May 23, 2011
1 comment
Ask for Problems on Your Projects
Putting out fires is not risk management (it’s poor planning).
Before you kick-off your project, ask for the problems that could arise.
Don’t just think about them. Ask everyone involved on your project team. Ask your customer. Ask the project sponsor. Ask experts who have done these kind of projects before.
Ask for the problems. Make a list of them. Then figure out ways they can be solved when they happen. Put these solutions right next to the problems on the list. Keep the list handy if/when problems arise.
Take a look at your project plan and see if there’s anything you can change that will reduce the chance of the problems happening. But keep in mind, that every change brings with it potential new problems.
This process is called Risk Management. Contrary to popular belief, Risk Management is not about managing problems when they arise. It’s about looking for them beforehand and being prepared for when they happen.
Like any part of a project, planning and preparing early on saves money, time, morale and headaches, as opposed to be surprised by problems and dealing with them on-the-fly.
