Project Teams: Mining Collective Intelligence

The project leader is ultimately responsible for ensuring that the project team works effectively as a group and is able to manage the “triangle of relationships” – the complex dynamic of relationships between the individual, the project manager, and the project team. This course develops the skills necessary to understand the research-grounded theory of group dynamics and teaches the skills to create and maintain group cohesion, facilitate group problem-solving, and manage the most common challenges to effective group functioning including a lack of cohesion, the onset of Groupthink, and dealing with virtual teams.

Leading a project team is a core responsibility of a project leader; learn how to get the most out of this critical resource.

This course is anticipated to be approved for approximately 6.0 Professional Development Units (PDUs) from the Project Management Institute (PMI).

Who Should Take This Course?

This course is essential for Project Management Professionals (PMPs), project managers, and functional managers charged with leading a cross-functional or project team to success. It is appropriate for business leaders, mid-level managers, and project managers who need to learn the critical leadership skills necessary to ensure the high performance of a project team.

Course Format

eCornell takes a problem-based approach to learning, and our courses are built around realistic case studies and scenarios. All courses are self-paced, and are facilitated by an eCornell instructor, who leads the online discussions and is available to answer any questions about the course content.

This course contains the following modules:

• Defining and Describing Teams
• Stranded!
• Characteristics of a Team
• Processes and Challenges for Project Teams
• How Teams Develop
• Creating Cohesion and Work Socialization
• Group Facilitation Skills
• Common Challenges for Project Managers and Their Teams
• Final Discussions

Benefits to the Learner

Learners who complete this course will be able to:

• Build a cohesive and effective project team
• Understand how and when to “mine” the collective intelligence of the team to better cope with complexity, difficulty, and ambiguity

Authoring Faculty

Frank J. Wayno, Ph.D., Senior Lecturer

Sponsoring School

Cornell University’s College of Engineering

Total Learning Time

Approximately 6 hours over a period of two weeks.

Certificate Information

This course can be applied toward the following certificate:

• Project Leadership

HRCI Recertification

This course been approved for six (6) recertification credit hours toward PHR, SPHR, and GPHR recertification through the Human Resource Certification Institute. Please contact the Human Resource Certificate Institute (HRCI) for further information about certification or recertification.

This course qualifies for 6.50 Professional Development Units (PDUs) from the Project Management Institute (PMI) for Professional Project Managers (PMPs) seeking ongoing education and professional development for continuing certification. eCornell is a Global Registered Education Provider of PMI. PDUs are designated as Category 3.

Project Management Institute Professional Development Units