On Change

“What obstacles do project managers face to successful completion of an Information Technology project?”

CIO: Government Department

I would stress that change management is a huge obstacle. So often technology is looked at like the magic bullet that will radically improve your process... but too often we just automate bad processes - and it isn't until we have started programming that the business unit start to dream up ideas to add features to the process - then everyone wants to add things... then the changes come - then the scope creep - then the delays, the costs, and the frustration...

It could all have been settled in the business case, charter, and scoping stages - but it rarely is... and granted, it is hard to see the building from the blueprints... so it's change management I think we really need to get a handle on - so everyone knows the impact of adding after the big "freeze"

MüTō Observation:

I firmly believe that 'Change is a Constant', and that means that a project manager must embrace it and prepare for it.

The PM is to be held entirely accountable to see that the change is mutually understood (by sponsors/beneficiaries, and suppliers), and to see the change through!