You can tell a project is going to be great when...

[NuclearNed]

day 1:
I'm going to hire consultants to configure enterprise software that my company already owns. The consultants asked to have a "discovery" meeting so they can come up with a realistic quote. As a result, I set up a meeting with all the stakeholders, all of whom will be vital to this project being successful.

day 2 (today):
I got a phone call first thing this morning from one of the stakeholders. The first thing she said was that she was speaking on behalf of herself and another stakeholder who happens to be her manager. Basically, they have a long history of friction with stakeholder 3 and want me to un-invite her.

Call me a misogynist if you want, but I note with interest that all 3 stakeholders have the same gender.

Let's see... I can't remember... is this the business world, or middle school??!??

 

[blackdogdeek]

i often find that employing the same techniques i find useful with dealing with my children is just as effective, if not more, when dealing with people at work.

EDIT: good luck with your project. it already sounds like you'll need it.

 

[sdifox]

Just tell them if they do not show up, they give up their right to complain later.

 

[unokitty]

You can tell a project is going to be great when...

When the president's personal consultant hires a group of IT consultants who come to your office first to try to find out if anyone knows what the president wants...


Uno

 

[Baked]

It's your job as team leader to resolve the issue before the project begins. If you have a wife, there shouldn't be an issue for you to figure out wtf is wrong with the 3 female stakeholders.

 

[darkewaffle]

Suck it up and go to work, stupid people.

 

[blackdogdeek]

It's your job as team leader to resolve the issue before the project begins. If you have a wife, there shouldn't be an issue for you to figure out wtf is wrong with the 3 female stakeholders.

you're implying that being married means you understand women.

 

[waggy]

hmm

see its things like that where i get in trouble. my response would be along the lines of "Sorry to hear you have issues with XXX. But that is not my problem and sounds like something you guys need to work out. My problem is this Project and in it I need input form shareholders. Thank you for your time and will see you at the meeting"

 

[dougp]

You should just ask her if there's some sexual tension between the three of them, and then proceed to offer your services.

After this, you'll either get a wicked four-some, or the situation won't be a problem because you won't have a job.

Win/Win!

 

[NuclearNed]

You should just ask her if there's some sexual tension between the three of them, and then proceed to offer your services.

After this, you'll either get a wicked four-some, or the situation won't be a problem because you won't have a job.

Win/Win!

In this particular situation, it would be impossible for me to drink enough beer to make your idea appealing. Thanks for trying, though.

 

[clamum]

hmm

see its things like that where i get in trouble. my response would be along the lines of "Sorry to hear you have issues with XXX. But that is not my problem and sounds like something you guys need to work out. My problem is this Project and in it I need input form shareholders. Thank you for your time and will see you at the meeting"

That's pretty much the perfect response IMO. Well, that, or "stop being such a fucking idiot and drop the kiddie shit. See ya at the meeting!"

 

[Squisher]

It's your job as team leader to resolve the issue before the project begins. If you have a wife, there shouldn't be an issue for you to figure out wtf is wrong with the 3 female stakeholders.

How is going to say he's sorry, accept the blame, and say he'll never do it again to three different women?

 

[highland145]

More than 2 women in an office and there will be fighting/bickering/arguing....

 

[SS Trooper]

I would respond with: That's funny, she already backed out of the meeting because, and I quote, "I'm not working with those skanky trash monsters again, I'd rather run my arm through the paper shredder. Good luck and bring nose plugs, unless you like fish."

 

[Gibsons]

In this particular situation, it would be impossible for me to drink enough beer to make your idea appealing. Thanks for trying, though.

That's why they invented tequila.

 

[highland145]

So why didn't the manager call you if she didn't want her there?

 

[Genx87]

day 1:
I'm going to hire consultants to configure enterprise software that my company already owns. The consultants asked to have a "discovery" meeting so they can come up with a realistic quote. As a result, I set up a meeting with all the stakeholders, all of whom will be vital to this project being successful.

day 2 (today):
I got a phone call first thing this morning from one of the stakeholders. The first thing she said was that she was speaking on behalf of herself and another stakeholder who happens to be her manager. Basically, they have a long history of friction with stakeholder 3 and want me to un-invite her.

Call me a misogynist if you want, but I note with interest that all 3 stakeholders have the same gender.

Let's see... I can't remember... is this the business world, or middle school??!??

You are dealing with a collection of women in the workplace. Of course this is middle school.

 

[IronWing]

First of all, dump the concept of stakeholders. The designation places all the minor players on the same level as paying clients and project principals. Eveyone's input is not equal. Filter out those who have no responsibility in the matter first. Then trim the list to those whose input would be most useful. That should clean out about three quarters of the "stakeholders" and allow the remaining folks to get something done. If a stakeholder indicates that personality conflicts are more important than the success of your project then by all means cut them off the project.

 

[kranky]

First of all, dump the concept of stakeholders. The designation places all the minor players on the same level as paying clients and project principals. Eveyone's input is not equal. Filter out those who have no responsibility in the matter first. Then trim the list to those whose input would be most useful. That should clean out about three quarters of the "stakeholders" and allow the remaining folks to get something done. If a stakeholder indicates that personality conflicts are more important than the success of your project then by all means cut them off the project.

You're right that not all stakeholders are equal, but the OP did say the people involved were vital to the success of the project.

If it was me, I think I would have just said "Thanks for your input" and ignored the phone call.

 

[NuclearNed]

So why didn't the manager call you if she didn't want her there?

I don't know for sure, but my guess is that she is like anyone in authority who doesn't like to do their dirty work for themselves.

 

[NuclearNed]

You're right that not all stakeholders are equal, but the OP did say the people involved were vital to the success of the project.

If it was me, I think I would have just said "Thanks for your input" and ignored the phone call.

That's more or less what I did.