6. Is there a better way?

It’s really easy for projects to get stuck in familiar patterns.

Once an approach is agreed, teams tend to optimise within it rather than step back and question it. Once you have built the plan it becomes hard to see a different way.

Yet in most projects there are multiple paths to get to the outcome. And as you progress, the nature of the problem can change

So, as the sponsor, it is useful to set back and consider: Is there a better way?

Project managers often talk about the trade-off between time, cost, and quality, as if it were fixed. But that relationship is only true within a chosen approach. Change the approach and you can fundamentally shift the trade-offs – delivering better quality, faster, and at lower cost.

I experienced this on a project when we halved the timeline by using a more conversational rather than contractual approach to the design sign-off.

This question isn’t about second-guessing the team or chasing crazy ideas. It’s about ensuring the approach fits the nature of the problem you’re trying to solve as it evolves, so that you  address the complexity and constraints that you face right now.

So as you come into the project with a fresh perspective, and before you get stuck into the normal patterns, it is worth asking: Is there a better way?