Teamwork: Why Project Teams Should Watch March Madness Together

Written by David Quirk | Mar 29, 2016

It's that time of year again. Spring? Well, yes it is Spring, but more importantly for me, it is time for the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, "March Madness", one of my most highly anticipated sporting events of the year. So, while I wait for the warm weather that Spring in New England promises (but hasn't quite delivered yet) I am thoroughly enjoying the competition, and the non-stop excitement of the tournament. One aspect of March Madness that I particularly enjoy watching is the phenomenal teamwork that is displayed by the top teams. The passing, communication and team defense are a pleasure to watch, as these young men selflessly extend tremendous effort towards one common goal: winning that day's game. Unlike the highest level of professional basketball—the NBA, where a couple stars on a team can carry you to a championship, the college basketball championship is more often than not won with a total team effort. A collection of extremely talented individuals filling their specific role—coach, floor general, emotional leader, scorer, shooter, rebounder, wing defender, etc...and often doing a little bit more than their defined role when called upon…stepping up in big moments…with victory ultimately going to the more complete team.

As I am enjoying the top level of play exhibited by these extraordinary college basketball teams, I can't help but notice the similarities in the teamwork exhibited by these teams, and the teamwork inherent in high performing project teams—leading me to think of some of the great project teams I have been a part of in my Citisoft career. I have been fortunate to work with many consulting 'stars', and have often been impressed by their ability to deliver in the clutch, and 'take over the game' when the situation called for it; however, I have been equally as fortunate, and impressed with the teams that I've been able to be a part of in my ten years at Citisoft. Like successful NCAA teams, the project teams that I have been fortunate to be a part of certainly have been comprised of impressive individuals with varied skill sets (and impressive domain expertise), but it has been the melding of those talents and personalities into winning teams that has been the most fulfilling part for me. As I watch the tournament games, and consider the parallels between these high performing basketball teams and the high performing project teams that I have had the privilege to be a part of in my career at Citisoft, I fondly think back on the successful projects that these impressive teams were able to deliver.

In the spirit of March Madness, I pulled a few of my favorite quotes on teamwork from some college basketball coaching legends, and briefly thought about how they apply to my previous consulting engagements.

Basketball, more than any other sport, is a team game...about the thousands of small, unselfish acts, the sacrifices on the part of the players that result in team building.

– Dean Smith, North Carolina

Major project milestones, and ultimately go-live dates make the biggest project headlines, but the teams I have had the honor of working on in my Citisoft career have fully understood that every task, activity and deliverable contributes to hitting the key milestones, and ultimate project success. No task is ever deemed too small, if it contributes to moving the project forward to completion.

What do you do to help us win when you're not scoring baskets?

– John Calipari, Kentucky

Clearly defined roles and responsibilities are important on every project, but on large-scale initiatives with tight deadlines and even tighter budgets, one-trick ponies need not apply. The abilities (and willingness) of my multi-talented Citisoft teammates to go above and beyond their primary role, has invariably allowed us to do more with less, and ultimately deliver successful project results.

You don't just be a team. You become a team. Through tough games you find that you need each other

– Mike Krzyzewski

At the beginning of a project—just as at the beginning of a basketball season—we define the roles, and pull together the best individual talents whom we know will flourish in their responsibilities. However, just as some of the top basketball teams don't fully come together until mid-season, the best project teams that I've been a part of, start as collections of individual talent, struggle through tight deadlines, changing requirements, and all of the challenges that come with large projects, and emerge as high performing teams that share the battle scars of delivering successful projects to the finish line.

Although a college basketball tournament may not seem too similar to a large-scale technology or operations project at first glance, the primary driver to success is one in the same: assembling talented individual contributors, and melding them into high-functioning teams that represent a force far greater than the sum of their estimable parts.

Happy Spring, and enjoy the rest of the tournament!

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