Applications and Next Steps

The findings have many applications for improving project performance and for initiatives designed to develop project management competencies. A number of these applications are already being made to the various undertakings of NASA's Academy of Program and Project Leadership (APPL).

Findings from the combined studies are being applied to modify NASA's project management training and development initiatives managed by APPL. A training module on project team development leadership functions has been introduced into the training curriculum. The NPTDS has been made available to all NASA projects through a website (http://appl.nasa.gov; Leadership Place; TeamMates Tool). This website will provide projects with an empirically valid and statistically sound tool for assessing key variables in their project's development and performance. The team assessment tool is also being included in a NASA Assessment Center program for project managers, Project Mirror, that mentors and develops new project leaders by identifying specific leadership skills that individuals need and providing them with development opportunities to acquire these needed skills.

This study into superior project team performance is considered an initial step in placing a far greater spotlight into the importance of the team variable. Future studies are needed to generalize these findings to other project disciplines and environments. Further study is needed to determine the nature of team development and group process within the unique and changing world of a project. Most important, project management practitioners and researchers need to take a closer look into the central importance of the team dimension for project success. Project success is dependent on many variables and a high level of professionalism and preparation. The team variable is the foundation for ultimate success.