Effective Team Planning for Water Resources Management
This overview covers the essential components of assembling and managing an effective water resources team. Key topics include identifying team member qualifications, understanding the circles of influence, and addressing potential obstacles. A structured planning agenda is presented, emphasizing the establishment of ground rules, diverse perspectives, and stakeholder representation. Participants will learn about the roles of team members, the importance of trust, and methods for overcoming challenges. With a focus on collaboration, the course aims to enhance the skills necessary for successful teamwork in water resource management.
Effective Team Planning for Water Resources Management
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Presentation Transcript
Lecture Overview Introduction • Planning agenda • Requirements • Team member selection • Circles of influence • Obstacles and solutions • Summary
Experience Teamwork Knowledge Planning Approach Building a Team • Requirements of a Water Resources Team • Assembling the team • Roles of team members • Challenges to effective teams • Summary
The Planning Agenda • Identify needs • Establish ground rules and responsibilities • Develop shared interests • Define the status quo • Formulate creative strategies • Evaluate the tradeoffs • Achieve closure To achieve these tasks, both individual skill and teamwork are required.
The Team Will Control the Quality of the Plan Produced
Planning Requires Participation • Water managers • Stakeholders • Endorsers • Experts
Assembling the Team Remember • Diverse perspectives broaden the view • Stakeholder representation is required • Good chemistry is invaluable
Questions in the Selection of Team Members • Will their endorsement of the plan be required? • Will they play a role in enacting the plan? • Will they be impacted by the plan? • Can they impede the plan? • Do they possess skills, expertise, or a perspective that is needed in the planning process?
Qualifications of Planning Participants • Time to commit to project • Experience and expertise • Representational authority • Open-minded • Good team player • Self-motivated
Determining the Roles of Team Members Teams can function in different ways, roles are often determined by organization, e.g. • Chain of command • Modified mayhem • Caucuses and working groups
A B C D Circles of Influence A framework to coordinate different modes of DPS participation. • Circle A: those who do most of the planning • Circle B: representatives from each major water use sector • Circle C: representatives from each user group, management agency, and advocacy group • Circle D: agency heads and elected officials
Potential Team Obstacles • Key individuals don’t participate • Key team members don’t deliver • Lack of resources • Inequitable access to information • Lack of trust among team members
Promising Solutions Stepping stones that bridge obstacles • Provide incentive to participate • Provide incentive to succeed • Establish a common information base • Work collaboratively to achieve common goals
Early Warning Signs That a Team is not Working • One point of view dominates • Important decisions are not made • Expenditures are not related to progress • Little compromise emerges • Milestones are not met on time • Process dominates products
When a Team Does Not Work • Identify team accomplishments • Discuss difficulties and lack of progress • Reorganize team structure • Reallocate resources
If This Fails • Hire a mediator • Bring in independent experts • Reframe problems • Declare success
Summary • Team formulation is critical in planning. • Appropriate individuals must be identified and encouraged to participate. • Circles of influence offers a framework for coordinating roles and responsibilities. • Obstacles to team effectiveness must be identified and solutions pursued.
