Right or Right Now!
Australia 3rd March 2010
Sometimes we are put for a decision to do it “right” or to do it “right now”. With right I mean to make sure everything is done as it should be including the quality standards that we envisage the project has to achieve. However projects are often in a time squeeze that may not allow all the time in the world to do it right! Most clients are pushing us to finish things “yesterday” and with very tight deadlines, often driven by commercial motives, we find ourselves scrambling for time and taking shortcuts just to make it within the imposed time. I know what you are saying, but the reality, certainly in Asia, is like that. Easier said than done!
Right now with the Shanghai World Expo to be opened in less than two months, the pressure is on for the many projects that have to be completed by the time the fireworks hit the sky at the opening ceremony. I recently spoke to one of my colleagues in Singapore involved in one of the Integrated Resorts which also have enormous government backed pressure to open sooner rather than later. He told me the pressure was close to unbearable to the level of wanting to walk away rather than be forced to deliver unfinished or sub standard work. The problem is that you can’t really win in these situations, so most of the time you have to bite the bullet and try make the best out of it.
The upside (if it all turns out well, which is exactly the issue here of course…) is a very happy client who is bound to use or recommend you again. However the downside (with far greater risks) is that it does not work out as well and despite the many warnings you may have issued to the client, an unsatisfactory end result will still have them pointing the finger at you.
Doing it right or doing it right now… seems a bit of a catch 22 situation 🙂
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