The Project Management bandwagon has made Project Steering committees "fashionable". Despite a Project Manager's best intentions, a seat on the committee can be politically desirable, resulting in too many stakeholders, too many agendas and the nomination of a sponsor so high up in the ranks that he/she does not have the time to dedicate to the project objectives.
Enter the Project Champion.
This is a person on the steering committee who is respected by all members, especially the project sponsor. But most importantly, the strategic agenda of the Champion depends on the objectives of the project outcomes.
In other words, your project is one of the most important to them.
With a Champion in place, you are able to have almost daily feedback from the agenda makers. Your project has a voice at every meeting of the Champion's peers and higher-ups.
Why is this important? Word of mouth is a powerful thing. If your project is important enough to be discussed in meetings you didn't attend, then everyone starts believing it is important for the organisation.
Requests for resources are magically granted! Training receives full attendance! Another bandwagon is launched!
So how do you find the Champion in the politically charged environment? Ask questions, offer to do research, volunteer information. A little work outside of the straight-line project management will uncover the person who is most likely to manage upward and outward, so you can concentrate on delivery.
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Isn't it funny how organisations are able to work towards failure just by trying to control the failure?
ReplyDeleteJust as with the risk management, the same applies to the steering committee. They've heard that they need to do something like that but haven't really understood it. Their actions subsequently have an adverse effect.
Hein - http://hein-bouman.blogspot.com/