How can you ensure all GIS team members work towards the same goal?

1 Define the goal and scope

Before you start any GIS project, you need to have a clear and specific goal that defines what you want to achieve, why, and how. This will help you align your team members with the purpose and vision of the project, and avoid confusion and conflicts later on. You also need to define the scope of the project, which includes the deliverables, deadlines, budget, quality standards, and risks. The scope will help you plan and allocate the resources, tasks, and responsibilities of your team members, and monitor their progress and performance.

3 Establish roles and expectations

One of the challenges of working in a GIS team is that you have to work with people who have different roles, such as analysts, developers, managers, or clients. Each role has its own skills, tasks, and expectations, which may not always match with yours. To avoid misunderstandings and frustrations, you need to establish the roles and expectations of each team member clearly and early on. You need to define what each role entails, what each team member is expected to do and deliver, and how they will be evaluated and rewarded. You also need to respect the boundaries and limitations of each role, and avoid micromanaging or overstepping.

4 Use standards and protocols

Another challenge of working in a GIS team is that you have to deal with different data sources, formats, systems, and methods, which may not always be compatible or consistent. To ensure the quality and accuracy of your GIS project, you need to use standards and protocols that govern how you collect, store, process, analyze, and present your data. You need to agree on the data sources, formats, systems, and methods that you will use, and follow the best practices and guidelines for data quality, security, and ethics. You also need to document and report your data and methods, and use quality control and assurance procedures.

5 Learn and improve

Working in a GIS team is also a learning opportunity, where you can enhance your skills, knowledge, and experience, and improve your project outcomes. You need to be open to learning from your team members, who may have different perspectives, insights, and solutions that can help you solve problems or achieve goals. You also need to be willing to improve your own performance, by seeking and giving feedback, identifying and addressing your strengths and weaknesses, and taking advantage of training and development opportunities. You also need to evaluate and reflect on your project results, and identify the lessons learned and the areas for improvement.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?