Should I stay or should I go now?

[Xenophon]

Of course it is

WHS

[Bluebird]

The solution design was sorted out informally and verbally prior to my involvement.

No effort or money will be spent on implementation until the requirements are signed off. IT wont sign them off; the reason varies each time.

What business analyst would that be? Oh yeah, the one requested in every Programme Board report since January. And the project manager's job description is, of course, "Everything Else."

In your shoes, I'd get the requirements and "everything else" done properly - you're right that you shouldn't have been put in this poistion by the client and it would be easier to walk away - having said that they'd still blame you for everything.

[Tensai]

Make sure you've got an audit trail that covers your behind, and get out of there.

WHS with knobs on.

Don't do anything while you're ... I can almost guarantee that you'll regret it later.

[Bob Dalek]

Go sick instead of taking a holiday. Or claim a family crisis. Anything that gets you out of there for the requisit period.

If you are working weekends at home for this gig then it's not worth it.

WHS.

Can't play this joker too often, though this is one of those special occasions.

The "scapegoat" theory is, IMHO, not that far-fetched. No business could survive if the current insanity of non-decision making had always been the norm; something must have changed, and could mean your bollocks ending up in the blender.

[Xenophon]

and could mean your bollocks ending up in the blender.

...which would not be good.

For you or your bollocks.

[blacjac]

Or the blender I'd imagine......

[beaker]

I would go to the programme manager and start making some demands. Unless you were brought in specifically to write the requirements, I would say "I'm the PM, you need a BA to write the requirements. If you don't hire a BA by x then I'll work as this the current situation is unmanageable".

I'd probably walk anyway after having to put up with such crap. If they find another PM to take this on, then more power to him/her.

[BrilloPad]

If you go there will be trouble. And if you stay it will be double.

[Numpty]

In your shoes, I'd get the requirements and "everything else" done properly

I have tried, hence the 53 pages describing a simple technical solution (that for AnyOtherClientCo I would have mostly implemented myself!). I'm being given the runaround and on top of that having up to five meetings a day makes a little hard to settle down and write any lengthy document. Especially since there is no project support available so we PMs are expected to take the minutes too. Glorified bleeding secretaries, we are.

Don't do anything while you're ... I can almost guarantee that you'll regret it later.

Very wise words. I shall not walk out; I shall complete the notice period. And now I have calmed down and drunk a cold beer, I shall not hand in my notice without a gig to go to.

I would go to the programme manager and start making some demands. Unless you were brought in specifically to write the requirements, I would say "I'm the PM, you need a BA to write the requirements. If you don't hire a BA by x then I'll work as this the current situation is unmanageable".

I did escalate it. Formally. Up to director level. The reaction was "Yeah, yeah, we've heard it all before. 'Not enough resources, blah, blah'. It's your project and you are the PM, so just get on with it". Ditto for project support.

I'd probably walk anyway after having to put up with such crap. If they find another PM to take this on, then more power to him/her.

I am that other PM that took this on... (well, I was given it, at 17:45 one Friday evening as the programme manager was leaving for the weekend) the last one walked away.

If you go there will be trouble. And if you stay it will be double.

Scourer, you are an inadvertent genius . You have summed up the situation perfectly.

My CV is updated, and the first Jobserve application is about to be sent out. I'm leaving this sinking ship ... but I'll keep looting gold from its hold until the rescue boat comes alongside.

[Alf W]

This has got disaster written all over it. Give notice and walk. If anyone asks why explain that you're an experienced PM and can tell when a project has no chance of succeeding and you want no part of it.

Better to walk away from a 5h1t-heap straight away than spending some time rolling around in it first.