Project manager going down in flames

[suityou01]

Excellent. You're halfway there.

Keep pressing for priorities on the unplanned stuff - something else has to give. Do it in writing.
How far out have your estimates been so far - 20%, 30%? You should be keeping a record of tasks completed and time taken. Factor this percentage in to future estimates. (and add a bit more )
Breathe ...

Thanks zips. Couple of minor points.

They do not ask for estimates. Take for example

"This piece of work is already a month late, it was then due to go into UAT tomorrow. We're already looking pretty bad, so we need it for the end of this week. I also need your estimates by 12"

Where :

I wasn't there a month ago, have no idea what was agreed, do not know the toolset well enough to do the estimates, or the work at any level of pace. To add insult to injury, what they are asking for cannot actually be done by the tool, and as such a "hack around" will need to be implemented.

Everything is priority 1.

I have kept a record of tasks assigned at weekly team meeting that are for the entire week, which in the end accounts for a third of the actual tasks I end up doing.

[sasguru]

FFS Take control of the situation. It sounds like a complete cock-up and if you're not careful you'll be the fall guy.
Call a meeting of all stakeholders and lay down the law. Otherwise you're not going to last.
It's time to man up.

[sasguru]

At the moment you're reacting - you need to be proactive or you'll get the blame for a fooked project.

[suityou01]

FFS Take control of the situation. It sounds like a complete cock-up and if you're not careful you'll be the fall guy.
Call a meeting of all stakeholders and lay down the law. Otherwise you're not going to last.
It's time to man up.

And how would you feel if a lowly developer called a meeting of the stakeholders on your project and started laying down the law?

[Platypus]

I wasn't there a month ago, have no idea what was agreed, do not know the toolset well enough to do the estimates, or the work at any level of pace. To add insult to injury, what they are asking for cannot actually be done by the tool, and as such a "hack around" will need to be implemented.

So... what happens when you explain that to THEM (not us) ?

[sasguru]

And how would you feel if a lowly developer called a meeting of the stakeholders on your project and started laying down the law?

Personally I'd think he/she had balls and initiative.
When I say lay down the law I mean telling them AS A NEWBIE where the project is going wrong.
If you keep taking tulipe, you become part of the scenery and its clear this project is fooked (from your description), anyway. When the excrement hits guess who'll be the fall guy?

[suityou01]

So... what happens when you explain that to THEM (not us) ?

As I said before I have tried this and get told

"This is the nature of the beast"

or

"We don't have the luxury of being able to move the deadlines"

So we just miss them anyway, chuck in 66% unplanned work week on week and work me into the ground.

HTH

[sasguru]

In any case, it don't look like you're going to stay.
So what have you got to lose?
This could be the start of your Project Management career.
If you don't take risks you don't get anywhere.

[suityou01]

Personally I'd think he/she had balls and initiative.
When I say lay down the law I mean telling them AS A NEWBIE where the project is going wrong.
If you keep taking tulipe, you become part of the scenery and its clear this project is fooked (from your description), anyway. When the excrement hits guess who'll be the fall guy?

I take your point, but please take mine. I have told them where the project is failing, and have been asked to generate myriad test plans, release plans and yet still deliver the development work. Then get unplanned work chucked in on top.

The problem is the deadlines. They won't move them. I do not have the authority to move them. We can't hit them.

Next?

[sasguru]

The problem is the deadlines. They won't move them. I do not have the authority to move them. We can't hit them.

Next?

You can't hit your deadlines?
THEN TELL THEM (whoever them is) - that is step no 1.