How can you make project decisions faster without sacrificing quality?

Making project decisions faster without sacrificing quality is a challenge that many project leaders face. You want to keep your project on track, avoid delays and rework, and deliver value to your stakeholders. But you also want to make sure that your decisions are well-informed, aligned with your goals, and supported by your team. How can you balance speed and quality in your project decision-making process? In this article, we will explore some tips and techniques that can help you make project decisions faster without sacrificing quality.

1 Clarify your decision criteria

Before you make any project decision, you need to know what criteria you will use to evaluate your options. Your decision criteria should reflect your project objectives, scope, budget, quality standards, risks, and stakeholder expectations. You should also prioritize your criteria based on their importance and urgency. Clarifying your decision criteria will help you narrow down your choices, focus on the most relevant factors, and avoid getting sidetracked by irrelevant or conflicting information.

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Senthil Kumar Ranganathan

Global B2B Payments | Product | Innovation | Partner Integrations | 3x Microsoft Certified | PMC-I Certified | Executive Scholar Kellogg
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1) Our product roadmap decisions are made quarterly, we look at what product needs, market wants, competitors, AI/ML offering and so on. Scope and budget are decided upfront to avoid any creep later. These commitments involve POC, MVP, and go-live milestones to assess market alignment. 2) For SOWs, we use backcasing to meet customer timelines and release commitments a month ahead, allowing for customer testing and collaboration, acknowledging the inevitability of trade-offs and imperfect requirements. 3) For Security/ Compliance and bug fixes it's based on prioritization, severity and urgency, some needs to be bundled so we bundle them, easy to perform regression tests. We allow ourselves enough time to run regression 2 times.

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SANDEEP KUMAR SINGH

Asset Management at Azure Power
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Determine the order in which tasks need to be completed. Some tasks may be dependent on others, and this sequence should be reflected in your project plan.

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2 Use a decision-making model

A decision-making model is a framework or a tool that can help you structure your decision-making process and guide you through the steps. There are different types of decision-making models, such as rational, intuitive, analytical, creative, or collaborative. Depending on the nature and complexity of your decision, you can choose the model that suits your situation and style best. Using a decision-making model will help you organize your thoughts, analyze your options, and justify your choice.

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Shobhit Shashank Sharma

AVP-Projects ( Wind, Solar & Hybrid) @ CleanMax | PRINCE2®, PMP®, Chartered Engineer
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Implementation of a decision-making frameworks like RACI (Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, Informed) to clarify roles and responsibilities in the decision-making process. This ensures that the right people are involved at the right stages, Also Not all decisions are equally important. Prioritize decisions based on their impact on the project's success. Some decisions may require in-depth analysis, while others can be made more quickly. decision-makers have access to accurate and up-to-date information. Data-driven decisions can be made more swiftly and with confidence. Also Establishing timeframes for making decisions. Having a deadline can prevent prolonged discussions and encourage stakeholders to focus on finding solutions.

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3 Involve the right people

Making project decisions faster does not mean making them alone. You need to involve the right people in your decision-making process, such as your project team, sponsor, stakeholders, experts, or customers. Involving the right people will help you gain different perspectives, insights, feedback, and buy-in. However, you also need to manage the size and dynamics of your decision-making group. Too many or too few people, or people who are not relevant or committed, can slow down or derail your decision-making process.

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SANDEEP KUMAR SINGH

Asset Management at Azure Power
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Continuously monitor the progress of the project and make adjustments as necessary. If you see that a task is falling behind, take action to get it back on track.

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4 Set a deadline

One of the best ways to make project decisions faster is to set a deadline for yourself and your decision-making group. A deadline will create a sense of urgency, focus, and accountability. It will also prevent you from procrastinating, overthinking, or waiting for more information. However, you also need to be realistic and flexible with your deadline. You should consider the importance and impact of your decision, the availability and readiness of your information and resources, and the potential consequences of delaying or rushing your decision.

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SANDEEP KUMAR SINGH

Asset Management at Azure Power
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Assign deadlines to each task and milestone. Ensure that these deadlines are realistic and take into account dependencies between tasks.

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5 Review and communicate your decision

Once you have made your project decision, you need to review and communicate it effectively. You need to check if your decision meets your decision criteria, aligns with your project goals, and satisfies your stakeholder expectations. You also need to communicate your decision clearly and confidently to your project team, sponsor, stakeholders, and customers. You need to explain the rationale, benefits, and implications of your decision, and address any questions, concerns, or objections. Reviewing and communicating your decision will help you ensure its quality, validity, and acceptance.

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SANDEEP KUMAR SINGH

Asset Management at Azure Power
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Ensure that all team members are aware of the deadlines and understand their responsibilities. Effective communication is essential for meeting project deadlines.

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6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Shobhit Shashank Sharma

AVP-Projects ( Wind, Solar & Hybrid) @ CleanMax | PRINCE2®, PMP®, Chartered Engineer
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Making project decisions faster without sacrificing quality requires a combination of effective processes, collaboration, and decision-making frameworks. Further Accountable team should Define Clear Objectives to Start by clearly defining the project's objectives, scope, and desired outcomes. Also Empower Cross-Functional Teams to Delegate decision-making authority to cross-functional teams or individuals who are closest to the problem. This reduces the need for excessive approvals and streamlines the decision-making process.

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How can you make project decisions faster without sacrificing quality?

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1 Clarify your decision criteria

2 Use a decision-making model

3 Involve the right people

4 Set a deadline

5 Review and communicate your decision

6 Here’s what else to consider

Project Leadership

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How can you make project decisions faster without sacrificing quality?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Clarify your decision criteria

2 Use a decision-making model

3 Involve the right people

4 Set a deadline

5 Review and communicate your decision

6 Here’s what else to consider

Project Leadership

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