John TiesoAuthor, Lecturer in Business Management| The Catholic University of America, Busch School of Business & EconomicsArlington, Va, United States
A few days ago, a friend and colleague of many years asked me a question I had not previously considered. He had a PM, with a new project, in the process of on-boarding a team. Among those he wanted for the team was a member of his family, recently graduated from college (Major in business analysis and management) and the PM figured this would be a good opportunity to gain experience for the family member. Good? Bad? Saving Changes...
Eric SimmsSenior Program ManagerBaltimore, Maryland, United States
I would place a family member on my team, but I'll first make sure my family member knew the situation would be very unfair – for them. I would work my relative harder than their other teammates and show them practically no leniency. This would be necessary to prevent any accusations of nepotism from being leveled against me. My relative would get valuable work experience, but s/he certainly wouldn’t get a free ride. Saving Changes...
John TiesoAuthor, Lecturer in Business Management| The Catholic University of America, Busch School of Business & EconomicsArlington, Va, United States
May 04, 2017 3:15 PM
Replying to Liana Underwood
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After seeing several responses, and then John your suggestion to have them work on other projects first, seems wise. I think it probably largely depends on the culture of the organization you work for. If the organization has an intense culture of competition for scarce management attention, this might not work out well no matter how well you manage fairly. If you have an organization with secure employees, who are fulfilled and recognized for their achievements, I think having a family member on the team would be no big deal - as long as they are treated fairly as stated.
Liana, It is a cultural thing, especially in those firms which started out as family enterprises, with the younger generation expected to 'join the firm.' There are myriad stories out there of family members who got ahead of many more experienced, and also as many stories of family members who started at the bottom, and had to work their way up in the chain, working twice as hard as anyone else.
Culture and fairness are always necessary ingredients. Saving Changes...
Is this project executing to solve the family related issues? If not, there is no any clear reason to employ family members for his team. Employing to give experience for his family members is not what I know as ethical and professional behavior Saving Changes...
It is better to avoid conflict of interest. Saving Changes...
Anna KierczynskaSenior Technical Project Manager| censhareLondon, United Kingdom
If you can separate a private and a business life - go ahead. I think I couldn't do that, and I wouldn't want to work on a critical project with a member of my family or a very close friend - I value the relationships more and I wouldn't risk making it worse because of some small stupid things that can happen at work.
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1 reply by John Tieso
May 11, 2017 7:21 PM
John Tieso
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I agree on the difficulties Anna. I have know some projects large enough that a family member worked with a project, usually far enough below the PM ,and with another sub-lead that the issues of family like don't arise. it takes a lot of skill to do that
Saving Changes...
John TiesoAuthor, Lecturer in Business Management| The Catholic University of America, Busch School of Business & EconomicsArlington, Va, United States
May 08, 2017 2:43 PM
Replying to Anna Kierczynska
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If you can separate a private and a business life - go ahead. I think I couldn't do that, and I wouldn't want to work on a critical project with a member of my family or a very close friend - I value the relationships more and I wouldn't risk making it worse because of some small stupid things that can happen at work.
I agree on the difficulties Anna. I have know some projects large enough that a family member worked with a project, usually far enough below the PM ,and with another sub-lead that the issues of family like don't arise. it takes a lot of skill to do that Saving Changes...
SUNNY HELWANDEBUSINESS LEAD| ExxonMobil Services Private LimitedDombivli, Maharashtra, India
In my opinion it is a typical example of "Halo effect" where your personal opinions and views regarding a person effects your judgement.
I would personally not recommend a family on your team because it is inherent human characteristic to be little more caring for your family. This leads to biased attitude. Saving Changes...
Product Operations Program ManagerBarcelona, Cataluña, Spain
This is indeed a tough call. To make a non biased call, then the PM shall have various options (candidates) to fill in this particular role in the team. The ethics would recommend to pick the relative only if he/she is the most suitable amongst the other potential candidates.
In my personal opinion, I'd advise against mixing family or friends and work. But yet, this is something that needs then to be assessed on a one to one basis.
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1 reply by John Tieso
May 12, 2017 9:37 AM
John Tieso
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Eduard, you raise an interesting side question here. You put in your requirements to HR, they produce a listing of potential team members, and, after interviews (hopefully with several members of the team) your family member comes up as the most qualified. You put the family member on the team.
Can you remain objective, and treat them fairly?
Saving Changes...
John TiesoAuthor, Lecturer in Business Management| The Catholic University of America, Busch School of Business & EconomicsArlington, Va, United States
May 12, 2017 9:27 AM
Replying to Eduard Hernandez
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This is indeed a tough call. To make a non biased call, then the PM shall have various options (candidates) to fill in this particular role in the team. The ethics would recommend to pick the relative only if he/she is the most suitable amongst the other potential candidates.
In my personal opinion, I'd advise against mixing family or friends and work. But yet, this is something that needs then to be assessed on a one to one basis.
Eduard, you raise an interesting side question here. You put in your requirements to HR, they produce a listing of potential team members, and, after interviews (hopefully with several members of the team) your family member comes up as the most qualified. You put the family member on the team.
Can you remain objective, and treat them fairly? Saving Changes...
Pier Luigi CalabriaProject Manager| INFORM Institut für Operations Research und Management GmbH, Aachen, GermanyAachen, Germany
If it comes to "conflict of interests", it must be avoided, to give you a short answer.
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1 reply by John Tieso
May 15, 2017 8:58 AM
John Tieso
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Pier Luigi, I agree. Sometimes these 'conflicts' are below the surface, or unrecognized among relatives, and they really have to be well-thought out before the project starts to avoid embarrassment later. Thanks for contributing.
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