Should I insist on a BA?

[TykeMerc]

Rubbish! Who ever accepts a PM contract on the basis that the project is in great shape to start with?

For many contract PMs, their whole business is based on fixing projects that the client has already knackered.

No kidding, it's certainly made a sizeable lump of my income for years.

The start point is to identify where the problems are, how or if they can be mitigated and get plans that feel sensible in place. If it looks like a BA is required to make it work then make the case, set the expectations and get it done.

[Project Monkey]

Set out the options to the client and ask what they'd prefer, laying out the risks/benefits for each.

Hire a BA (contract)
Hire a BA (Perm)
No BA - less PM
etc.

Get them to decide, in writing.

...and make your recommendation clear.

[Project Monkey]

You're screwed then. And you were screwed from the day you accepted the contract without checking the project team makeup....

Rubbish! Who ever accepts a PM contract on the basis that the project is in great shape to start with?

For many contract PMs, their whole business is based on fixing projects that the client has already knackered.

[Project Monkey]

Recruitment time would take too long - that's the issue. If we recruit it would delay the whole project.

So what will happen if you don't hire a BA...

a) you do the BA work, neglect your PM work, risks are missed, issues happen and project gets delayed.
b) ignore all BA work, client doesn't sign off UAT because it's not what they wanted, project gets delayed.
c) get someone else to pretend to be a BA, requirements turn out to be a waste of paper, client won't sign off, project gets delayed.
d) etc, etc, project gets delayed.

...if you know you need a BA, then you also know you don't have a credible plan to deliver on time. It sound like the project has ALREADY been delayed so you need to call out the issue and deal with it.

[malvolio]

This government department doesn't hire agency staff.,,

Bet they do. Who does the cleaning? Or front desk security? Or courier services, or a dozen other odds and sods.

They - or rather you - need a short term resource. Tell them to go and get one and demonstrate why it's cost effective to do so and the risk costs of not doing so.

[tractor]

...

This government department doesn't hire agency staff.,,

So get one of us direct, we don't all use agencies to find roles exclusively

[Smartie]

Set out the options to the client and ask what they'd prefer, laying out the risks/benefits for each.

Hire a BA (contract)
Hire a BA (Perm)
No BA - less PM
etc.

Get them to decide, in writing.

[cojak]

Time to roll up your sleeves and get those BA Marigolds on then...

[eek]

This government department doesn't hire agency staff.,,

You're screwed then. And you were screwed from the day you accepted the contract without checking the project team makeup....

[simplicity]

This government department doesn't hire agency staff.,,

[eek]

Recruitment time would take too long - that's the issue. If we recruit it would delay the whole project.

Why?

Call agent tomorrow. Interviews by phone Friday afternoon for start Monday/Tuesday

[simplicity]

Recruitment time would take too long - that's the issue. If we recruit it would delay the whole project.

[tractor]

.....

So there's an obvious lack of a BA on the project I'm working on and timescales are tight. As the PM should I just do the BA work myself or insist on hiring a BA?

Don't you have a budget?

[simplicity]

So there's an obvious lack of a BA on the project I'm working on and timescales are tight. As the PM should I just do the BA work myself or insist on hiring a BA?