#1 What the hell do you do when you start losing team members?

By: Kim Ohlsson / February 08, 2017 /
Program: Project Management
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Dear readers, my name is Kim Ohlsson and I’m going to write about the project that my team Onmoraki and I are working on. We are supposed to create a space shooter game in based on one of the concepts created in the earlier course. We are supposed to plan our game the first two (2) weeks, go in to production for seven (7) weeks and finish with a PM the last week. As the producer of the project I it is my responsibility to manage the project so that we as a team can make a product good enough to pass Uppsala Universities “Game Design 2” course on Campus Gotland.

The first weeks

The first few weeks my greatest challenge has been to solve the planning of a project with a diminishing number of team members.

We started out with five members.
1 Producer
2 Artists
2 Programmers
0 Game Designers (We were one of the groups that didn’t get one)

In the first week our lead artist tells us that she is leaving the school, so we started replan and rescope the project. In the second week our sound lead (and new lead art) informs us that he is also leaving. So when the 2 weeks are done and we are supposed to present our plan for the project, we are still replanning and rescoping.  At this point we have.

1 Producer
0 Art
2 Programmers
0 Game Designers

 

As a producer I need to find a quick solution to this. So as a team we need to:

The challenge                                                             The solution

·         Find a solution to how to make the game without artists.

 

 ·         Change the art style in to something more manageable for our team. In this case geometrical figures and effects.

 
·         Find some way to manage the sound tasks.

 

 ·         Outsource the sound tasks to one of the programmer’s friends.
·         Be able to work without to many delays.

 

 ·         Dedicate time for the whole team to discuss sound and design to avoid future problems and have a clear goal.

 
·         Focus on the programing as it is our bread and butter.

 

 ·         Let the producers time between management, sound and design.

 
·         Keep up the morale.

 

 ·         Be extra vigilant and ready to call a break if you notice that someone might need one.

 
·         Have a plan.

 

 ·         Have as much communication as possible with regular short meetings.

 

 

The idea is to be able to give quick feedback and ask quick questions on daily standups 09:30 every day. This is modified by the producer (me) depending on how the lectures are scheduled. Then depending on day and school assignments we divide the day in to whatever need to be done at the moment. Our goal is always to reach our sprint goal of the week.

If you find yourself in a small team or one were only a few work efficiently then I think that communication is key. Every resource needs to be cared for and humans are the most valuable resource you have. Take care of them and keep their morale up. The difference between a happy team member and an unhappy one makes the difference between passionate work and a half-assed attempt to pass the course. Talk to each other and dare to speak up, but don’t be a douche. Find something positive to commend and try help each other aspire to your goal. But for the love of God, don’t shut up about things that really need to change. A team will never become a team until you get out of the inclusion phase. The more time that pass the harder it gets to resolve the problem. The only way to solve this is by communicating.

As it stands right now our team structure looks something like this.
Simplified communication mind map

This is somewhat of a temporary and hasty solution, but it works for now. Be ready to react to whatever happens next. And always be ready to change.

About Kim Ohlsson

2016 Project Management
Tags: 2016