Issue Management Meetings

An issue management meeting , as its name suggests, is a meeting to resolve problems and issues as they arise on a project. Every project, no matter who planned it, will encounter troubles ”they just always do. A delay in the critical path is a delay you cannot afford. For example, if a critical task is delayed because of a software compatibility problem, that s a delay for all dependent tasks in the project lifeline. Pushing your project timeline beyond the targeted completion date, as in Figure 9-6, will cost additional funds because of the hours required to complete the project.

Figure 9-6: Delays will ultimately result in budget overruns.

An issue management meeting allows you to address problems with your team, the vendor, technology, or key personnel to find solutions. You can address an issue, brainstorm for different ideas, and drop in plans of variance in your PND. An issue management meeting is a serious piece of business that allows you to quickly and accurately get your project back on track.

At the end of your issue management meeting, which may run over days or weeks, you should have a resolution to the issues and a plan on how to attack. This plan allows you to address the problem with a solution, and address how the solution will impact the remaining tasks in the project. Meet and discuss with the entire project team the solution you ve arrived at and explain the justification for the plan. And then assign the task to the appropriate team members to implement.