ABSTRACT
Another of the unfortunate facts of project management is that some projects are initiated for the wrong reason. Occasionally it is because a high-ranking employee learns that another company is doing something similar and does not realize that what is being proposed is the proverbial “solution looking for a problem.” Other times one department wants to make a change but has not considered the impact of that change on the whole company. In still other cases, the concept is a good one, but the project cannot be cost justified. This is, after all, the stage where wild enthusiasm reigns. As Chapter 1 pointed out, wild enthusiasm leads to disillusionment and panic. To avoid that, an effective project manager ensures that the problem being solved is a valid one and that the proposed solution is both feasible and affordable. In Six Sigma terms, this means making decisions based on facts, not opinions, and not being swayed by wild enthusiasm.
