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Snowden L Paper 3
Snowden L Paper 3
While uncertainty and risk are sure elements of project management, likewise so is
problem solving. Because no project is guaranteed to run smoothly, a project manager must have
problem solving skills in their pockets to be able to deal with uncertain events that crop up. In his
book Managing Project Uncertainty, David Cleden (2016) says that “problem solving lies at the
heart of effective project management strategy” (p. 41) noting that no matter which problem-
Identifying a Problem
While having problem solving skills is necessary, before a project manager can put them
to use, they must first identify the problem. Cleden (2016) mentions that “we can’t find answers
until we properly understand the question” (p. 42). Though some problems that occur may be
obvious, others may require critical thinking to identify them. One strategy to help identify
structured way of gathering missing information [to] discover fresh unknowns” (Cleden, 2016, p.
48). It is a process through which a project manager can discover the root problem and
“determine which key uncertainties must be tackled first” (Cleden, 2016, p. 48). Through this
process a project manager can identify possible outcomes and develop solutions accordingly.
Project manager dot com suggests that uncertainties can also be identified by paying
close attention to the minutest details (Knowledgewoods consulting, 2015). This way, a project
manager may recognize early warning signs of trouble on a project. Some of these key identifiers
include delays, when the amount of pending work is more than time allows, making trade-offs to
catch up, a key person quitting, and poor communication with the stakeholders
PROBLEM SOLVING IN PROJECT MANAGEMENT 3
(Knowledgewoods consulting, 2015). Danielle Ward (2016) of project manager dot com
mentions that this ability to identify and solve problems is “a critical skill set to grow as a
capable project manager”. Because “team members are directly influenced by the ability of their
project manager’s problem-solving qualities,” she says, “the sooner you find a solution, the faster
Selecting a Solution
After identifying the problem, a project manager must utilize problem solving strategies
to navigate the issue, and minimize its effects. Cleden (2016) notes that “once the possible
outcomes have been evaluated as objectively as possible”, the project manager must use their
best judgement to identify a solution (p. 53). Once the use of the problem-framing process leads
to discovering the root of a problem, a project manager can then focus on choosing the best
solution. The problem-framing process will “enable [a] set of possible outcomes to be explored,
each of which has an inherent value” (Cleden, 2016, p. 52). Cleden recommends involving others
in the evaluation/selection process in order to bring different perspectives to the selection process
(2016, p. 53). Obviously, selecting the maximum-value outcome will have the greatest positive
impact on a problem, and having input from others can offer valuable insight. It’s important to
weigh the impact of each possible solution and select the one that will be the most effective, and
In the third scenario of the Harvard Business simulation, the team is thrown yet another
curve ball. On week five an uncertain event causes the project deadline to be reduced from 17
PROBLEM SOLVING IN PROJECT MANAGEMENT 4
weeks to 12 weeks. While this problem is straightforward, it still requires the project manager to
identify the problem, analyze the possible outcomes objectively, and develop a solution.
There were several aspects of this problem to consider when deciding how the team
should move forward. How many extra team members should I add in order to make up for lost
time? How much more extensive should the outsourcing be? Should I make a trade-off in the
budget to help keep my team on track no matter the cost? Do I need extra meetings or less
meetings? If I were dealing with this situation in reality, I would have a risk management plan in
place to deal with unexpected events. I would have thought through the possible risks or
uncertain events that could occur and would have developed a plan to deal with them. In fact, the
PMStudent mentions that “if you and your team have done a good job with risk identification
and in prioritizing your risks and preparing responses for those risks, then you know whether or
not it was reasonable to see something coming” (Prepare for the unknown, 2016). In addition to
making a plan, knowing my team would also help me understand how to react to uncertain
situations
Cleden (2016) mentions that “knowledge-centric strategies provide the ability to visualize future
states of the project” (p. 57). Knowledge-centric strategies prompt the project manager to use
their knowledge to identify and deal with uncertain events (Cleden, 2016, p. 58). In this third
scenario, it was important to address the shortening of the deadline right away. Using my
knowledge of past scenarios and how my team functions, I was able to change the amount of
meetings and monitor their morale to make sure we completed everything on time and under
budget. Knowing your team and being able to anticipate their moods and reactions to uncertainty
PROBLEM SOLVING IN PROJECT MANAGEMENT 5
can help a project manager address problems in a way that will be the most effective for their
team.
Conclusion
Overall, the chapters in the book and the blog articles have helped remind me of the
importance of having a risk management plan in place. They have also provided examples of
how to identify and develop solutions for problems. For me, problem solving would be
something that I do off the top of my head. From the readings, I have learned new problem
solving techniques, how to dissect uncertainty, and how to formally work through issues that
References
https://ebookcentral-proquest-com.ezproxy1.lib.asu.edu/lib/asulib-
ebooks/reader.action?docID=438596&query=#ppg=1
Knowledgewoods consulting (2015, October 19). Top Ways to Identify Key Problem Indicators.
problem-indicators/
Prepare for the Unknown: AKA Risk Management. (2016, April 06). Retrieved April 08, 2018,
from http://pmstudent.com/prepare-for-the-unknown-aka-risk-management/
Ward, D. (2016, October 25). 5 Must Have Skills for Project Management. Retrieved April 7,