ABSTRACT
Managing lateral projects calls for a coalition strategy; this has many advantages, but one disadvantage - it is more difficult for a group to make a decision than for an individual. Among the management principles that are applicable to all projects, there is a necessity to separate those who define needs from those who propose and realise the solution. Sensitive projects have a particular feature: no matter the amount of care taken to distribute responsibilities, it is extremely difficult to avoid conflicts at the middle-management level of organisation. It will quickly spread to the level of the project manager, even if the latter is not responsible. So, one must prepare at the highest level for the onslaught. A steering committee is a group of people whom the project manager entrusts to steer the project. The separation of the project manager and the operator should be a natural one.
