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Project Management Warning Flag 5 – Fast Tracking Everything

A good plan, violently executed now, is better than a perfect plan next week.

George S. Patton (1885 – 1945)
General, U.S. Army

There is no such thing as the perfect project plan. Sometimes a project manager will find him or herself with excess resources and, as is more often the case, fewer resources than are required to complete a task. Depending on whether or not this task impacts the overall project’s progression, the project manager may choose to fast track or ‘crash’ that portion of the project schedule’s execution. In doing so, the project manager commits additional resources to the performance of the fast tracked work, whether those individuals are working overtime or are pulled from other activities in order to accelerate these project activities. Fast tracking itself is a useful tool to keep a project on schedule. It can, however, become a very dangerous practice both to the health of the project and the organization if used too frequently.


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Recommended Resource – The Leader Phrase Book

The Leader Phrase Book: 3000+ Powerful Phrases That Put You In Command

by Patrick Alain

About the Reference

The Leader Phrase Book by Patrick Alain provides professionals with the ‘right thing to say’ across a multitude of situations and spectrum of approaches. These phrases can help anyone prepare for interactions of all kinds with seniors, peers, and subordinates. A small sample of the situations covered include:

  • General Conversation – How to Agree, How to Disagree
  • At Work – How to Ask for a Raise, How to Ask for Time Off
  • Conflicts and Anger – How to Diffuse a Tense Situation, How to Stop a Conflict Between Other People
  • Diplomacy – How to Open Up a Topic for Debate, How to Wrap Up a Debate
  • Negotiation – How to Ask a Question, How to Stall
  • Problem Solving – How to Address/Acknowledge a Problem, How to Ask Someone for Help
  • Courtesy – How to Offer Your Help, When Someone Asks You for Help
  • Machiavellian Techniques – How to Destabilize Someone, How to Threaten Someone

Benefits of Using this Reference

StrategyDriven Contributors like The Leader Phrase Book because of its broad situational applicability and immediately implementable recommendations. This book helps new and experienced professionals build out their communications toolkit with approaches that will help them gracefully navigate difficult situations. Whether one desires to be formal or casual, courteous or rude, The Leader Phrase Book can be used to prepare for difficult conversations and, with practice, its phrases will become second nature; enabling the professional to adapt ‘on-the-fly’ when challenging circumstances arise. For its quality and actionable insights, The Leader Phrase Book is a StrategyDriven recommended read.

Alternative Selection – Total Value of Ownership

More and more prevalent in business case evaluations today is the concept of the total cost of ownership whereby organizations evaluate the collective expense associated with a given initiative or asset over its entire life. Comparing initiatives on this basis alone however, fails to consider the offsetting benefits the organization would realize over the investment’s lifetime as calculated during return on investment (ROI) estimations. In order to effectively compare competing proposals, organization leaders should evaluate the total value of ownership of each investment alternative.


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Human Performance Management Best Practice 4 – Stop When Uncertain

StrategyDriven Human Performance Management Best Practice ArticleDo I go to the left or do I go to the right?” A common question asked when one reaches an intersection. Unless one is familiar with the area or has a map, the question may be answered with a nagging ‘gut feel’ rather than with certainty. Sometimes proceeding on the chosen course results in a successful outcome. At other times, it requires backtracking and results in a great deal of frustration, lost time, and unnecessarily spent resources.


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Business Plan Development Best Practice 1 – Plan the Plan’s Development

Business plans are more than just words on an otherwise blank piece of paper; it is a statement of the company’s future. The business plan is meant to provide direction and inspire action among executives in the C-suite and employees on the shop floor. Subsequently, these plans are often elegant design and creative in their layout; being fully illustrated and capturing through pictures the essence of the workforce. Consequently, it takes time to develop this creative publication.


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