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Tips and Tricks for Recovering a Rogue IT Project. Robert Bogue MS MVP, MCSE, MCSA: Security, Etc. Thor Projects, LLC Rob.Bogue@ThorProjects.com. Defining Rogue. Dictionary Definition (courtesy of Dictionary.com) Large, destructive, and anomalous or unpredictable In IT
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Tips and Tricks for Recovering a Rogue IT Project Robert Bogue MS MVP, MCSE, MCSA: Security, Etc.Thor Projects, LLC Rob.Bogue@ThorProjects.com
Defining Rogue • Dictionary Definition (courtesy of Dictionary.com) • Large, destructive, and anomalous or unpredictable • In IT • A project that was never approved but has created a life of it’s own • A project with a runaway schedule and cost that shows no signs of stopping
Agreeing It’s a Rogue Project • The first step is admitting you have a problem • Agreement has to come from the bottom up and the top down
Triage • Where is the project compared to a standard model? • What are the most pressing issues? • What resources do you need to resolve the most pressing issues? • Should you let this project die?
Charting a Course • Integrity – Do what’s right for the organization first, the project second, and politics last. • Take the blame – even when it’s not yours. There will be time enough for post-mortems. • Create Some Slack – You can’t break the tension without breaking the tension
Get Everyone on the same page • You can’t hit a moving target • You’ll never reach the end of the project if the end of the project moves as fast as you do. • If the rules keep changing, put a stop to that immediately.
Back to the Basics • Do work (code) reviews – they work • Create Milestones • Eliminate Risks • Open and Honest Communication
Project Management Techniques • Develop a project plan • Identify Incomplete tasks and dependencies (to ~40 hours or less per task) • Develop a risk management plan • Identify risks to the project such as cancellation, loss of key staff, etc. • Establish change management
Avoiding the “Blame Game” • There’s more than enough to go around • Why didn’t you notice the project was out of control before it went rogue? • What controls do you have in place to prevent projects from going rogue?
Searching for Root Causes • When did we first know it was broken? • How did we know it was broken? • Why didn’t we fix it?
Questions? Robert L. Bogue(317) 844-5310Rob.Bogue@ThorProjects.com