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A man before his time

Stephen Wearne, after nearly two decades project management in industry and an equally long career in academia, has kindly provided me with a copy of an article he wrote almost two decades ago for Project Management (Vol 2 No 2, May 1984)

In his perceptive article, he identifies the need for a "project doctor" where problems arise on a project.

A key role

Stephen says "The major role of the project doctor is to provide experience." and stresses the ability to "...act independently of various interests in a project..."

Reinforcing the Project Manager

This ability is nowhere more apparent then when a project has faced a series of changes - "The project doctor may be the one independent opinion available who can present the experienced view that most changes to a project should be supressed."

Challenges to be faced

The need for a diagnostic approach is also identified - "The initial difficulty for the project doctor is that he is asked to remedy what are only the symptoms of problems." and hence diagnosis is the first task.

More information?

For more information on this interesting paper, please contact Stephen Wearne directly