Ignoring Warning Signals
CAUSES
Some projects leaders are afraid of failure, or even admitting the possibility of failure, so they do not acknowledge issues as they arise.
Wishful thinking often causes project teams and project managers to ignore warning signals.
REMEDIES
Effective project managers encourage team members to raise potential problems. Fostering a working environment that is open and collaborative prevents minor issues from growing into major obstacles.
Monitor and track issue resolution. Maintain an issue log and make sure all project team members have access to it.
Acknowledge significant problems early and demonstrate that the project team is pursuing potential solutions. If the team cannot solve the problem on its own project managers should involve stakeholders in developing resolution.
Using prototypes and pilots to test requirements in early phases of development reduces the chance of serious problems later on.
During her time at Glenbrook, Erin focused on client engagements in business payments, cross-border transactions, bill payment, and the intersection of corporate finance, banking, and ERP/accounting. She has nearly twenty years of experience leading increasingly complex payment initiatives for corporate clients and advising financial institutions and payment technologists on the development of their payment capabilities.
Erin is also the founder of Forte Financial, a consulting firm focused on corporate finance efficiency, technology, and process improvement. She is a past president of the Financial Women’s Association of San Francisco and also a two-term past president of the San Francisco Treasury Management Association. Erin is no longer with Glenbrook, but contributed greatly during her time at the firm.