Making It Happen: A Non-Technical Guide to Project Management

Chapter 5. Sifting Through the Mess

Back at my office, I sat down in my chair and put my feet up on my desk. Although people have told me that this particular position looks arrogant, disrespectful, lazy, and just plain impolite, I find it to be extremely comfortable. Whenever I need to think, I always sit like this and stare at the ceiling, sort of my own version of Rodin's sculpture.

I spent a moment examining my motives. I had worked on many projects before this one without spending so much time wondering if there was a better way. Why now? Was it the size? Was it my unfamiliarity with so many aspects of the project? Maybe because my career with this company was riding on it? Anyway, it didn't matter why. I would just have to continue trying to figure out a better way.

That decided, I stuck the flip charts from the meeting around the walls of my office. I looked first at the project goals. It read:

Project Goal:

Make the WindSailor a success by meeting the first season sales target of 2,600 units.

Project Sub-Goal 1:

To conduct the project in such a way as to minimize the negative impact on our existing production operation.

Project Sub-Goal 2:

To conduct the project in such a way as to minimize conflict with the accounting function.

Project Sub-Goal 3:

To conduct the project in such a way as to complete it on time and within the specified budget.

I felt uneasy with them. It wasn't that I disagreed with any of them, it was just that they didn't seem to provide me with ...