In agile, the term “Tiger Team” is an approach used to describe a group of cross-functional experts who are assembled to achieve a specific goal or solve a critical problem, usually within a short timeframe. In the software development world, a tiger team is often used to describe a team of developers who are brought together to work on a high-priority project.
A Tiger Team usually consists of employees from different departments who have the necessary skills and knowledge to complete the task at hand. The team is typically led by a project manager who coordinates the team’s activities.
A tiger team is a group of experts assembled to tackle a problem or challenge. The term “tiger team” is derived from the military, where it was used to describe a group of specialists who were tasked with resolving a specific issue.
Although this is a team of specialists, each member should have a diverse set of abilities.
A tiger team will often consist of a small group of subject-matter specialists from business development, operational, accounting, legal, engineering, and if necessary even people from the marketing or sales department.
How Does Tiger Team Works?
In the traditional waterfall model, work is completed in a linear fashion with each phase of the project depending on the successful completion of the previous one.
This can often lead to bottlenecks and delays when one phase of the project is not completed on time.
A Tiger Team Agile seeks to address this problem by breaking the project down into smaller iterations or sprints. This allows development to proceed in a more flexible and agile manner, responding to changes and new requirements as they arise.
The end result is a more efficient and effective software development process that can adapt to the ever-changing needs of the business.
When To Call In a Tiger Team
There is no one answer to this question, as it depends on the specific crisis situation. However, there are some general guidelines that can help you decide when it’s time to call in a Tiger Team:
- If the crisis is threatening the success of the project. Tiger Teams are typically assembled when a project is facing a critical issue that cannot be resolved by the project team alone. This could be due to a lack of resources, expertise, or knowledge.
- If it is outside of the scope of the project team’s expertise. This can lead to a crisis that will likely cause significant delays or cost overruns. Therefore, it may be time to call in a Tiger Team
- Or if the project team is unable to resolve the crisis, then it may be time to call in a Tiger Team
If you’re facing a crisis situation on your project, then consider calling in a Tiger Team to help you get back on track.
How To Build a Tiger Team
If you are interested in forming your own Tiger Team, there are a few steps you will need to follow. Once you have your team, you will need to undergo training exercises to prepare for your missions. Finally, you will need to form a plan of action and execute your missions.
Fully understand the problem and objectives
You must decide what issue your tiger team will focus on before you can create them. To streamline a technology rollout, do you require a team? Or perhaps a crucial project is overbudget and underperforming, endangering the satisfaction of your customers.
Consider your company’s possibilities and needs to determine which initiatives or goals would benefit from the knowledge and adaptability of your tiger team.
Research and develop a solution approach
Multiple abilities, including active listening, research, and communication, are used in problem-solving. Regularly using these abilities will help you become more adept at solving problems when they happen, regardless of whether you’re currently dealing with one. To encourage communication during later brainstorming sessions, for instance, you might consider organizing team-building exercises.
Create a team with diverse skill sets
Diversity in the workplace is essential to creating a successful company. One benefit of workplace variety is that each individual may contribute something special. This may entail having cultural sensitivity or viewing situations differently. As a result, a varied staff can be a source of inspiration, success, and innovation.
Define process and governance model
Businesses can organize and control the tasks, workflows, and practices that standardize project execution through process governance. This strives to guarantee the seamless delivery of goals for managers and clients alike.
Set clear deliverables and timelines
Deliverables are measurable products or services that need to be produced or completed at the conclusion of a project. There may be numerous deliverables for a project, which is typical when completing several milestones. To maintain profitability, client satisfaction, and the long-term sustainability of your organization, it is crucial to follow deadlines and deliveries.
Monitor and make corrections as needed
Numerous moving pieces must be tracked in order to monitor the progress of your project. The majority of projects require a large team of people handling different areas of the project simultaneously. You must keep an eye on factors like the budget, scope, timetable, available resources, and the activities that need to be finished. To ensure the success of your project, accurate and efficient monitoring enables you to stay on schedule and spot issues early on.
SWAT Team Vs Tiger Team
In project management, especially during the stages of assessment and mitigation of adverse events, we can find two types of teams that can take the helm throughout various periods.
SWAT Teams are specialized teams formed with the aim of responding to resolving urgent issues which have not been handled using current operating procedures. The SWAT basically solves it.
- Tiger teams, for instance, are in charge of prioritizing which unfavorable events to plan for, recognizing potential occurrences, educating the company, and recording the reaction. SWAT teams take charge of the event’s reaction.
- A SWAT team is typically composed of subject matter experts from different disciplines who are brought together to solve a complex problem. Tiger teams, on the other hand, are used to identify and fix problems within an organization. They are often used to improve processes or troubleshoot issues.
Together, the two teams can work out as: the tiger team identifies processes first, and the SWAT team evaluates their viability and suggests modifications.
Additionally, both teams take an active role in the post-event evaluation of the outcomes and the search for methods to advance.
Best Practices When Forming a Tiger Team
When it comes to forming a Tiger Team, there are some best practices that should be followed in order to ensure successful results. Here are some tips to keep in mind:
Ask yourself at the very start
What is the purpose of the team? What do you hope to accomplish? Define the team’s objective and goals. This will help keep everyone focused and on track.
Assemble the right team
Select individuals with the necessary skills and knowledge to achieve the team’s objectives. This will give you the best chance of success
Create a plan of action
Once the team is assembled, devise a plan of attack. What steps will you take to achieve your goals?
Execute and monitor
Put the plan into action and track the team’s progress. Make adjustments as needed to ensure success.
Make sure to communicate often and keep everyone updated on the team’s progress. By following these best practices, you can ensure that your Tiger Team is effective and successful.
Mistakes To Avoid When Creating Your Tiger Team
When you’re faced with a critical problem, it’s important to assemble a team of people who are experts in the relevant field and who can help you find a solution. However, there are some common mistakes that people make when creating their tiger teams. Here are a few of the most important ones to avoid:
- Don’t forget to include people from different departments or areas of expertise. It’s important to have a variety of perspectives on the problem.
- Don’t make the team too large. This will make it difficult to manage and could lead to decision paralysis. A tiger team is supposed to be nimble and able to act quickly having too many people will just slow things down
- Don’t forget to set a clear goal for the team. This will help them focus their efforts and stay on track.
- Avoid grandstanding and ego-stroking – this is not the time for individual glory, it’s about solving the problem at hand.
FAQs
How to Form a tiger Team in Project Management?
First, identify the people who have the necessary skills and knowledge for the task at hand. Then, determine how long the team will need to work together and what their specific goal is. Finally, establish clear communication channels and procedures for the team.
What are some Mistakes to avoid when Creating a Tiger Team?
When you’re putting together a tiger team – also known as a crisis management team, there are a few common mistakes to avoid like not assembling a diverse group of experienced professionals or not giving the team the power and resources they need to perform.
What is the tiger team approach?
It is a project management technique that involves bringing together a group of experts from different disciplines to work on a problem. The team typically works together for a short period of time to brainstorm solutions and come up with a plan of action.