. Without him, the team may miss opportunities for important breakthroughs.
  
  
• • The Anchor is a stickler for process, procedure and cold reality. He knows what will and won't work and what can and can't get through the bureaucracy. Without him, the team may get carried away with a big idea that's not feasible.
  
  
• • The People Guy understands how typical users behave. He provides reality checks for the team by envisioning how people will use what the team creates. Without him, the team may create an elegant product that users hate.
  
  

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