Project Management

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Long Question

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Moloy Chakraborty Principal Project Manager| WSP UK LTD High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom
The engineering resource group, a matrix organization of which a project manager's
project team is a part, has a policy of no bonus for project work. The project manager's
current project has an aggressive timeline and a difficult technical obstacle to overcome.
A new product offering is dependent on this project's success in the current timeline. The
project manager has heard grumbling from his team about the fact that they cannot be
rewarded for their effort. What is the FIRST thing the project manager should do?

a. The project manager should evaluate if other team members from another department
can help with the project

b. The project manager should talk to management about changing the bonus policy or
allow this project to have its own bonus system to reduce risk on his project.

c. The project manager should negotiate a less aggressive schedule from the client.

d. The project manager should talk with the team about the importance of getting this done on Schedule and explain the company policy
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Petar Radulov Vienna, Austria
Aug 31, 2018 11:32 PM
Replying to Moloy Chakraborty
...
I also go with D but in order to keep the team members motivated and work towards achieving the goal, its best if this project can have some exception. Also, this is a difficult project to work in terms of the timeline as well as technical work. So B is the best answer
Hi Moloy, motivation is the best tool here but you shall consider that is not always related to monetary rewards like bonus. Sometime you can motivate the people by only speaking to them!
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Mansoor Mustafa Senior PM| Government Department Rawalpindi Punjab, Pakistan
My choice is D and B also a practical one
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Eduard Hernandez
Community Champion
Product Operations Program Manager Barcelona, Cataluña, Spain
I would chosse option D. As stated in the question, the schedule is "aggressive", but not unrealistic, so the PM should be able to find ways to keep the team motivated and ensure that timelines can be met.

By making organizational policies project-specific, it could solve the present issue and backfire in future projects.
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Rizwan Roker Management Trainer and Consultant | Independent Consultant Dubai, United Arab Emirates
The answer is D. D is the FIRST thing that the PM should do. I agree with Sante when he says that change of company policy can be discussed with senior management for future projects. The current project has an aggressive timeline and the team is already committed to it. Definitely D would be the first choice here.
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Joy Smith Project Manager | America's Credit Union Dupont, Wa, United States
Option D would be the best answer as a PM.
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Pamela Nelligan Owner/Chief Software Architect| Statdash LLC Williamsville, Ny, United States
If you care more about your company and your personal advancement than your team, then go with D, otherwise B. Building team morale is important. Even if you aren't able to secure bonuses for them, just knowing that you tried to change company policy may be enough to increase their dedication to you and the project.
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Stéphane Parent Self Employed / Semi-retired| Leader Maker Prince Edward Island, Canada
There seems to be an implicit presumption that team members are only motivated by money.

You need to understand what motivates your team members. You have to provide the environment that will stimulate and allow them to de-velop themselve. (I am using the hyphen on purpose: de-velop as opposed to envelop. Reveal rather than conceal.)

I realize it doesn't neatly fit your answers, though D is probably the closest. Unfortunately, life, including project management, is not made of a limited set of answers.
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Elizeu Antonio Manager for Network Operations| MSTelcom Luanda, Angola
I think the key to this question is really, " the FIRST thing the PM should do".
D is more appropriate.
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