Setting Dates Can Be Bad
By raywhite | April 28, 2008
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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