Question

You have proposed a hybrid approach to delivering a program. It has one project that blends PRINCE2, Lean & Six Sigma, and another project using SCRUM. There are also some linear elements to some of the projects within your program. Your program sponsor says she hates the idea of doing anything other than very traditional approaches and does not want to mix things up. She says it will be too confusing and it just sounds like you are trying to be trendy instead of being a project manager. Explain how you would respond to your Sponsor?

Answer 1

I would respond to my sponsor by making her understand very politely and logically the importance of using a hybrid approach to deliver the program.

I would make her understand how a hybrid project approach would increase our efficiency in the execution of the project and help identify and establish a competitive advantage, which would help the organization go farther.

I would also make my sponsor understand that a hybrid approach would have all the benefits of the traditional method as well as the agile approach since that is why it is a 'hybrid approach.' Thus, it would be a Win-Win approach for the organization.

The hybrid approach can utilize the best tools for each aspect of the project. It also helps the organization predict the future, which would help in proper and appropriate planning and management of the project.

Though it might be confusing for the sponsor, I would try to make her understand in the simplest language and would convince them to have faith in me and my team members that we can do it without creating any mess. I would convince her that we have all the required skills, expertise, and knowledge to execute the project with this hybrid approach appropriately.