subject: How-to Steps For Turning Project Amendment Management Into A Valuable Tool For Project Success [print this page] Managing modification is half of every project on the earth, bar none. Why? As a result of the sole factor for certain is that nothing stays the identical - and modification may be a half of everyday business life.
But managing project changes and customer demands will be a terribly valuable tool rather than a something to be feared or worried over. Consumer necessities modification as your project progresses, they raise for small changes, little tweaks, do that, add that, etc. And you, being customer centered, want to accommodate this so you are doing these very little things with a 'hey, no problem' shrug to allow them to apprehend that you'll take care of things and still keep the project on track.
However, there's one thing you MUST do whenever these very little 'requests' come back in if you want to be able to not solely make your client happy, however conjointly leverage the amendment to help you in the longer term when major changes come back down the line.
1. Whenever a customer asks for a little amendment, tweak, modification, etc. that is NOT in the initial project scope and for which you propose to 'just take care of it without charging them', document the modification as a no-cost modification request. Formalize it on paper, give them a duplicate to sign. Show them that you are willing to try and do the amendment, but you furthermore mght shall follow your own Change Management Process. After all, you ARE the Project Manager and managing scope amendment is your responsibility - no one else owns it.
2. When they've approved the no-value modification request, keep a duplicate of course and log it within the Change Log. As more and additional of the 'little' request come down the line, document each one as a no-cost amendment request (if you propose to accommodate the amendment and not charge them for the work).
3. Then, in the end, you may run into a situation where a significant or price-impacting modification is required. Document it in a Amendment Request after all, and after you gift it to the client, if they're startled or alarmed at the fact that there's money attached to it, you'll merely show them all of the no-cost modification requests that were completed for them...for free. Makes selling a serious amendment request much easier because you'll show them (with proof) that you're of course a team player as evidenced by all of the no-price work that was in deep trouble them do-date.
This approach will prevent a TON of grief and upset, and facilitate get major (needed) change requests approved so you'll keep your project heading in the right direction and underneath management - and help your clients be successful as well. After all, they work onerous for his or her success conjointly, but they often need Project Management experience to assist them get to the end line.
