An Ode to Christmas…or some such thing

Andy Jordan is President of Roffensian Consulting S.A., a Roatan, Honduras-based management consulting firm with a comprehensive project management practice. Andy always appreciates feedback and discussion on the issues raised in his articles and can be reached at [email protected]. Andy's new book Risk Management for Project Driven Organizations is now available.

 

I know that you all hoped that you would get away with it this year, but none of you are that lucky. I am writing another holiday piece, and this is it. It’s going to be just as revolutionary as always, and it is guaranteed to change our industry. I don’t think that I’m overstretching to say that my holiday articles have been the single biggest advance in project management for decades, and this one promises to be no different. I spent entire minutes (not many, but they were entire) thinking up the theme for this year’s piece, so prepare yourself for a life changing experience. Here we go……

‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through the office,
Not a creature was stirring, except for young Horace.
He was the firm’s project manager extraordinaire,
Always focused, ever vigilant, guaranteed to care.

The last of his team had only just left for the night,
The project was challenged, but things would come right.
Horace was confident, his plan was quite sound,
The issues were many, but things would come round.

He looked at his whiteboard, just one more check,
And saw to his horror, a huge problem on deck.
Horace jumped up and exclaimed – “Sacre bleu!”
(His wife was French, he dearly loved her).

The issue was massive, Christmas he’d cancel,
But not for the team, this …

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