Most parents know the feeling. Your darling child has decided what they want from Santa. In many cases, they want the latest almost-impossible-to-get toy (I still have the scars from Buzz Lightyear supply unavailability!).
But Santa’s elves are magical and so they eventually source/steal/build the required gift, and all is ready for Christmas. Until your beloved child announces at the last minute that they’ve changed their mind and now want something completely different – but equally elusive – from Santa. And now disaster beckons…
Welcome to the world of the Project Manager where you have just been hit by ineffective change control!
So, here’s how Project Managers prevent this from happening – three simple steps to Change Control your Santa list.
- Set a date to approve the content/scope/list
Requirements will change as more information is consumed so we have to agree a milestone where the list is signed off. The natural milestone here is when the letter to Santa is posted. Because of the volume of requests, it is advisable to get that letter in early.
- Agree a process to accept changes to the list
Let your child know that due to global supply chain issues and new regulatory restrictions covering elf work practices, it may be desirable to make some amendments to the Santa list.
These amendments can be sent by email, from the parent’s email account. This gives some flexibility for change as Santa operates an Agile process. However, Santa may not be able to accommodate all requests as he is only able to grant your child a late request if another child has changed their mind in the ‘opposite’ direction. So, no guarantees.
- Explain that Santa knows best.
Sometimes Santa may decide to give a child a ‘free upgrade’. So instead of bringing the present the child asked for, he’ll bring an even better present. What a great surprise!
And because Santa knows each child so well, he’ll know exactly what kind of surprise they deserve.
So, this Christmas, put the Change Control process in place and enjoy the sweet scent of satisfied stakeholders upon delivery on Christmas morning.
Article by Pat Lucey, Aspira CEO.
The team at Aspira would like to wish all our clients, partners and friends a merry Christmas and we look forward to working with you in 2020. For more information on how we can work together, email info@aspira.ie.
