House Guest and Change

I’ve been married for many years (happily actually) and I know the patterns. My dad called it “set in my ways.” Over the 4th of July, we had a house guest staying with us. She was no trouble and we enjoyed having her with us. But life in our house was different when she was with us. Our household underwent change with the addition of a new member.

Projects involve change, too. I’m not talking about the kind of change requiring a change control board, change request processes, and the like. No, what I’m talking about is what projects do… they change things. And as a project manager we are a change agent. If we do our jobs well, the change is predictable and planned. It is communicated and explained. Sponsors have built momentum and the organization is ready to undergo the change. All is well.

But what if things didn’t go as planned? What if the change is significant enough to really disrupt the lives of those impacted by it? What if the stranger in your house is trouble.

As a project manager we must realize our most noticeable deliverable may be the change we made. Expect those directly affected to be resistant. And expect those causally associated, to base their opinions on those of the most vocal in the directly affected group.

So as you work on risk plans, schedules, communication plans, etc. think about what your project is changing. Think about who will be affected by the change. Good luck and go get the spare bedroom ready for your guest.