Decision Making and Project Management

Dear Daire
Thanks for your comment

We agree with what he wrote: "I would say through learning and experience we know the approach to decision making process but we also need to look at how when decision we make go wrong and how we recover, rectify and learn from the situation. Also why these decisions may go wrong. "

Why is there a lack of adherence by team members?

Dear Wade
I was reflecting a little better on what I wrote: "In a project manager role, I'm rarely the decision-maker. More often, I'm doing everything I can to get other people to make decisions. That's more difficult, in my opinion. "

You mean, who makes the decisions are your team members? (Correct me if I misunderstood what you wrote)

If you are a facilitator in the decision making process, would you like to share your experience with us?

Dear Luis,

In situations where there is a lack of adherence by team members, a lot of the time it is because they do not respect the project manager and the decision that they make. The reason for this lack of respect is a lot more complicated but could stem from internal division within a team, not getting a promotion, age discrimination to a young project manager managing people who are older then them, lack of leadership from above in the organisation hierarchy, lethargy and disinterest towards the job that leads to a lack of respect to the project manager and many more reasons which depend on a specific set of circumstances. The decision making process is a complicated topic and it can spin off in a lot of direction, this being one so maybe we can tease out exactly what is consistently required by a project manager in order to come to a decision.

Daire

I generally agree with Rajon's seven steps. However I tend to spend a lot of attention to the problem statement (step 1). I find that we don't spend enough time drilling down and establishing the underlying issue. How did we get to this problem? Who's problem is it to solve? How critical is this problem? How much effort is warranted to achieve a solution? In many cases a problem has come across my desk because someone else failed to resolve it, or someone tried to solve an earlier problem without looking at the consequences, sometimes its only perceived to be a problem and at other times its a low risk or low cost problem.
Once we have addressed the initial problem definition then we can determine the effort to be applied towards a solution, steps 2 to 7. The solution may be a mental exercise (even sub-conscience) or a multi-discipline full blown business case.
I would add "documentation" to step 7. Could be a note in your day-book, a summary of meeting, or a Business Case report depending on the severity and impact of the problem and solution (see step 1)

Hello Luis,

To get sure to solve a correct problema follow a decision- making process

1 Identify the problem
2 Find the root cause
3 Analyze the root cause
4 Find alternative solutions
5 Implement the best solution
6 Follow the implementation of the response

This step a follow is a have a problem.

Dear Luis,

Many thanks & I am also interested to answer the following question given by you, It's my pleasure & respect to you.

"Decision Making" - This is one of the main capability of all leaders in any type of organization "?

Ans: It's only because in most of the case leaders are involved in critical phase decision & Sr. Management also play major roles on the same.

1- The manager tells you what to do and how to do it.How would you feel?

Ans: It's quite obvious. Because, if any critical circumstances arrive they need to play a major role. I have already witnessed this circumstances where I can see my manager given a master command to me "Rajon, Do what I say.". Reason was that one of the critical report is not working in production environment where UAT it's successfully evaluated. After cross examination I was a DBA & did RCA with proper investigation on the same. It take more than 5 Hrs to resolve this scenario.

I never mind on his command because he told me to do that. As he is more experienced than me. More over 25 years where I have only 10 years.

2- The manager asks you for your opinion on what to do and how to do it. How would you feel?

Ans: This situation also I deal with. As we are doing critical BFSI(Banking) operation. We need to do delivery on time & also in Green Go. At that time we have a delivery but one of the critical resource is not available so our project is on delay. As I don't have sufficient contingency, situation was worst. Bank told to impose penalty & it was a big loss. At that time my manager asked me "Rajon, How we can prevent & keep back on track this project." However, As a Sr. Technical Lead I play my role to handle this situation.
I feel it's really respectful case where a Sr. Manager communicate with this line. Because, he need to save the organization as well as customer reputation & team also.

These two was happened with me. It's real example.

Thanks,
Rajon

Dear Peter
Thank you for participating in this reflection and for your opinion.

Seems to me to be a good process Rajon's seven steps

Interesting the importance it gives to phase 1 (Problem definition)

When using this process, do you often consult with people on your team and / or other stakeholders?

What stage do you do it in?

Do you usually tell people your decision?
At what stage do you do it and how do you do it?

Dear Rajon
Thanks for your feedback

I am convinced that all people can learn to make decisions.

The principle is: "We are free to choose (decide) but responsible for the results and / or consequences of our choices (decisions)."

After carefully reading what you have written, I do not understand what you feel when:
1. A decision is communicated without consulting you.
2. You are consulted before making any decision.

Which decision do you accept best? Which decision will you gladly implement?