Problems, queries and changes will occur throughout a project in a haphazard manner.
These must be recorded in a consistent and reliable way.
In this way they can be assessed and managed properly.
Project Issues must be captured and not forgotten if no immediate solution exists.
This information can come from a wide variety of sources (both internal and external) and will be ad hoc in nature.
This sub-process provides information to go forward to Examining Project Issues (CS4) and should be read in conjunction with Change Control and the Change Control Technique.
This sub-process provides the entry point for all external stimuli such as changes of scope, notification of problems or advice of new risks.
The objectives are to capture, log and categorise all Project Issues.
This involves several steps:
Enter all Project Issues in the Issue Log as soon as they are identified. (See Change Control Technique for suggestions on method).
Assess whether the Project Issue is:
See Change Control for an explanation on the types of Project Issue.
Suggested structures for a Project Issue and an Issue Log are given in the files ‘Project issue.doc’ and ‘Issue log.doc’ which are in the product package.
Any relevant information from the Project Board should be captured as a Project Issue on receipt.
The Project Manager is responsible for this sub-process with a Project Support role (Configuration Librarian) may be nominated to act as the central focus for receiving and documenting Project Issues.
Management information | Usage | Explanation |
---|---|---|
New Project Issues | Input | Any Project Issues being raised against the project from whatever source to be logged in the Issue Log and the type of Project Issues to be decided. |
Issue Log | Update | Repository of all Project Issues and their status. |
These are given in tabular form in the file ‘CS3 capturing project issues.doc’ in the product package.
On occasion the Project Issue may be too complex and require splitting into several smaller Project Issues.
If the project is part of a programme the Project Issues must be copied into them so that they can assess the impact on the programme or an other related projects.
Even if a Project Issue seems simple it is still worth recording it and the response for later auditing purposes.