I recently picked up a project that needed some structure put around it and some allocation of responsibilities in order to deliver to a very tight time line. The interesting part is that the client has outsourced development to two different companies and testing to a third. All appeared to be going to plan with design documentation in the process of being signed off until it was pointed out that the current design would not support part of the required solution. This was rather annoying as the same people have been in the room for all the previous meeting and walked though the design. The impact of this new piece of information is that a phased delivery will be required and at a minimum there will be additional cost for specification work, development and testing.

The person that wrote the high level design is contracted by the client, the team that wrote the Windows based detailed design document works for an out source company A, the team responsible for the Mainframe and technical architecture detailed design works for out source company B. 

Option 1 – Hold an inquest; determine who should have done the systems analysis that identified that this particular functionality was different. Charge that company the cost of the change.

The problem is that the specification has been peer reviewed and signed off by the client. The project does not have time for an inquest distracting the team from the task at hand. Finger pointing very rarely achieves anything. Any break down in relationships between team members will condemn the project to failure.

Option 2 – Raise a change request and additional purchase orders to get the work completed. Client pays the cost of the change.

This will resolve the issue but why should the client pick up the cost of a service that has been paid for and in this instance been delivered poorly? In the event that there is insufficient money in the budget to do the work asking for more money will trigger a project review taking time and getting the additional spend will mean the project misses the stated delivery date. The project already has senior management attention because of the tight delivery time line; it does not need any more. 

Option 3 – Request the work is done correctly within the agreed costs. Accept joint responsibility across the team.

This relies on the good will within the team and the ability to complete the tasks required along side the current work being done on the project.