Project Team Wisdom http://www.projectteamwisdom.com Collection of project management wisdom Mon, 28 Apr 2008 14:16:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 en Setting Dates Can Be Bad http://www.projectteamwisdom.com/?p=6 http://www.projectteamwisdom.com/?p=6#comments Mon, 28 Apr 2008 14:11:32 +0000 raywhite http://www.projectteamwisdom.com/?p=6 I learned that setting arbitrary project dates can be a bad thing.  Our team had been working on a project that was in the beginning stages.  There was no requirements document, no clear customer expectations, just a good idea and some willing people.  We sat down for an all-hands meeting to kick things off.  I was shocked at what happened next.

The vice president in charge handed out sheets of paper with the project ship date in 50-point font.  We were each to sign a copy and pass it along.  When all the sheets were signed, we’d have our very own motivating copy.  What a cheesy ploy.

But what’s worse, he held to that immenent date over the next several months.  That is, until it came and went.

I learned that setting project completion dates can be bad, unless you have a clear plan for finishing by that time.

Ray White
Scoutwest, Inc.
www.stdtime.com

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