HKSM
Ground Rules
Agreed standards that set how project team members are expected to act and interact with one another.
Key Points
- Established collaboratively early in the project and endorsed by the whole team.
- Cover meeting etiquette, communication norms, decision-making, conflict handling, and mutual respect.
- Documented (often in the team charter) and applied consistently, with clear consequences for violations.
- Reviewed and updated as the team evolves or new members join.
Example
At project kickoff, the team agrees to start meetings on time, keep laptops closed unless needed, let one person speak at a time, address issues not people, respond to messages within 24 hours, and escalate unresolved conflicts to the project manager. These agreements become the team's ground rules in the team charter.
PMP Example Question
During a startup workshop, the project manager facilitates a session to define how the team will communicate, behave in meetings, and resolve disagreements. What is the team creating?
- Resource management plan
- Ground rules
- Stakeholder engagement plan
- RACI matrix
Correct Answer: B — Ground rules
Explanation: Ground rules specify expected conduct within the project team. The other options focus on staffing and roles, external engagement, and responsibility assignments.
