When it comes to an ideal project team, it's all subjective in the sense of what industry it's in or what product/service the company is trying to provide. So depending on the industry or product, I'd want team members with prior experience in that respective industry. So if I'm in the medical device field, I'd want marketing and engineering team members who've had prior experience within medical devices. Marketing and R&D are probably the most involved in the whole NPD process, so experience in these areas would be best. Project management involves a lot of documentation so specifically, I'd want all team members to be able to stay organized and follow the project timeline. Also as you stated, communication is key in project management, so having project team members be able to handle programs such as skype, outlook, etc. is a must. All team members should be easy to get a hold of.

I totally agree with Robert and jvv6 regarding the ideal project team. Apart from that all the team members should be open to new ideas. Its always better to have people from different fields in a team which brings about a diversity in the work culture. As a heterogeneous team generates the best ideas. At the same time the team members must embrace any difference of opinions within the team to make sure it doesn't affect the progress of the project. Procrastination must be avoided at all costs because that is something that doesn't make a truly great team. Sharing of the ideas and resources openly and willingly with the team members always make things work.

As a project manager, I believe the ideal team would be comprised of someone who is a technical expert, an expert on the regulatory processes of the industry, and someone who is an expert on the jargon and contacts in the industry. As the project manager, I would bring everyone together but each one of these skills would be vital to the team. Usually, in industry, they believe they can train anyone on the technical side of the business but I really believe that there is no substitute for formal education so it is vital to have a technical expert who has knowledge well above the average amount you would find in the company. Every industry has regulations and each team needs someone to keep them honest and in line with industry standards. Lastly, I said you need someone to be an expert on the jargon and contacts in the industry because no matter how good your idea is, if you are not diplomatic and have no contacts, it wont get picked up or continue to be funded. Its a full time job to know who to call and when to call and no company is completely isolated. It depends on many others to have optimal performance.

If I was a project manager and putting together a successful project team, I would be mainly concerned with 3 key skills: area of expertise, teamwork compatibility, and their ability to successfully communicate their ideas to the rest of the team/ outside agencies.

As jvv6 mentioned, my team would have a much diversified background when it came to not only their scientific expertise, but their social upbringing as well. This would allow a vast array of personal experiences to be drawn upon so that a more unique and specialized solution could be realized. In addition, teamwork is imperative throughout the duration of the project(s). Only when this seemingly trivial work place skill is mastered can the team truly realize their creative potential and maximize efficiency. If a rift developed within a project group, the results would be disastrous for both the contractor and the project tea. Lastly and most importantly, communication is critical in project situations. There must be effortless, constant, and effective throughout the process. This will ensure everyone is on the same page and that ideas are able to bounce around freely within the group and be built upon by everyone. If there was ever a breakdown in communication, team members would be left in the dark regarding the progress of the project and what further needed to be done. I feel effective communication is what separates a proficient project team from a renowned project team.

David

When it comes for a ideal project team, I first rely on the communication and leadership skills. Since this is a major thing which is essentially drives a team. Without this a defined path for a project is not set in. When the leadership and communication is good among a team, a the team gets motivated and they execute the teamwork in best way. If the technical skill is not proficient among the team members, it would be hard but it does't mean that they couldn't complete the project. The only thing they need is the time which can be achieved by communicative skill of a leader. But the efficiency will be reduced. The second thing is the technical skills. Without which the project can't execute in a efficient way. People who are weak in technical skills can develop it but it will be time consuming. So consumption of time is reduced by keeping a accomplished team of technicians.

My dream team would be selected based on personal traits and drives under the notion that technical skills are less important because they can be learned while personal skills need time and nurturing to be developed. These would be the types of traits I would look for: The person is . . .

Responsive to change. Rather than reactive; someone who anticipates a change and strategizes how to accommodate it.

A good compromiser. Teammate and/or customer and/or FDA conflicts can be quickly and efficiently resolved and not slow down project development.

Not overly melodramatic. Some project scopes can be overwhelming and, even with good time management skills, the closing phase can still seem urgent and rushed therefore the person must not easily crack under pressure.

Busy. Benjamin Franklin said, "If you want something done, ask a busy person.”

And most importantly diligent. They genuinely have to care about the project and customer.

Inspiration:

https://www.liquidplanner.com/blog/4-ways-to-be-a-more-responsive-and-less-reactive-project-manager/

I think a good team consists of:

A sponsor. At the end of the day, you need to submit your project. The project sponsor is the person that reviews the results of your project and checks and makes sure that the requirements are fulfilled.

Knowledgeable project manager who is really on top of everyone's duties. He or she must be able to provide the leadership necessary to get the project done on time as well as efficiently. One of the main goals is to create a charter that aligns the goals of the project to the strategic goals of the business. Also, they must foresee any issues and try to mitigate any obstacles.

Subject Matter Expert. This is the person that is very knowledgeable in whatever the area that the project is concerned with. This person is typically the person that all administrative level individuals go to should they need assistance with their tasks.

