Ideal project team size: utopia or reality
https://doi.org/10.26425/3034-6916-2025-1-2-61-70
Abstract
The subject of the study is the size of information technology project team. The purpose of the study is to summarize the results of the analysis of the optimal size of information technology project team. The research methodology is a systematic review of the literature. The study results indicate that the range found in all the articles reviewed ranges from 5 to 7 people. The articles emphasize sensitivity of team size to parameters such as the results complexity and the context uncertainty and innovativeness. The existence of an optimal team size can be explained by the fact that when it reaches a certain number, social ties among participants become more complicated, which leads to a deterioration in coherence, a decrease in the quality of communications, tension among participants, trust erosion, and other losses in both work coordination and social relations. The results obtained can be applied in project management for creating new information technology products. At the same time, using the optimal team size is not limited to standardizing its size, but is accompanied by various organizational practices development. As a further work, it is interesting to conduct empirical studies of the optimal team size in different national contexts. The existence of an optimal team size is supported by empirical evidence, expert opinions, and data modeling results. Using the optimal team size in practice can lead to an increase in projects effectiveness, but requires a set of measures implementation.
About the Authors
S. A. Titov
National Research University Higher School of Economics
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Sergei A. Titov, Cand. Sci. (Econ.), Assoc. Prof. at the Strategic and International Management Department
Moscow
A. S. Titov
Scientific and Research Automobile and Automotive Engines Institute “NAMI”
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Artem S. Titov, Software Engineer of the 1st Category
Moscow
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Review
For citations:
Titov S.A., Titov A.S. Ideal project team size: utopia or reality. Journal of Project Management. 2025;1(2):61-70. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.26425/3034-6916-2025-1-2-61-70
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