Aejaz ShaikhPM I| Alyx Technologies India Pvt LtdPune, Maharshatra, India
What steps one should take when management is taking low interest in projects resulting in delays? Saving Changes...
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Wade HarshmanScrum Master| GDITIndianapolis, In, United States
In some cases, there isn't much you can do. Keep the project sponsor informed, and let her fight for a higher priority. In some cases, there are more important projects competing for shared resources, and you have to accept that and wait your turn.
If this is a consistent problem, your organization may need a PMO to manage your organization's portfolio of projects. Some low interest projects could be avoided before you waste time with them. You could also establish more formal project document procedures, treating the charter and project plan like you would a contract with a vendor. Many contracts have penalties for delays; is there a price to pay when someone in your organization causes delays? Saving Changes...
Nasrullah MohammedPortfolio Manager| Advanced Electronics CompanyRiyadh, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
In order to rekindle interest of the management, the PM can undertake to showcase some of the recent milestones of the project. To maintain their interest, a useful approach is to keep feeding status and issues to managers.
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1 reply by Aejaz Shaikh
Mar 17, 2017 8:24 AM
Aejaz Shaikh
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Nasrullah you highlighted a key point - re-ignite the interest by showcasing recent works and also highlight the project worth.
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Eric SimmsSenior Program ManagerBaltimore, Maryland, United States
As Wade says, you can’t make Management take interest in projects. However, make sure you document the effects of management’s delays, so you can’t later be blamed for not taking action. To do this I usually send emails to the Managers who aren’t taking action, and I cc: most of the major stakeholders. I describe what will happen if they don’t act by a certain time; this prevents the people causing the delays from later blaming me as the Project Manager for causing the project to fail.
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1 reply by Aejaz Shaikh
Mar 17, 2017 8:21 AM
Aejaz Shaikh
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Eric absolutely - maintain documentation pertaining to the lack of interest from management is good point you brought out.
Good options, so far. Hopefully, I don't change that.
Delivering "on time" is sometimes meaningless. Yes, you've made a commitment to deliver by a given date, but who is holding you to that commitment?
Blasphemy, I know. But, what is management's priority for your project? Has it fallen completely off the radar because the company has changed direction? Does management just need a gentle reminder and regular updates, or is it time to stop the project? Continuing to work on a project that nobody cares about is worse than stopping a project that nobody cares about, but you can't make that decision on your own.
Sometimes, you have to ask the question, "Do we need to continue this project?" The answer might be no, yes, yes but slow down due to other projects, yes but put it on hold, or yes but we need to make some scope changes. Just having the conversation could help get your project the attention from management that you are looking for. If you do choose to have that conversation, come prepared with options for how to proceed. You have a problem that needs to be solved; management wants you to come to them with recommendations for how to solve the problem. They don't want to solve it for you. Saving Changes...
Sergio Luis ConteHelping to create solutions for everyone| Worldwide based OrganizationsBuenos Aires, Argentina
The first thing to do is working on project stakeholder management. That will help you to understand the level of interest. REMEMBER: is not about what you think the interest must be is about what you elicit from your stakeholders. Second, you can use some methods like Solution Selling or SPIN selling selling methods to work on interest. Saving Changes...
Senior Projects Manager | Field & Marten AssociatesNew Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
Sergio's input is to the point - I fully agree ! Stakeholders Management in this situation is key. Saving Changes...
Jess De OcampoLean Six Sigma Professional/Project Manager/Consultant/| .Manila, Ncr, Philippines
I agreed with Nasrullah. Highlighting the project milestones is one way of getting the buy-in of the stakeholders/managers. It gives further justification why the project must be initiated or completed--the gains and benefits realization of the project. When a project is initiated, the stakeholder would ask, what's in for us? (WIFS). I remember one of my former bosses advising us--create a sense of urgency.
A consistent update on the project status to the stakeholders promotes stakeholders engagement. Saving Changes...
Aejaz ShaikhPM I| Alyx Technologies India Pvt LtdPune, Maharshatra, India
Mar 16, 2017 9:20 AM
Replying to Eric Simms
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As Wade says, you can’t make Management take interest in projects. However, make sure you document the effects of management’s delays, so you can’t later be blamed for not taking action. To do this I usually send emails to the Managers who aren’t taking action, and I cc: most of the major stakeholders. I describe what will happen if they don’t act by a certain time; this prevents the people causing the delays from later blaming me as the Project Manager for causing the project to fail.
Eric absolutely - maintain documentation pertaining to the lack of interest from management is good point you brought out. Saving Changes...
Aejaz ShaikhPM I| Alyx Technologies India Pvt LtdPune, Maharshatra, India
Mar 16, 2017 8:53 AM
Replying to Nasrullah Mohammed
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In order to rekindle interest of the management, the PM can undertake to showcase some of the recent milestones of the project. To maintain their interest, a useful approach is to keep feeding status and issues to managers.
Nasrullah you highlighted a key point - re-ignite the interest by showcasing recent works and also highlight the project worth. Saving Changes...
Aejaz ShaikhPM I| Alyx Technologies India Pvt LtdPune, Maharshatra, India
Thanks to all for brainstorming on this topic. Quite a few takeaways. Saving Changes...
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