Reply to: Reporting project slippage

[Troll]

advising a Dutch insurance company that's outsourced all the testing to Bobland and is suffering some disappointment at the results. I wonder how I can help them????

This project is going through a similar pain ... discreetly trying to find out who advocated it as a good idea- the amount of effort to replan and recover is staggering

It's not alone - everywhere I've worked at in the last decade has had the same outsourced problems happen - yet still companies do it

The latest wheeze seems to be to bring in Contractors to define and implement "how to ensure quality from offshore partners" type processes and procedures.

Not sure you can polish a turd

[MaryPoppins]

Nah, nuffink to do with me mate

Just stating an observation about the use of language.

I've heard that one bandied about for ages, as well as all other manner of balls which basically means the same thing.

[suityou01]

If you're responsible SY, and you allowed requirements to change mid-development without at least trying to get the schedule updated, or sending emails warning of missing deadlines specifically due to the scope creep, then blame sticks to you. Not that it might have done any good of course.

Nah, nuffink to do with me mate

Just stating an observation about the use of language.

[d000hg]

In your example, the project hasn't slipped. Requirements have changed.

You look stupid for not understanding that a change in requirements could introduce slippage.

Requirements have changed. All bets are off. Delivery has to be rescheduled. That is not slippage.

Doesn't always work like that young spod (where's the patronising pat on the head smiley?)

If you're responsible SY, and you allowed requirements to change mid-development without at least trying to get the schedule updated, or sending emails warning of missing deadlines specifically due to the scope creep, then blame sticks to you. Not that it might have done any good of course.

[Mich the Tester]

Once worked for a SAP consultancy that internally implemented SAP HR with timewriting.

At the end of the year they noticed that none of the SAP HR consultants had produced any billable work and so binned almost the whole team.

I bet they'd earned a packet by then though.

[Pondlife]

Once worked for a SAP consultancy that internally implemented SAP HR with timewriting.

At the end of the year they noticed that none of the SAP HR consultants had produced any billable work and so binned almost the whole team.

[Mich the Tester]

We're in full self loving mode today aren't we Mitch

Oh yes, I've just been booked for an insultancy job when this one's done on 6 weeks time; advising a Dutch insurance company that's outsourced all the testing to Bobland and is suffering some disappointment at the results. I wonder how I can help them????

[original PM]

Princess Leia "The more you tighten your grip, Tarkin, the more star systems will slip through your fingers"

Grand Moff Tarkin "Oh Bollox"

[suityou01]

I once advised a CIO who was wondering where all the time disappeared to measure how much time his people were spending on reporting time for 40 different activities in each project (some were working on 5 or 6 projects at a time), plus timesheets, plus time in the HR system. He then got someone to do the measuring, and discovered his division was spending over 2 million euros per year out of a total personnel budget of about 15 million on time reporting. Needless to say, there was a cull of time reporting systems and Project Management systems.

We're in full self loving mode today aren't we Mitch

[Mich the Tester]

They should, we have 2 timesheet applications.

I once advised a CIO who was wondering where all the time disappeared to measure how much time his people were spending on reporting time for 40 different activities in each project (some were working on 5 or 6 projects at a time), plus timesheets, plus time in the HR system. He then got someone to do the measuring, and discovered his division was spending over 2 million euros per year out of a total personnel budget of about 15 million on time reporting. Needless to say, there was a cull of time reporting systems and Project Management systems.

A time reporting system which does not include an activity called 'time reporting' is worse than useless; it is a black hole into which money disappears.

[minestrone]

Have they included an activity in the time reporting called 'time reporting'?

They should, we have 2 timesheet applications.

[suityou01]

I think it is company policy, there is no actual PM assigned to the project but everyone has to report to a PM department which I have never seen before.

I suppose they are an American Financial who mostly use bobs and victors who probably need that level of scrutiny. I'm more used to "just get it finished, I'll say the estimate was how long you took after you finish the job" type stuff.

fook me that's odd. Does your project get a name from said PM dept or is it a different PM every day? Kind of like a deli counter

[original PM]

interestingly enough all of this comes down to who you know and not what you know.

[minestrone]

Agree. Some tasks might come in under estimate and help get you back on track.
Is it a rookie PM?

I think it is company policy, there is no actual PM assigned to the project but everyone has to report to a PM department which I have never seen before.

I suppose they are an American Financial who mostly use bobs and victors who probably need that level of scrutiny. I'm more used to "just get it finished, I'll say the estimate was how long you took after you finish the job" type stuff.

[Xenophon]

We goofed.

..