The eLearning Center for Gatlin Education Services

The title of this course, How to Develop (or Save) a Project Team, may sound like it is trying to cover two completely different concepts at the same time. “How can you discuss developing and saving a project team in the same course?” is a reasonable question. If you consider there is a strong possibility that the reason a team needs saving is because it was not developed correctly in the first place, it makes sense to take this approach.

We will look first at how to develop a team from scratch for a new project. Then we will assume you have been called in to rescue an existing one that is sinking. Once you understand the elements necessary to develop a productive project team, your first analysis of the problem can be looking for the extent to which these elements are present (or not!)

There is a high probability there are not many. If this is the case, introduction of these elements will begin to stabilize the team.

The objectives of this course are to help the participant realize there are specific elements of organization, leadership, and human motivation that must be present to have a project workforce develop from a group of individuals assigned to a project to become a team working together for the common good.

The classic study in organizational behavior, The Hawthorne Effect, is provided to demonstrate how vital, yet simple, and easy it is, to create a team of motivated employees. Participants will have checklists to use in assessing the nature of organizational, leadership, and employee development opportunities that can help a project workforce become a team.

Also, a diagnostic team survey is provided if someone is assigned to “saving” an existing team that will help him or her pinpoint specific organizational, leadership, and workforce issues for attention in the salvage effort.

The student must take a multiple-choice quiz consisting of twenty-five (25) questions at the end of the course to obtain PDH credits.

State Board Acceptance

This course can be used by professional engineers to fulfill PDH requirements mandated by state and provincial licensing boards. Decatur Professional Development is an approved provider of continuing education in all states that pre-approve course providers. In all other states that mandate continuing education for engineers, it is the individual engineer's responsibility to determine the suitability of activities for PDH credit. The state boards typically accept online* courses that cover technical, managerial** or ethical content and which are relevant to the practice of engineering. The course must have a clear purpose or objective with a content that will maintain, improve or expand the skills and knowledge of the licensee's field of practice. For questions about your mandatory PDH requirements, visit the website of your state licensing board.

*Online courses are accepted by all state licensing boards that mandate continuing education. Other than New York (which limits online courses to 18 PDH) and Iowa (which limits online courses to 6 PDH), there are no limits placed by other states on the number of hours that can be earned through online continuing education. Consult with your state licensing board if you have any questions about the acceptability of online courses.

**The New York State Board of Engineers does not accept general office management courses, but will accept project management courses that are offered by an approved provider and that are technical in nature and contribute to the engineer's professional practice.

Please Note: Continuing Education credits for this course are awarded as PDH (Professional Development Hour Credits).