Dealing with Risk and Uncertainty 141ting down specific production lines just when he needs them.
“Yes, sir,” Brad concludes, “We’ve got everything nailed
down, and we’re ready to rip!” Then he adds, “So what do you
think, Ted? Not bad for my first time out the chute, eh?”
Brad leans back and awaits affirmation from his experienced
colleague.
Ted ponders for a moment, then responds.
“What happens if Alex gets taken off your project? You
know how they’re always sending him off to the latest trouble
spot.”
Brad’s grin begins to fade.
“And what are you going to do if Accutrex doesn’t deliver
your parts on time? You’ve got a backup plan, right?”
“Uhhhh, right,” says Brad, the grin now a grimace.
“And what happens if the demand shifts and the client won’t
let you in to work on the production lines when you want to?
You’ve told management that’s a possibility, haven’t you?”
“Well, not in so many words,” Brad says, excusing himself
from the table.
As Brad walks slowly back to his desk, he begins to under-
stand what’s happened. In his enthusiasm, optimism, and desire
to display a “can do” attitude, he hasn’t given enough thought
to everything that could go wrong on Project Apex.
Project management is a risky business, Brad thinks to him-
self as he contemplates his next move. He waits a few min-
utes—just long enough for Ted to get back to his office—then
picks up the phone. Ted has raised some good questions;
maybe he can help Brad come up with some answers.
Understanding Risk and Uncertainty
Have you ever seen the toy vehicles that seem to be headed in
a particular direction, only to bump into a solid structure and
change direction? They continue bumping into things and
changing direction until they eventually run out of energy.
If you attempt to lead a project without addressing risk and
uncertainty, you’ll begin to feel much like one of those toys.