Module M07 - Project Structuring and Initial Reconnaissance

Unit M07U01: Assembling a Core Team

Introduction

This Unit deals with the process of assembling a small Core Team that will manage and coordinate the project. It should be clear that participatory mapping projects are not mere technical exercises in cartography. While projects may differ in size and complexity, all of them should be viewed as multi-disciplinary, social-organisational undertakings that just happen to have technical components. Such projects include much more than cartography and/or GIS because a number of non-technical (i.e. non-cartographic) tasks must be conducted to enable the technical components to function. Above all, projects involve coordinating, supervising and managing different types of people. Seen in this light, mapping projects are the same as most other projects at the community level.

Unit objectives / expected outcomes

After the completion of the Unit the trainee will be able to:

describe the general characteristics of a Core Team;
assemble a Core Team, including:
- a team leader or coordinator;
- an administrator;
- a lead cartographer or GIS specialist;
- community leaders;
- subject matter specialists;
consider tasks and responsibilities of the team members, selection criteria and coordination among members;
summarise conclusions for assembling a Core Team.

Content outline, main topics covered and suggested sequencing

This Unit focuses on the topics listed below:

Composition of the Core Team (PPT No. 1) (30 min)
Assembling and coordinating project teams (Exercise No. 1) (90 min)

Components of the Unit

Exercises

Exercise No. 1: Assembling and Coordinating Project Teams; to enable trainees to list pitfalls and explain good practice in setting up and managing project teams (90 min)

Handouts for Trainee (to be distributed in printed format):

Presentations

PPT No. 1: Assembling a Core Team; the presentation describes the process of assembling the Core Team and its composition and roles (30 min)

Duration

2 hours

Additional trainer resources

Mac Chapin and Bill Threlkeld. 2009. Mapping Indigenous Lands: A Practical Guidebook. Center for the Support of Native Lands, Arlington, USA.
tinyurl.com/yhzny84 (pages 13-22)
Mac Chapin & Bill Threlkeld. 2001. Indigenous Landscapes: A Study in Ethnocartography. Center for the Support of Native Lands, Arlington, USA.
tinyurl.com/yh88c7j (pages 31-38)

Equipment needed

Beamer and computer, flipchart, three pin-boards (or wall space) and push pins or large sheets of craft paper and masking tape, one copy of the case study background (Assignment 1 of Exercise No. 1) for each trainee, A5 sheets of paper in two colours (metacards), marker pens and highlighter pens