Working with groups: Predicting and Preventing Project Failure ...Time Management

oramar · Nov 22, 2007

This is really an excellent article. You know I have complained bitterly about managment many, many time. I am sure I sound like a broken record. This gives a blow by blow account of how they go about screwing up. Even better it gives a set of steps to take to avoid the pitfalls. I have one to add. LISTEN to the people in the trenches. To often managment takes the stand that the bosses know what is going on that the people that do the actual work know nothing, hummmm.

pickledpepperRN · Nov 22, 2007

Where did thi assumption that there MUST be constant change?

"If it ain't broke, break it!" is their bible.

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Nov 22, 2007

IMHO, even the best-laid plans and the most inventive concepts can't get off the ground without the cooperation of those "in the trenches", and they are NOT apt to give it willingly if they have no ownership in the system. In other words, you've got to involve your staff in the planning, give them a say in how a project or policy is implemented, and then request their input as to how things are working. And THEN you have to actually listen to the feedback!

Unfortunately, not all supervisors have the wisdom nor the intestinal fortitude to work with the employees who have to carry out the changes, and that, I think is why there's so much resentment of management in general, and nursing management in particular.

Kelly_the_Great · Dec 2, 2007

good info for my role as manager:
a healthcare manager's guide to predicting and preventing project failure
david maxfield, for healthleaders news, nov 09, 2007

hey karen, i can't get this this article to open..???

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Dec 2, 2007

healthleaders website revamped 12/1/07. fixed above

new link:

a healthcare manager's guide to predicting and preventing project failure

http://www.healthleadersmedia.com/content/200924/topic/ws_hlm2_hom/a-healthcare-managers-guide-to-predicting-and-preventing-project-failure.html

pickledpepperRN · Dec 2, 2007

Thank you Karen. I wasn't able to open it either.

After reading the article I think there is a reason nurse managers accept the job of implementing a project such as new technology knowing it is a waste of time and money.

And why direct care nurses don't get excited about going to meeting to help lead a failure.

Clearly at some facilities it is easier to blame a physician group or the union than admit the purchased dumb software that won't solve their problems.

WHY must they continue to gample on such foolishness all the while claiming it is "evidence based".

Instead of a $10 million CPOE, charting, care planning, system with dozens of glitches why not a word processor or typewriter so pharmacy & nursing can read the doctors handwriting?

Then they could afford safe staffing.

I truly feel for my manager. At least I have a union to back me up when I speak up.

Kelly_the_Great · Dec 3, 2007

Hi Karen,

Thanks finding that for me. Looks like the Crucial Conversations book mentioned in the article would be an interesting read.

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Apr 10, 2008

bump ...