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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?

#61

Post by chiefalchemist »

ljw1001 wrote: 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…

> "Third, people do shoot the bearer of bad news."

True. But under such circumstances chances are pretty good someone(s) is going to be shot anyway.

I think the answer is solid. But if going this route I would update my resume and reach out to my network.

If this ends badly you want to be prepared.

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

#62

Post by Zeebrommer »

ljw1001 wrote: 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…

I hate to agree with you. This honesty/positivity dilemma is something I'm struggling with.

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

#64

Post by kefabean »

adrianhel wrote: post #42
Chyzwar wrote: post #12

I suspect that you did not managed expectations. PO was not really working as the proper owner and have no clue about progress and effort being put. Your direct manager does not care as it can always blame everything on you. And the team is not so great if they have problems with "comfort zone". First get PO on board. Choose the process that will push PO into the central role: Kanban, Scrum, XP(anything really). Work…

And if it's an online solution, propose to roll out some features gradually. But yeah: 1. Be honest with everyone 2. Invest in online courses for everyone 3. Lay out a simple roadmap for the minimum MVP 4. Hustle And next time use my recipe for estimating. Spend ~ a day on this. 1. Split up everything into the smallest subtasks 2. Estimate the time all subtasks take. Uncertain? Write down a low and a high. Still unce…

The multiply by three approach has also worked for me in the past. People often estimate the time taken to do the task, typically not taking in to consideration the other aspects of their job (eg comms/planning/rework/productionisation/etc) needed to get said task done. I do like the use of pi though, I’ll be adopting this going forwards!

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

#65

Post by trh88 »

crispyambulance wrote: post #60
ljw1001 wrote: 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 ar…

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

How do you know deadlines are going to slip when planning the project? Makes no sense.

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

#66

Post by trh88 »

ljw1001 wrote: 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…

There are a LOT of assumptions here.

> The rest of the org probably made a schedule they know you can't meet

> Most people probably already know you'll be late, but aren't saying it out loud

> There's a good chance already knows as you suspect.

> It's probably not new news to either.

Doesn't take much for one, if not all of those to be untrue. And by the time it unravels, it's too late.

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

#68

Post by chiefalchemist »

jacquesm wrote: post #14

It sounds to me as if you're doing a 'big bang' when you should be doing something incremental instead. Great way to lose your people because at some point the only way to make the artificial deadline is to increase the pressure on the team building it to satisfy the manager. Those that can move out will do so, you will be left with the people that do not have much in terms of options to finish the job. This movie ha…

Great point. Given what (little) we know it's fairly safe to say someone (important) on the dev team is looking to leave and will likely do so at the ultimate wrong time.

I think aside from looking up the org chart, you have make sure your teams knows you're there for them. It's likely the have ideas for improving the process in the immediate, as well as the long term. Asking them is probably a wise thing to do.

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

#69

Post by tmaly »

The project will either fail or be severely scaled back to launch a minimal version of what was promised. I would hedge bets and try to figure out what the crucial features of that minimal version are. Focus on those, and build extensive testing that will help you when its crunch time. I did just that and was able to launch a project.

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

#70

Post by ajcodez »

I would send upbeat emails at every milestone listing the accomplishments of your team. Throw in some tech speak to impress non tech people. By the time the deadline comes and passes anyone on the email thread will know how much your team has done and will trust you to finish the job.

I would also assign tasks or busy work as the deadline approaches to anyone who is waiting on you to launch. Have them beta testing, etc. People are a lot more patient when they have things to do and a lot less patient when they are just waiting for you to finish already.

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