Andy JordanPresident| Roffensian Consulting S.A.Cherry Grove, AB, Canada
I recently spoke with a sponsor who was delighted with the 'success' that the organisation had achieved with one of his projects. He spoke about some of the major challenges that the team had overcome and was delighted that the project was now achieving "all of the benefits that we needed."
The PM was in the room at the time and she pulled me aside afterwards and told me that 6 of the 15 team members on the project had resigned or transferred to other areas because they had such an awful experience on the project.
I don't know about you, but that to me doesn't sound like a successful project, regardless of what benefits were achieved! Do sponsors have that 'whole picture' perspective of benefits or is their focus too narrow? Saving Changes...
Andy, it happens in projects where team performance and success are not measured comparatively. In projects, success is not measured based on team performance but the work performance. If the work is appropriately done meeting all requirements, project may be a success while team members may change. Change in team members either due to resignation or letting them off, does not speak of a disaster. Yes, if the work performance is not up to the mark, team has to be adjusted, improved, motivated or trained, through a change request. Saving Changes...
Nilanjan SahaProgram Manager| SAP India Pvt. Ltd.Bangalore, Karnataka, India
This is the dichotomy of the situation normally manifested in projects. The measures of success of a project is only based on the successful completion/satisfaction of the requirements; the fate of the team members is not considered at all. In the situation mentioned in the question, it is clear that the team members experience wasn’t good at all but for the organization was getting its benefits from the project, so the project was successful after all. Regarding team members leaving the project, there is always a degree of turnover for various reasons, it’s normal. Further, worthwhile to note, only 6 of 15 left, 9 of the original 15 continued till the end. It would however be good to know the details of the ‘awful experience’ the 6 team members had. My vote – the project was a success. Saving Changes...
