My project was completed. Everything was signed off. I notified the sponsor that everything was good to go.
Today I get notification that there may be a problem with one of the programming changes that was made. Here is the question.
To what degree should I, as the project manager of the completed project, have been involved in the discussions surrounding the solution to the problem? Should I have been involved in the discussions with the sponsor? Saving Changes...
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Bipin Lekshmanan PMPProject Manager| Wipro TechnologiesEdison, Nj, United States
Without understanding fully about your organization or business scenario, let me try to suggest a way forward. As you were the PM, you'll be in a better position to address the solution with other stakeholders. Depending on the long term perspective, you may want to get into and resolve the issue- if that matters. From an ethical standpoint, I would have assisted in resolving the issue as it will generate goodwill also. If you did the project for a customer all these applies.
If you had completed the project for your own company, the problem can come back to you at a later point even if you are disinterested and nobody else is taking care of it now. Saving Changes...
Mark Price PerryBusiness Driven PMO Evangelist| BOT InternationalOrlando, Fl, United States
Dear Anonymous,
I quite agree with Bipin's comments. I would only add two thoughts:
First, those first four words, "my project was completed", can mean different things to different people. If the project was truly completed, turned over to operations, etc, then one would expect a trouble ticket to be opened, followed by the normal change management (help desk) process. And, one would also expect, that all of that would have been addressed via your PM or SDLC methodology and, if so, there would not be an expectation, or need, for post-project PM involvement.
And second, why were you notifed? Your notification may not be a call for your involvement, but rather as a courtesy for you as a lessons learned opportunity. For example, we just upgraded a high priority application. The system was transitioned into production and not long after project closure one of the application modules was not working quite right to no discredit to our vendor project manager. And, after calling support and entering a trouble ticket, we also notified our vendor project manager, not to complain, rather just as a heads up for his next client project.
But, having said all of that, I think Bipin's reply and final words are very wise. A problem is a problem and it can come back to you and/or your company. To what degree should you have been involved in discussions surrounding the solution to the problem and with the sponsor? Perhaps, to the degree that you, in the eyes of the sponsor, are welcomed and expected to be involved.
Great question..! I hope we hear and learn from others.
