Can YOU Handle the Truth? Truth as a Factor in Risk Management

Summary:  “Truth is the secret of eloquence and of virtue, the basis of moral authority; it is the highest summit of art and of life.” – Henri Frederic Amiel

A critical factor in successfully applying risk management to projects is identifying potential risk events throughout the project life cycle. This requires project team members and other project stakeholders to accurately convey potential problem areas that could impact the project. People find it easy to report “good news” and opportunities; however, when the reality is “bad news”, the truth becomes more elusive. This lack of accurate information can result in poor project plans and unanticipated risk event surprises during the project. Therefore, having inaccurate or incomplete information during the project life cycle is a risk that must be addressed.

In this paper we discuss how truth is a critical element in the success of a project. Project Managers frequently do not receive completely accurate information about resource availability, duration for completing work activities, realistic estimates, or activity status. This paper explores what is meant by “getting the truth” about a project, including reasons why project team members might not report information precisely, how accurate information can be obtained, and how a Project Manager should handle the truth without “shooting the messenger.”

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Subject Matter Experts:  Janice F. Lukas, MSEd & Joseph A. Lukas, PMP®, PE, CCE

Joe Lukas is Vice-President of PMCentersUSA, and leads a team of instructors and consultants in delivering project management and business analysis training and consulting to clients across the country.  Joe has been involved in project management for over 30 years and has worked in engineering, manufacturing, construction, project controls, estimating and contracting, and has been a Program and Project Manager supporting world-wide programs. His project management experience spans information systems, product development, capital construction and manufacturing projects. He is a registered Professional Engineer, Project Management Professional and Certified Cost Engineer.