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Ask HN: As a team lead how to handle project going off the rails?

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Re: Ask HN: As a team lead how to handle project going off the rails?

#51
This is not going to be like the other advice you get, but I've managed many projects in different organizations and I think it is sound. First and foremost, don't sound any alarms.

Many organizations have common characteristics in this regard. First, they don't expect you to be on time. Sales may think you're going to launch on time, but it's in their financial interest to think so. The rest of the org probably made a schedule they know you can't meet because they think it motivates you to work harder.

Second, unless you're in a startup where everyone's inexperienced, most people probably already know you'll be late, but aren't saying it out loud. They likely have discussed it (up the chain) in meetings you're not in.

Third, people do shoot the bearer of bad news. You can earn a rep as a negative person if you make _true_ predictions out-loud that don't fit the common desire. This is especially true if some of the senior people who know (like your boss) haven't been forthcoming with their bosses.

Have a quiet conversation with your boss over lunch or beers - not a meeting - and tell him/her what you think. Be prepared with details, but if he/she doesn't ask for them, don't provide any. There's a good chance he/she already knows as you suspect.

Even more casually (lunch/beers), express your concerns to the project owner. It's probably not new news to him/her either. Being "positive" is a huge part of the corporate game.: Again, if no details are asked for, don't provide any. Shift the conversation to the weather or the world cup.

You're now down. Go back to work.

Re: Ask HN: As a team lead how to handle project going off the rails?

#52
post #18

Whatever you do, DO NOT ADD new team members to an already delayed project. It will delay it further. Break down the project into simpler tasks that can be assigned to a team member and be tracked. Attach strict responsibility of task to team member. And last and most important, talk to your Management about timelines. Make it very upfront that it will take X number of days and no lesser.

Instead of not adding new members, I would suggest to add new members to close out the current team's lack of knowledge. The OP indicated that the team is outside of their comfort zone, I recommend to add an expert domain into the team as a mentor to close out the gap.

Re: Ask HN: As a team lead how to handle project going off the rails?

#53
If you're not on schedule, tell your PO. We estimate tasks to be done as if they were done by even the least experienced teamate.

My PO would rather cut a few features and hit the deadline than deliver nothing because we wern't conservative in our estimates.

It's a lot easier to plan for the worst early & hope for the best

Re: Ask HN: As a team lead how to handle project going off the rails?

#55
post #51

This is not going to be like the other advice you get, but I've managed many projects in different organizations and I think it is sound. First and foremost, don't sound any alarms. Many organizations have common characteristics in this regard. First, they don't expect you to be on time. Sales may think you're going to launch on time, but it's in their financial interest to think so. The rest of the org probably made…

This is the only really true, non-theoretical advice in the thread.

OP's description is generally how every project at every company has ever worked, forever.

Re: Ask HN: As a team lead how to handle project going off the rails?

#56
Tell everyone there's a problem. Immediately. Make sure they understand that "working harder" isn't going to fix it.

Reset everything. Massively reduce the scope of the project and make sure everyone knows that's what you're doing and to expect to see something being delivered soon, but that it will be a small and simple component intended to get something out there.

Deliver the smallest useful thing you possibly can as quickly as you can, and show everyone,

Once you've delivered a few parts get a bit of momentum, get everyone together and hash out a slightly bigger next step.

Re: Ask HN: As a team lead how to handle project going off the rails?

#57
post #51

This is not going to be like the other advice you get, but I've managed many projects in different organizations and I think it is sound. First and foremost, don't sound any alarms. Many organizations have common characteristics in this regard. First, they don't expect you to be on time. Sales may think you're going to launch on time, but it's in their financial interest to think so. The rest of the org probably made…

Sound, practical advice, should be top comment.

Re: Ask HN: As a team lead how to handle project going off the rails?

#58
Lots of good advice on prioritization & managing expectations already, but here's one part that jumped out that hasn't seen much attention:

> The team is great, it's just that the work is way outside their comfort zone.

This reads to me like the team doing the implementation literally couldn't have estimated this work at the start. Who in the company committed your team to deliver a fixed set of features in a fixed timeframe with new technology?

Re: Ask HN: As a team lead how to handle project going off the rails?

#59
One thing to do is to push the knowledge and acceptance of the situation up the management chain, especially to the non-believing Product Owner, lest the Thermocline of Truth[1] be revealed in two months and three weeks.

1. http://brucefwebster.com/2008/04/15/the-wetware-crisis-the-t...

Re: Ask HN: As a team lead how to handle project going off the rails?

#60
post #51

This is not going to be like the other advice you get, but I've managed many projects in different organizations and I think it is sound. First and foremost, don't sound any alarms. Many organizations have common characteristics in this regard. First, they don't expect you to be on time. Sales may think you're going to launch on time, but it's in their financial interest to think so. The rest of the org probably made…

Well put.

Deadlines often slip. It happens ALL THE TIME, regardless of elaborate and sophisticated project management techniques and skilled contributors. Deadline slippage is also RARELY FATAL, but yeah, leads/PM's can absolutely get themselves metaphorically shot by bearing bad news to the wrong people at the wrong time.

Some orgs hire a ridiculous number of PMP's who pretend like they're making a difference but are really just practicing an elaborate dance of goal-post-moving to appease the deadline-gods. People in such orgs often bullshit about a "track record" of being "always on time and under budget".

Best thing OP can do is learn from the mistakes and speak up next time during planning phases, well before deadlines slip.

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