I told them you're a big game hunter

Project management at the work place:

• Somebody asks the library service to do something. (Obviously, if somebody within the library service suggests that we need to do something then no further action is necessary.)
• Policy Team members blather about it awhile in an inconsequential manner until one of them blinks. They are deemed to be Taking The Lead On The Project.
• The piece of work is mentioned to somebody in passing
  • at the end of a long meeting about something else entirely that's got an action list a yard long; or
  • by the photocopier; or
  • by the door to the toilets.
  The work has now Been Delegated.
• Some days, or weeks, later the same piece of work is mentioned in passing, in similar circumstances, to somebody else. A Project Team Has Been Set Up.
• A chance conversation between the two people reveals:
  • they are supposed to be delivering a piece of work;
  • they are supposed to be delivering the same piece of work;
  The Project Has Been Scoped.
• By pooling their resources and making a long sequence of educated guesses they find out that they have about 85% of the information required to try and make any progress.
  The Project Has Been Resourced.
• Any attempt to make up the remaining 15% will be blanked because it requires a member of Policy Team to:
  • make a decision;
  • remember what the decision was; and
  • be prepared to be accountable for it.
  The Project Has Been Fucked.

"We'll be needing staff to take a lot more responsibility in the days ahead."