We Can Work it Out
Continuing my music linked to project management themed articles perhaps the following gives food for thought if you are managing or reviewing projects.
"We Can Work It Out" is a song recorded in 1965 by the Beatles, written by Paul McCartney and John Lennon. It was released as a double A sided single with Day Tripper. It is reputed to be the first time both sides of a single record were designated this way in an initial release. Both songs were recorded during the recording sessions for the Rubber Soul album.
The music is surely timeless; not like project work which has to be completed on time, is soon forgotten and hopefully, when there are issues, with a “we can work it out” mindset.
I am reminded of this because I have seen all too often in major projects the “we can work it out” mindset translates to “let’s change the task level planned dates to meet the project schedule”. Yes at times that has to happen, but how many times is acceptable?
Talking to a colleague the other day I was reminded that a baselined plan is “the” plan. It should not be repeatedly rebaselined so the status can get back on track. His project, he told me, had been rebaselined at the task level detail more than a few times, project status continued to show on track and no attention was being given to what were serious underlying issues. He felt the issues were becoming more severe but since the project was on track for all governance reporting purposes he was in a dilemma about suggesting there were issues.
During a project health check or during any regular project review for that matter, metrics to look at the number of versions of the project plan, the accompanying slippages, or rescheduling of tasks to ensure the planned end date does not change should be carefully reviewed.
Yes, we can work it out but not by rescheduling tasks, keeping the same end date or a revised end date that is not equal to the sum of the slippages.
About the Author:
Michael has over 25 years experience in leadership roles in prominent customer and vendor organizations working in the UK, Canada, Australia, South Korea and Hong Kong in the Airline, Banking, and Telecommunications sectors.