My project is failing due to poor management decisions
Anonymous
I am engaged as a lead analyst on a process improvement project: to institute Project Management processes within our IT group. My previous experience was as a consultant supporting companies in Business Reengineering efforts for ERP implementations. The Project Sponsor and Director make executive decisions that definitely violate methodology best practices and introduce extreme risk into the project, for example, they have issued a directive to install ABT and Gantthead as our project management system and methodology prior to finalizing our processes and requirements. This situation was easier to accept and manage as a consultant, but as an employee I seem to have less latitude. Any suggestions for an approach or is it time for me to pursue other opportunities? Saving Changes...
Sort By:
Michael WoodProject Manager / Business Analyst / Business Process Improvement Guru| Independent ContractorGig Harbor, Wa, United States
All is not lost Just reframe the project's objective as one that is to implement a prescibed method within IT. There is enough lattitude in any methodolgy to shape it to the requirements you are defining. And remember, PM is not defined by the tool but by the people who do the work, the quality of the leadership, the discipline to follow a plan and the guts to recalibrate it as appropriate. Saving Changes...
Hi - I would suggest that you build a case to support why decisions cannot be made in isolation from you or the relevant parties involved. And in a way play 'Devil's Advocate' - analyse the top level benefit or requirement/issue which has driven that business decision. Maybe there are other options which haven't been considered. If you can publish those options or discuss your ideas with colleagues then a compromise may be found. I would say that if decisions are being foisted on you and colleagues then you aren't a true PM, but more of an 'implementer' - perhaps that is another approach to your superior. If you generally enjoy the job and have good relationships there then it is worth pursuing. Saving Changes...
