Social Issues in IT Project Teams

Abstract

The role and impact of social issues in IT project teams should not be underestimated. With the involvement of virtual project teams, this is even more relevant. One such social issue is the establishment of relationships between members of teams. The establishment and maintenance of social relationships and networks in the IT project environment is a phenomenon all IT professionals are exposed to and in many cases involved in. The question is what impact such social relationships and networks might have on the success or failure of any given IT project. The objective of this chapter is therefore to emphasize the important role social relationships and networks play in the IT project team environment and furthermore, to illustrate to the management of software project teams how such relationships can have a positive or negative impact on team members. In this regard, a climate or culture should be allowed for these relationships to flourish to the benefit of the IT department.