Hendry Ricardo HutasoitPM | Global NTTWest Java Province, Indonesia, West Java Province, Indonesia
Hi Project Management,
I am currently working on a project with a team that is very difficult to set up. he just wants to do a job based on his ability and is very difficult to talk to about the project.
" He is expertise in technical skill of this project but difficult to manage, "
and now i have to deal with the client due to project delay. How should i do? I don't know how to approach him and how to solved this issue. Saving Changes...
There may be two real worlds then, because I have helped a few startups using project management. There was already a high level strategy in place before the investors stepped into a foreign country. Strategy meetings continued well into the project, and there is no reason why strategy can't be discussed and in fact change mid-project. When companies start operations in a foreign country, they can either bring expertise with them, hire local expertise on the ground, or a mixture. Many feel nervous about setting up operations because they are unfamiliar with the local culture, laws, regulations, norms etc. The traditional approach is to hire a business consultant who will usually talk the language of the investor and say all the right buzz words to get the job, and then just keep billing. They rarely talk about the startup implementation as a project, because then they would have to produce deliverables, milestones, a budget, schedule, all the things we associate with project management. Why not milk the cow as long as they can. When I talk to many entrepreneurs who planned to setup a company, some of their biggest fears were 1. Will this business work in this market? 2. What is my ROI? 3. Do I have an exit strategy? 4. Can I get everything done in time in the most effective way? And many more. Doing a market analysis for example can be done by any qualified professional, and it's just one resource or major deliverable in the project. The point is having a project management approach (as we did) allowed the investor/owner to see the light at the end of the tunnel, a real vision and plan for the startup, while managing the constraints at the same time. Now, it's not like I haven't helped other startups not using project management. I have, but what tended to happen was the investor themselves just wasted time or didn't know how to engage the market or how to setup shop, so it was a series of two steps forward and one step back. To say "forget about trying to implement project management process" is in my view limiting the options out there for giving the customer what they want, even when they don't know what they want in terms of the way they get the startup running. Saving Changes...
Sergio Luis ConteHelping to create solutions for everyone| Worldwide based OrganizationsBuenos Aires, Argentina
Apr 13, 2018 10:11 PM
Replying to Hendry Ricardo Hutasoit
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Hi Sante, Thanks your for advice. It's difficult to explain. In this situation . He is technical expert and leader of his team. His functionality manager cannot approach him and he always say yes in front of his manager but he didn't do what his manager wanted.. No one can't approach him and he just want do what he wants. He always think that discussion will burden his job and transferred job to him. I tried to convince him that's our team responsible and we do together.
Noted: we work on start up Company and Company need resource, so they didn't think how to resolved every single part of conflict.
Hendry, I faced this type of situations lot of times. The other thing perhaps you can do is this: If you are the project manger you are accountable for scope, time and cost. Any of those items will impact the relation with your client. And that is the situation you are leaving today as far as I understood due to a delay. Let them do things related to the work to do as they want. Just request from him time, cost and scope (do not let them to create scope creep). After getting that from them publish what they said to the people that manage the relation with the customer, mainly the sellers. Work with the sellers to make them to understand that any deviation on those commitments will jeopardizes they own interest and the relation with the customer. Then, monitor the achievement of the commitments and publish all related to progress. Maintain infomration and working on proactive mode instead of reactive mode. Saving Changes...
I’m curious as to how you initiated this project from the beginning. It seems that something was missed or communication was not very clear between your team as well as the client. I get the impression that these delays are a big surprise to the client and they were not in the know of much.
As for your difficult team member, revert back to the four fundamental behaviors.
Respect, listen, clarity of expectations, and accountability. Maybe the approach you have is too direct and management felt. Try an informal approach of leadership. Maybe pull a meeting with your team, set a time frame with an end time to discuss a very clear object along with ground rules for everyone. At this point they need to get on track and be clear at where things stand and where they need to go for the clients sake.
Allow each member to talk after you introduce the object and that they all need to respect one another and listen, no debate or interrupt or they will be held accountable. Revisit the scope of this project, maybe at this point there has been a loss of sight. Revisit your risk management plan. Have you interviewed every stake holder and key stakeholders of this project prior to start?
Start up business are a great way to utilize PM. pM is especially a good source of knowledge to know by entrepreneurs as well. Remember you are the compass of the project. The road map to the finish line is in the scope.
I don’t know how far along you are, but this is just my opinion and what to possibly consider. Saving Changes...
Muneer Ahmed SoomroBusiness Systems Analyst| MCB Bank LimitedLahore, Punjab, Pakistan
I believe team is developed and/or managed there is no process to control the team :) Will be happy to know any such process! Saving Changes...
Hendry Ricardo HutasoitPM | Global NTTWest Java Province, Indonesia, West Java Province, Indonesia
Hy Sante, Sergio and Michael,
I'm glad with our discussion. I agree with you guys, but now i'm realize that i have to use many type of approach, and try to understand how his feeling.
After discussion with client and try to explain what is objective of project. He realize what problem is and now he more lenient.
Thank you so much guys. Hope you have a good day. Bless
I'm glad with our discussion. I agree with you guys, but now i'm realize that i have to use many type of approach, and try to understand how his feeling.
After discussion with client and try to explain what is objective of project. He realize what problem is and now he more lenient.
Thank you so much guys. Hope you have a good day. Bless
Sounds great Hendry! Glad you've got yourself heading in a more positive direction now. Saving Changes...
Tamer Zeyad SadiqAssistant Cost Manager| Turner & TownsendRiyadh, Ar Riyad, Saudi Arabia
You should make steps one by one!!! First collect all information what you need and make talk directly and meeting with them to try solve this issue what you have. If not effective, then escalate your issue to higher management!!! Saving Changes...
