To calculate the number of communication channels for effective project management, use the formula (N(N-1))/2, where N is the number of team members. In case the team is represented by five people, the total number of required communication channels is defined as (5(5-1))/2=(5(4))/2=20/2=10. Therefore, a project with five people requires ten channels of communication in order to ensure effective operational interactions. In an effective team, communication must be ensured between all parties involved in order for opinions and needs to be shared. In other words, each team member must be able to interact with their partners within the workgroup. According to the formula, the final number of connections in this group is defined as ten; this is reflected visually in the figure below. It can be seen that, in this case, the condition that “everyone interacts with everyone” is achieved; that is, all participants are connected by a channel. Consequently, this formula should be agreed with and accepted as it works for calculating the effective number of channels.
It is more challenging to decide on the need to involve all stakeholders, including those outside the final project, in communication channels in general. It is worth clarifying that stakeholders are a generalization of all the channels related to the goals and implementation of the business. This includes potential customers whose involvement in the project, however, is not a sensible idea. Consequently, involving stakeholders not involved in the project in communication channels may be redundant. Instead, effective project management requires that the team clearly knows and targets stakeholder interests in order for the completion of the project to make sense at all. In terms of clients, investors, or the abstract community, the project would have to be responsive to stakeholders’ interests and expectations.