Whose Scope Is It Anyway?

 

Many of us have been involved in something like this before. It’s not a surprise, but sometimes relating the experience helps our recently promoted associates and serves as a reminder to us more experienced PMs.

A "Small Issue"
You receive a phone call from the administrative assistant of a senior-level executive in your firm. He wants you to come down to his office right away to discuss a "small issue" that’s been troubling him for some time now. He is familiar with the Project Management department’s role and specifically aware of some of the projects on which you have previously worked. 

Upon arrival, you are ushered into the executive’s large office by the administrative assistant. He is on the telephone discussing the need for improved quality in handling the company’s customers. It seems there have been a number of written complaints from customers lately, and the CEO is getting "pretty antsy" with how we are being perceived in the marketplace.

Just then, the executive wheels his overstuffed chair around and announces to whomever is on the phone, "Well, I see the answer to our problem has just arrived. I’ll get back to you with the plan later on this afternoon."

We Need Training 
The executive hangs up the phone, reaches over the desk and shakes your hand. "Hi. How are you? We need a project fired up right away to train our Customer Service …

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