Project management and the problem of project escalation Essay

Project management and the problem of project escalation - Essay Example As Keil suggested in his article, there are four factors that contribute to escalation, namely: project factors, psychological factors, social factors, and organizational factors. In this respect, effectively addressing escalation must, therefore, centre on addressing these factors.   First, it is important to complete a comprehensive cost-benefit and risk analysis at the initial planning stage in order to give project managers sufficient information with regard to decisions regarding the IT project. This will be able to address the objective factors that are caused by poor judgment on the scale of a project.Second, it is also important for the project team, preferably with the help of a professional not to the team, to establish protocols and standards to serve as indicators that will signal when a project must be abandoned, and when it is still salvageable. A separate quality analyst must also be employed to monitor these indicators and compare it with the project team’s p rogress. This will place part of the responsibility in abandoning a project on an outsider who will not be affected by the same psychological factors that plague project managers.   Third, it is also imperative to promote teamwork and a cooperative atmosphere within a project team to ensure that rivalry or any negative behavior that can affect a team’s ability to make sound decisions are not compromised. In this respect, team-building activities will be beneficial.   Fourth, in order to avoid pressure.