Being in the service business we’re exposed to many scenarios presented by each client relationship. There are projects where we come in when the ship is almost sinking. So how do we help a client pick up the pieces?

Typical response to “when do you need this?” is “we needed it yesterday.” Which in all honesty never surprises me. So my next question is usually “where is your plan?” and “what documentation do you have existing?” As an agency partner, regardless of where we come in during a project phase, we like to dig deep into the history of what has occurred in the past 30/60/90/120 days of a project.

Here’s why I think it is important:

• Rigorous Cause Root Analysis. Helps determine the best solution to offer at that point of the project process. For example, when a brand finds itself stuck between a design challenge and the technology available to support that design which options would be best applied so the cost variable for change is minimal and will not radically affect the time to market. Other times, it could be pure code failure and the lack of a support team to help manage the site’s malfunction. For more examples read Five Whys from entrepreneur champion @ericries.

• Expectation management. Over promising is dangerous. Familiarizing yourself with the history of a project gives you room to manage expectations and set boundaries for the project parameters.

• Best of the best. When the challenge is clearly determined and all the stakeholders are in agreement to move the project forward we are able to bring the team that would be best suited for the project. Gaining insight on team temperaments, work styles and engagement required is helpful in creating that pivotal change to move forward.

It has been a while since my last post. Not for any reason of being too busy or not inspired enough to write. The back-end of my own blog had issues that took a while to troubleshoot. Code is code, nothing is impossible it just takes time.

Are you faced with a challenge that could hurt your business? Would love to hear how you managed change and risk.

It feels good to write again! Thanks for reading!

@mavindigital