A project has fallen behind schedule for no obvious reason, so the PM has gathered the team to brainstorm.
Which of the following should the PM do NEXT?
Click on the arrows to vote for the correct answer
A. B. C. D. E.B.
When a project falls behind schedule, it is essential for the project manager to take corrective actions to get it back on track. Brainstorming with the project team is a great way to identify possible causes of delay and develop a plan to address them. The next step for the project manager would depend on the project's situation and the outcome of the brainstorming session. Here are some explanations of each answer:
A. Go over the meeting's objectives and agenda. This answer suggests that the project manager should review the meeting's objectives and agenda with the team. While it is important to have a clear understanding of the meeting's goals, it may not be the most urgent action to take when a project falls behind schedule. The team already knows that the project is behind, and they may not see the value in discussing the objectives and agenda again.
B. Brief the team on which tasks have fallen behind schedule and where the project has slack. This answer suggests that the project manager should brief the team on the specific tasks that are behind schedule and identify where the project has slack. This information is valuable as it provides transparency on the project's status and can help the team to prioritize their work. However, it does not provide a clear path forward to address the delay.
C. Refer to the risk register to map the risks to issues and mitigation strategies. This answer suggests that the project manager should refer to the risk register to identify potential risks that could be causing the delay. Mapping risks to issues and mitigation strategies can help the team to identify potential problems early and take proactive steps to prevent them from impacting the project. However, this action does not address the current delay directly.
D. Review the issue log with the project team and identify potential risks. This answer suggests that the project manager should review the issue log with the team and identify potential risks that could be contributing to the delay. This approach is similar to option C but focuses on the issues that have already arisen. Reviewing the issue log can help the team to identify patterns and trends in the project's performance and develop strategies to address them.
E. Review an Ishikawa diagram with the project team to determine possible causes and effects. This answer suggests that the project manager should review an Ishikawa diagram with the team to determine possible causes and effects of the delay. An Ishikawa diagram, also known as a fishbone diagram or cause-and-effect diagram, is a tool used to identify the root cause of a problem. This approach can help the team to focus on the underlying causes of the delay and develop targeted solutions to address them.
In conclusion, the best answer depends on the project's situation and the outcome of the brainstorming session. Option E, reviewing an Ishikawa diagram with the project team to determine possible causes and effects, is the most direct and actionable approach to address the current delay. However, other options may be more appropriate in different situations.