Manage project issues

Enablers

• Recognize when a risk becomes an issue. (ECO 2.15.1)
• Attack the issue with the optimal action to achieve project success. (ECO 2.15.2)
• Collaborate with relevant stakeholders on the approach to resolve the issues. (ECO 2.15.3)

Deliverables, and Tools

Issues

An issue is defined as a current condition or situation that may have an impact on the project objectives. In other words, it is an action item that the project team must address.

Common areas include:

• Scope change control.
• Schedule control.
• Cost control.
• Project variance analysis.
• Quality.
• Risk.
• Procurement.
• Communications.

Risks and Issues

Issue Log

The issue log is a document where information about issues is recorded and monitored. It is used to track problems, inconsistencies, or conflicts that occur during the life of the project and require investigation in order to work toward a resolution.

Issue Resolution

• As issue arises, promptly added to the issue log.
• Each issue should have an owner who is responsible for tracking the progress of the workaround and reporting back to the project manager.
• The due date should be realistic, and every reasonable attempt should be made to meet it.
• Issues should be a regular topic of every status meeting, with the goal to keep the number of open issues to a manageable number.
• Don’t hesitate to escalate an issue to the project sponsor if it begins to have a major effect on the project.

Guidelines to Resolving Issues

• Use your organization’s Issue Log template, or in the absence of one, create an Issue Log.
• Train project team members to promptly report potential issues to the project manager, who will determine if they belong in the Issue Log.
• Enter the issue into the Issue Log, and assign an owner and a due date.
• Monitor progress, and discuss each open issue at every project status meeting.
• Develop a response (also known as a workaround) to the issue.
• Assess the impact of the response.
• Approve the response.
• Close the issue.