james baker cameron brown david vanasselberg information systems 8825 dr. martha myers december 7,...
TRANSCRIPT
James Baker
Cameron Brown
David VanAsselberg
Information Systems 8825
Dr. Martha Myers
December 7, 2005
Examples Definition Focus on negotiations:
Schedule and budget Team conditions
Death march as a way of life
Agenda
Characteristics:
Schedule has been reduced by half Staff has been reduced by half Budget has been reduced by half Scope has Increased by 50%
Death March Projects
Why organizations attempt them Politics, politics, politics Naïve promises by marketing or senior
mgmt Intense competition caused by
globalization of markets, new technology Unexpected and/or unplanned
government regulations or other crises
Types of Death March Projects
Hap
pin
ess
Chance of Success
High
HighLow
Kamikaze
Suicide
MissionImpossible
Ugly
Focus: Negotiations
Develop rational estimates Accuracy for planning Credibility for negotiating
Identify possible trade-offs Applies triage principles 80/20 rule
Focus: Negotiations
Negotiating Games Double and Add Some Reverse Doubling Low Bid Spanish Inquisition
Focus: Negotiations
Negotiating strategies Avoid the instant estimate Avoid concrete estimates – provide ranges
and confidence intervals
Prepare for failure Be willing to quit Make challenging demands Be honest with team
Focus: Negotiations
Hiring & Staffing Issues Virtuoso team Previous mission-impossible team Well-informed mere mortals Taking who you’ve got
Avoid taking on dead wood! Negotiate the right to assemble the
correct team
Focus: Negotiations
Loyalty, Commitment & Motivation Money, benefits and comfort are hygiene
issues – they matter if they’re missing. Other options:
Extended vacation Paid sabbatical Perks – cool technology toys, paid data
access, etc Negotiate the right to offer unique
incentives
Focus: Negotiations
Issues with Overtime Overtime is a temporary solution Overtime presents diminishing returns on
a daily, weekly and project-long basis Overtime has a natural, physical limit Negotiate the ability to control overtime
sensibly
Net Productivity VS. Hours Worked
40
Hoursper Week
60 80 90 100 120
Death March as a Way of Life More and more projects can be
considered a death march Some organizations are knowingly
accepting lower quality in exchange for greater output
Some organizations are unknowingly adopting bad practices because of previous successful death marches
Questions?