Lead Time - We Never Seem to Have Enough

Hi,
Here is a quicky - a sidebar regarding lead time. There is another one following about avoiding excessive lead time - we project managers need to be able to find a balance between each.

...Geoff

CONTENT:

Much of the pain we suffer by ignoring the 7 Ps can be attributed to the compulsive manner in which we continuously persist in going at projects ‘like a bull at a gate’. We do not expect rats in a maze to sit down and puzzle out the problem with which they are confronted, but we should expect it of our project managers. And tragically, many people who profess to expect it of their project managers continue to place undue pressure to start projects well before they and the organisation are ready.

The term ‘lead time’ refers to the amount of time we give ourselves before something is to happen to prepare for it to happen. When we talk about project lead times, some people persist in saying, ‘we know what needs to be done, let’s get on with it’. What they usually mean is ‘I think I know what needs to be done; and I can’t be bothered taking the time to write it down and I can’t be bothered making sure everyone else knows what I know’. This is fine if you have no stakeholders and the outcome will not affect other people, or if the job is simple enough to get away with not planning.

The bottom line is, we need plenty of time to plan projects before we start projects. If you are not sure how much lead time to allow, take a guess and double it. If you are going to select a Project Manager during the lead time, add the time it takes to get a Project Manager to the lead time too.