The new operating model for project teams: Balancing flexibility and standardization
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On The Critical, Realistic Path
Any project where the critical path has been breached is in trouble; how much trouble depends on the degree of delay.
This is the first article in the six-part Project Vital Signs series. Search the author's name to read other articles in the series.
The first check point is to determine the progress of the project along its critical path -- basically asking the question: Is the project on schedule? The status of the critical path is a specific metric and clearly communicates to the sponsor whether the project is on schedule, ahead of schedule, or behind schedule. As with all the vital signs, this assessment is difficult to make if the critical path for the project is not realistic.
If the project is deemed to be on schedule, this is good news both for the team and the sponsor. The sponsor should compliment the team for meeting their deadlines. This is not, however, to be applauded as a great accomplishment, since one would expect a project to remain on schedule without any extraneous effort on behalf of the project team. Similarly, when a patient visits the doctor for an annual health check and is found to have normal blood pressure, temperature, and cholesterol levels, the patient is told everything is normal, not necessarily exceptional. Ironically, an IT project on schedule is somewhat exceptional.
It is more remarkable when a project is ahead of …
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