Should I stay or should I go ?

applied to Project Management

Link to “The Clash” original soundtrack.

In 1981, rock band « The Clash » was singing « Should I stay or should I go ? ». 

In May 2020, while we are about to experience a significant economic clash, we have also in our companies to put some questions on the table. For instance : « Should we stop or should we move projects forward ? ».

Well, I believe it’s definitely time to step back to review and reassess projects.

We all know that we don’t know what will happen exactly in the upcoming months and year. We all know that we are not able to predict future. Nevertheless despite numerous uncertainties, it would be extremely wise to perform such exercise. This word is chosen on purpose to evoke « brain exercise » !  Indeed, you will have first to picture what could be the forthcoming economy, business etc. What could be small and big events, scenarios, risks, opportunities …. All of that corresponds to some kind of various landscapes that you and your team (the more you are the better) can imagine today. A combination or a part of those landscapes might form the future that you will actually meet.

Of course, this will not allow to determine precisely what will occur but this approach is a real groundwork. It eases present and future actions, decision making, next move anticipation and responsiveness. 

Then, through Projects Reviews, the brain exercise will be followed by analysis, synthesis and decisions. This shall include assessing project status but most importantly updating « Project risks/opportunities » and « Project business case » documents.

Finally, outcome of the above steps is decisions such as STOP this project downright, SPEED UP other ones or even LAUNCH new ones ! other option for the time being is « STATUS QUO » … another Rock Band name  ;-).

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