5 Symptoms of a Sick Project

Rob Saxon is a Project Management Professional, Certified Information Systems Auditor and a trained Six Sigma Specialist. Rob is currently developing methods to integrate project management into previously unexplored areas of business.

  Communications Management   Leadership   Risk Management  

It’s fall and flu season is upon us. We’ve all had that day: The sun is shining, we’re in the fresh air and suddenly we feel a little tickle in the back of our throats. Probably nothing, we think, and we go about our day. As the day goes on, we get a bit of an achy back. “Eh, I’m getting old,” we might think.

We have a hard time thinking, however, because our head hurts. And come to think of it, we’re also kind of sleepy. Before we know it, we’re in a full-fledged case of the flu! Why didn’t we rest when we first felt the symptoms? Why didn’t we get the flu vaccine before the season started? Blind optimism is the most likely culprit.

I keep a positive attitude, and usually look on the bright side. I don’t think I’m alone in being an optimist. I believe project managers in general want to believe that things are going well. In fact, some of us may even look at the bright side when all signs are pointing to trouble. Since projects are finite endeavors with clear goals, this human tendency to be optimistic can be especially dangerous. If we continue to believe that things are fine when they are not, we will continue doing what we have always done. We may continue our old habits even when a change is in order.

In my experience, there are few diagnostic readings that a project manager can take to …

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