Dedicated staff. These are the people that work downstream on the task at hand. They do the technical tasks that drive the project forward. This is the main driving force in the project. Without the proper personnel and staff, the project will not move forward.

My personal experience as a coordinator of a program at NJIT (non-medical).

I would prefer a team who actually is passionate about the project. As a coordinator, I am responsible for 50 students and 6 tutors. My entire project depends on my tutor's ethics, time management, and their reports. If I do not not get a report within a certain time period, I am delayed in generating a comparative analysis report of the 50 students, this results in a delay of their grants, holds on their accounts, and potential sponsorship for outside internships etc.

So when I interviewed the tutors that would be the core of my entire program, I made sure they actually wanted the job. I looked at their background, maturity level, ability to work in a team, and their ability to understand the needs of those students and write a report on their findings. I had to take out 2 tutors form the program who seemed to be the best fit for the job due to lack of passion or time management.

The overall point I would like to make is, yes your team should be hardworking, dedicated, and be able to work together. But one team does not fit all. Sometimes you have to add or remove certain team members to get the best possible result. In many cases, a team member may not have the background knowledge in eletronics and that person might be able to produce the best results. On the other hand, an eletronics person who lacks time management and communication skills may produce no results and cost you time and money. Lastly, my approch to a team would be speak with each team member prior to assigning them a task because this initial process, if done correctly can save everyone time and complete the project.

I agree with everyone’s answers. However, I disagree that specific members are necessary to have a successful team. I think it’s more important to have specific qualities within team members.
Overall, I believe that people should have:
Management – members should be able to properly allocate resources such as time and money. Money would be lost when these thing are wasted and that, in turn, makes the project more expensive.
Leadership – there must always be a leader to a group that will guide them through the project. People must also be able to step up when their project mates are lagging in their work.
Knowledge in subject matter – members must be well-versed in the scope of the project. This will allow for the development of a good product that factors in the requirements needed and for unforeseen factors that the team may come across with as the project is further developed.
Knowledge in related fields – members must be familiar with subjects related to the project in order to solve problems that may arise from the development.
Creativity – members must be able to think outside the box in order to created innovative products. Creativity in members may also stimulate the other members to think differently and may allow them to solve problems faster through the newly discovered process
Hard-working – members must be willing to put in the work and offer late nights and extended hours to finish the project when things need to be done

I tend to agree with sentiments shared above. And I do especially agree with Myton and Hiren's responses.

I believe that there should be a hierarchy of sorts.
Starting with a knowledgeable and communicative manager. Someone who understands the strengths and weaknesses of their team members. And is capable of positioning their team member in such a way as to utilize their talents and approach success.
Next, their needs to be technical experts. Without sufficient technical knowledge, projects can become stagnant and problems insurrmountable. I also believe that a diverse team of technical experts can help to overlap areas of expertise in approaching projects. Finally, there needs to be people with knowledge of regulations and specifications that need to be met. These individuals can help to discern that the goals of the project are being met as described in documentation and according to the regulations of external agencies.

From my own personal experience, the qualities that have been the largest determinant of the success of a project have been technical knowledge, diligence, and communication. All three are vital to success as it is impossible for any individual to know everything, and when information is not readily known, it is critical to be able to search it out (through research or experimentation). And communicating all of that to each other is vital.

I agree with everyone's post. However, I believe communication and the ability for the team to work under pressure is a key to a successful team. You can form a power team of expertise with different backgrounds, but their ability to work and synchronize together is very weak. Every team member should have the open mind to adapt to other views and to alter his or her own views to what best work for the entire project. Working under pressure is crucial and specifically in the medical device's industry, where things and conditions can change drastically and rapidly depending on many factors.

I agree with most of the participants in these posts on what should be an ideal project team consists of. If I were to be a project manager, communication skills is the number one skill I would look for. Also with communication skills is teamwork, and area of expertise is different areas of the industry.

Communication skill is important to carry out a successful project. It’s so essential that if team is not communicating well or a problem arises, the entire project could end up in a loss wasting time and money. Also, with communication, comes leadership. A successful project manager must be able to provide leadership and correct guidelines to meet the customer needs and the strategic goals of the business.

Technical knowledge is the area of project is really important. Also known as the Subject Matter Expert (SME). He or she helps the team with knowledge in the area that the project in related to. SME’s also helps the executive people during audits if they require assistance.

All in all, project manager must be able to provide the correct assistance to his or her team and motivate the team on getting the project done accurately and efficiently.

You make a great point Shachi. A team with cross filed knowledge would definitely be advantageous. Often times ideas come from those with different perspectives. In companies where there is little variety, projects may not come to effective solutions. Temporary solutions are often arrived at, but constantly need adjustment. A diverse team can split responsibility and have the PM delegate these responsibilities.

As previously stated by many participants, communication, knowledge, and hard working are all essential for a successful team for a project. In my opinion, in addition to these skills a team should be passionate and have synergy. A knowledgeable team is not successful without passion for what they are doing, even if they get the job done. A team with great communication and documentation is not successful without synergy. It means that they are not dependable for multiple projects. A team that works well together and is motivated makes even the most challenging of projects feasible.