Categories: Advice
Situation: Your team is getting pulled in too many different directions.
We often say that knowing the right questions to ask can be even more important than "knowing" what to do. For that reason, in Project Headway, each task level activity includes a section called "Questions that you ask of yourself and others". The section below lists out the questions we currently include in Resolving Resource Conflicts. What would you add or remove from this list?
Questions to ask of yourself and others
Task Description
Settle conflicting resource assignments and allocations within the project team and across external projects. Ensure that the project‘s interests are protected so that the project may be executed as planned. This activity may arise at any time during the project.
Settle intra-team resource conflicts internally. Settle inter-team resource conflicts across external projects with the project sponsor and other development coordination organizations that exist within the enterprise. Projects may be related in several ways, through task dependency links or through the sharing of common resources. Consequently, events outside of the control of the project manager may affect the project, causing unexpected delays. Monitor these inter-project relationships carefully to ensure that the use of shared resources adheres to agreed upon allocations.
Like in life, there will be conflict, particularly if you work in a functional organization where you don’t have direct control over the project staff. In that event, consider some of the following:
- Barter. There may be an opportunity to barter or ‘horse-trade’ with other projects or departments to ensure you get the resources you need when you need them. Other organizations may need something that you have or can facilitate getting. There may be an opportunity to share or assist each other, whether now or going forward.
- Consider escalation. In some cases, you may have to escalate resourcing conflicts to the sponsor. Part of the role of the sponsor is to ensure that your project receives adequate funding, schedule and resources. If you are not getting what you need, you many want to call in the sponsor to help.
