A project manager is overseeing a project where a highly skilled technical expert, who is new to the organization, consistently struggles to understand the strategic business value of their work. This leads to them prioritizing technical elegance over practical business needs, causing friction with business stakeholders. What is the MOST effective way for the project manager to address this situation?
- AAssign a senior business analyst to review all of the expert's technical designs and provide business context.
- BRequire the expert to attend all business stakeholder meetings to directly hear their concerns.
- CMentor the technical expert by regularly explaining the business implications of their technical decisions and connecting their work to strategic objectives.
- DIssue a directive that all technical solutions must first be approved by business stakeholders before implementation.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. Mentor the technical expert by regularly explaining the business implications of their technical decisions and connecting their work to strategic objectives.
Mentoring involves guiding and supporting an individual's development. By regularly explaining the business implications and connecting the expert's work to strategic objectives, the project manager provides direct, actionable guidance to help the expert bridge the gap between technical and business perspectives, fostering a more holistic understanding.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Assigning another person to review might create a dependency and doesn't directly address the expert's need to understand the business value themselves.
- B. While direct exposure is good, simply attending meetings without specific guidance might not help the expert interpret information effectively or change their priorities.
- D. This is a reactive and potentially demotivating approach that could stifle innovation and doesn't foster the expert's understanding of business value proactively.
Mentor Relevant Stakeholders
Providing guidance, support, and knowledge transfer to individuals (team members or other stakeholders) to enhance their skills, understanding, and performance related to the project or organizational objectives.
- Involves a continuous, supportive relationship.
- Focuses on development and growth.
- Aims to transfer knowledge and experience.
- Can be formal or informal.
Memory trick: Grow their understanding, guide their path, build their bridge.