Comments on: What To Do When Taking Over a Large Project http://www.pmhut.com/what-to-do-when-taking-over-a-large-project Sat, 11 Feb 2012 23:44:56 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Kendall http://www.pmhut.com/what-to-do-when-taking-over-a-large-project/comment-page-1#comment-23144 Kendall Thu, 29 Jul 2010 04:30:54 +0000 http://www.pmhut.com/?p=5712#comment-23144 I would also add that a review of the communications is mandatory. If things have not been going well prior to you taking this project on, you can bet the comms behind it was just as bad. Review the scope and deliverables and make sure these are agreed by all stakeholders and suppliers. I would also add that a review of the communications is mandatory. If things have not been going well prior to you taking this project on, you can bet the comms behind it was just as bad. Review the scope and deliverables and make sure these are agreed by all stakeholders and suppliers.

]]> By: Son Nguyen http://www.pmhut.com/what-to-do-when-taking-over-a-large-project/comment-page-1#comment-22822 Son Nguyen Fri, 16 Jul 2010 19:32:12 +0000 http://www.pmhut.com/?p=5712#comment-22822 Vaughn, great article. I would do some more steps. 1. Analyze what was wrong with the project itself. When a project manager is fired, it is often because there are things that go wrong in the project: some stakeholders' interests were not taken into account, problems with resources, budget, schedule and other project requirements. Therefore, I would ask not only about the fired project manager, but also about the root causes for something wrong with the project. 2. Engage with project team. If you are a new project manager who takes over the project from the other project manager, usually the project team's morale is low, and there may be some sorts of barrier between you and project team members. You should overcome any obstacles with your project team as soon as possible to get the most of your people. You can do it through interviewing them about what they think about this project, what they consider to be wrong, what their suggestions are etc. By this you show that you are really with the project team, respect them and you are interested in carry out the project successfully. Son Nguyen http://pmreviews.org Vaughn, great article. I would do some more steps.

1. Analyze what was wrong with the project itself.

When a project manager is fired, it is often because there are things that go wrong in the project: some stakeholders’ interests were not taken into account, problems with resources, budget, schedule and other project requirements. Therefore, I would ask not only about the fired project manager, but also about the root causes for something wrong with the project.

2. Engage with project team.

If you are a new project manager who takes over the project from the other project manager, usually the project team’s morale is low, and there may be some sorts of barrier between you and project team members. You should overcome any obstacles with your project team as soon as possible to get the most of your people. You can do it through interviewing them about what they think about this project, what they consider to be wrong, what their suggestions are etc. By this you show that you are really with the project team, respect them and you are interested in carry out the project successfully.

Son Nguyen
http://pmreviews.org

]]> By: Laura Bamberg http://www.pmhut.com/what-to-do-when-taking-over-a-large-project/comment-page-1#comment-22787 Laura Bamberg Thu, 15 Jul 2010 13:28:04 +0000 http://www.pmhut.com/?p=5712#comment-22787 Hello Vaughn, You brought up two very important questions that people taking over large projects don't seem, in my opinion, to ask themselves: Why did you get it? - Was it because it was failing miserably, nobody else wanted it, and it was dumped on you to take the fall? Or was it because you were the one entrusted to saving it? Is it destined to fail or not? What happened to the previous project manager? Did he/she quit because it was doomed? Did the project manager get fired (a question that popped into my mind before I saw you included it) or quit the company? My question to you is, what happens when the PM takes its over-burdened workload to upper management and gets no help in response, and instead is told to make it happen no matter what? I don't think this is a rarity in this economy, and I think there are companies that were operating like that before the recession. Your thoughts? Laura Steelray Software Hello Vaughn,

You brought up two very important questions that people taking over large projects don’t seem, in my opinion, to ask themselves:

Why did you get it? - Was it because it was failing miserably, nobody else wanted it, and it was dumped on you to take the fall? Or was it because you were the one entrusted to saving it? Is it destined to fail or not?

What happened to the previous project manager? Did he/she quit because it was doomed? Did the project manager get fired (a question that popped into my mind before I saw you included it) or quit the company?

My question to you is, what happens when the PM takes its over-burdened workload to upper management and gets no help in response, and instead is told to make it happen no matter what? I don’t think this is a rarity in this economy, and I think there are companies that were operating like that before the recession. Your thoughts?

Laura
Steelray Software

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