3 Questions about Project in a complicated situation (3 Preguntas sobre proyectos en una situación complicada)

1. It is the middle of the project when the pm is informed by her scheduler that the project control limits are secure. That same morning she receives a note from a team member about a problem he is having. The note says, "This activity is driving me crazy, and the manager of the accounting department won't help me until the activity's float is in jeopardy". In addition, the pm has e/mails form a minor stakeholder and 14 e-mails from team members. While she is reading the e-mails, a team member walks into the pm's office to tell her a corrective action was implemented by a team member from the pm office, but was not documented. What should the pm do NEXT?

It is the best to first record the corrective action taken, then discuss the value of documentation at the next team meeting, and smooth the team member's issue with accounting department.

2. The client demands changes to the product specification that will add only two weeks to the critical path. Which of the following is the BEST thing for the pm to do? 

Consult with the sponsor about options.

3. The engineering department has uncovered a problem with the cost accounting system and has asked the systems department to analyzed what is wrong and fix the problem. Management has issued a change request to the change control board to add the new work to your project.

Your existing project has a cost performance index (CPI) of 1.2 and a schedule performance index (SPI) of 1.3, so you have some room to add work without delaying your existing project or going over budget. However, you cannot see how the new work fits within the project charter for your existing project. After some analysis, you determine that the new work and existing work do not overlap and can be done concurrently. They also require different skill sets. Which of the following is the BEST thing to do?

Developing a project charter is among the first steps of initiating a new project, and the best choice in this situation.

First 5 Questions about Project in crisis (5 Primeras Preguntas sobre proyectos en crisis)

1. You receive notification that a major item you are purchasing for a project will be delayed. What is the BEST thing to do?

Meet with the team, and identify alternatives.

2. You are in the middle of executing a major modification to an existing product when you learn that the resources promised at the beginning of the project are not available. The Best thing to do is to try to prevent the situation by showing the consequences if the resources are not available. This is a more effective strategy than saying, "But you gave them to me."

3. The primary customer of a project has requested an application change during user testing. As project manager, how should you BEST address this issue? 

Create a formal change request.

4. You were just assigned to take over a project from another project manager who is leaving the company. The previous pm tells you that the project is on schedule, but only because he has constantly pushed the team to perform. What is the FIRST thing you should do as the new pm?

Determine a management strategy.

5. You are assigned as the pm in the middle of the project. the project is within the baselines, but customer is not happy with the performance of the project. What is the FIRST thing you should do?

Meet with the customer