Do you know that the Number 1 risk to project success is “change”?
The recognition of the value of change management changed over the last few decades and still for any project the number one risk to project success is “change”.
One in six projects has an average cost overrun of 200% and 70% schedule overrun. Scope Creep is one of the most recurring themes in project failures.
Change is inevitable and natural; you can count on it. Change is the only constant in project life.
It is important to understand that our job is not to stop scope change but to successfully manage that change.
Managing change begins with knowing the original scope. The change control process in project management ensures that each change proposed during a project is adequately defined, reviewed and approved before implementation.
Change control contains five stages:
- 1. Proposing a Change
- 2. Summary of Impact
- 3. Decision
- 4. Implementing a Change
- 5. Closing a Change
The key takeaway for good change control:
- 1. Know your scope – you can only identify change if you know what you started with.
- 2. Early identification – the key is to identify change early.
- 3. Avoid gold plating- frequent team contact to avoid suddenly the “nice to haves” becoming “must-haves”.
- 4. Don’t be afraid to say ”NO”, If it’s not in the best interest of the project.
Let’s change the way manage change.
Need help? Explore how zerofloat can help you control your project.