Taking over the project no-one is running

What is this about and why is it important?

Read any project management guide, or discuss project management processes, and there is normally one important assumption that is taken for granted: the project manager’s work starts at the beginning of the project. Unfortunately, this is not always true.

I have often been brought in to run a project well after it began. A typical example is when an initiative has been started by a senior executive. The executive has made promises based on the success of initiative: when it will be finished, what will be achieved and so forth. A vague set of tasks or objectives has been agreed across this executive’s management team. The managers individually get on with ...

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