| Skill Sharpener Item #4 |
| I interview an adequate sample of potential project participants, asking (a) what resources would be required to complete the project, (b) who should and could participate in the project, (c) what existing methods, products, services or technologies could be used to simplify or accelerate the project, (d) if any aspects of the project would be particularly difficult and/or prone to schedule or cost overruns, and (e) what functions and/or activities should be part of the project plan. |
Outstanding! Here are some of the benefits you've probably received because you regularly tap into the knowledge and skills of project participants before investing great amounts of time in project planning :
You can give Prime Movers a realistic project budget based on the very well informed input of people who know the work better than anyone else.
You avoid the participant bad feelings, sandbagging and/or outright work stoppage that can result when you plead with participants to 'find a way' to produce your project results without the resources they'll need.
You get expertise and 'simpatico' by forming largely self-selecting project teams in which mutual confidence, respect and efficient communication habits are already in place.
You save time and, consequently, money by substituting your best guesses about key work efficiencies with the input of the people who know the processes and technologies that are best suited to the particular project.
You identify the showstoppers that only experience can anticipate, making it possible to build contingency plans and to develop realistic expectations among eager Prime Movers.
You cast a light into those planning blindspots that too many project managers only discover when they realize that a critical workpath/milestone trail has been overlooked (and must be backfilled at great expense).