Stop This Project--I Want to Get Off! (Part 1)

Joe Wynne is a versatile Project Manager experienced in delivering medium-scope projects in large organizations that improve workforce performance and business processes. He has a proven track record of delivering effective, technology-savvy solutions in a variety of industries and a unique combination of strengths in both process management and workforce management.

  PMO  

Organizational development specialists tell us that change occurs in several stages, ending in a settled state. Have these people ever been in an IT department, where change is constant, rapid and far-reaching? Perhaps not. There is nothing to fear, though, because here are techniques to maintain performance even in the face of potentially disruptive change.

The Many Types of Change and Their Insidious Impact

Change can come at your workforce from so many directions, it's scary.

• Organizational Processes and Procedures -- Changing stakeholders, departmental processes or systems architecture mean that original assumptions will have to be scrapped.
• Project Change Requests -- Every once in a while, a PM will have to deal with requirements changes or scope creep.
• Changes in Tools -- Changes in standard applications or upgrades in existing ones can, for example, negatively affect workforce communications or slow the development of new applications.
• Marketplace Changes -- Is the market up or down this quarter? Your resources may be affected.
• Business Strategy Changes -- Suddenly your project gains visibility--or maybe it loses visibility. It's not clear which is worse.

Any and all of these problems leave the workforce with a feeling of uncertainty, helplessness and loss of control.This fog results in an inability to make …

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