Overview

The Project Manager only has the authority to proceed with a stage while it is forecast to remain within its Tolerance margins set by the Project Board. The Project Board should be informed if the process goes beyond these Tolerance margins. To maintain Project Board control the following steps are carried out by the Project Manager:

• Carry out impact analysis of the Tolerance deviation (i.e. CS4 Examining Project Issues)
• Identify and evaluate options for recovery (i.e. CS4 Examining Project Issues)
• Make a recommendation
• Address the Project Board with this recommendation (i.e. CS8 Escalating Project Issues)
• The Project Board indicates it's support (or not) of the Project Manager's recommendation(s) (DP4 Giving ad hoc Direction leading to CS7 Taking Corrective Action or SB6 Producing an Exception Plan).

A Project Board's response to an Exception Report may lead to:

• The removal of the problem
• Production of an Exception Plan
• Approval of a Concession or
• Premature close of the project (CP Closing a Project).

Finding a solution to the deviation for defined Tolerance margins includes reviewing the cost, delivery date, quality and scope. As a result the Project Plan will have to be revised.

Method links

Tips

• If the Project Board decided to accept an Off-Specification without corrective action this turns the Off-Specification into a Concession.
• It is important that the Project Manager notifies Project Issues to the Project Board as soon as possible for example the Project Manager could:
  • Issue a brief statement
  • Follow up with supporting information (i.e. an Exception Report)
  • Follow up with exception planning (i.e. an Exception Plan).
• A Project Manager should always include a recommendation when escalating a Project Issue.

Notes

• Provide recommendations and options to the Project Board
• Perform impact analysis on both The Customer's and User's Business Case
• Possible causes:
  • Corrective action forcing the Stage Plan beyond Tolerance
  • Inaccurate estimations.
• Results in the creation of an Exception Report.

Case studies and examples

Related links

• Search our forum for 'CS8 Escalating Project Issues'
• Take our CS - Controlling a Stage - Quiz
• CS4 Examining Project Issues.