Project Team Composition: From Ideal Scenario to Organizational Reality

The success of a project does not rely solely on a strong idea, a proven methodology, or efficient tools: it largely depends on the quality and cohesion of the project team. Building such a team is a complex equation involving technical skills, personality fit, shared values, availability, and organizational constraints.

The Ideal of a project team composition

In an ideal world, the project manager would be able to select team members to ensure:

• Accountability: as the person ultimately responsible for success or failure, they should choose the right resources.

• Team chemistry: like a coach or conductor, the project manager seeks complementary profiles capable of effective collaboration.

• Alignment with vision: members should adhere to the project’s values, ethics, and objectives.

The Reality

In most organizations, this power lies with functional managers, who allocate resources based on their own priorities. The project manager may therefore receive team members who do not fully match the project’s needs. Assignments can also reflect internal optimization or political logics (testing a newcomer, removing a difficult profile, etc.). This asymmetry makes it harder to build a coherent team and may weaken performance.

Bridging Ideal and Reality

The project manager can:

• Make the case to functional managers for better alignment between skills and needs.

• Anticipate resource requirements early to give managers time to free up the right people.

• Negotiate organizational rules (e.g., mandatory consultation of the project manager before assignments).

• Train and support team members who are not a perfect fit.

• Provide clear leadership by defining values, rules, and ways of working, even with a partly imposed team.

• Manage risks by planning around available competencies and adjusting scope or timeline when necessary.

A Professionalization Imperative

Finally, project managers themselves must be prepared for this responsibility. Project team composition requires management skills and an understanding of human dynamics. Organizations should therefore train project managers in profile assessment, personality tools, conflict management, and collaborative leadership. This is a key step in professionalizing the role.

Picture : freepik

Want to strengthen your project teams? Contact ClavaConsulting to discover our training on project leadership or for tailored support.