Making It Happen: A Non-Technical Guide to Project Management

12.3. Keeping the Sponsor Informed

"So you see, Ralph, this is the design process we are following." I pointed to the flip chart I had made up from Sheila's notes. "We're about halfway through the preliminary design. We're hoping to have options and recommendations for you at the end of next week."

Ralph, who had looked a little irritated when I began the explanation of the design process, was starting to look happier. I had taken him through a condensed version of what Sheila and I had discovered over the last four days, saying it as though I had always known it.

Oddly enough, Stu's idea about not treating Ralph like one of the bad guys seemed to be working. "I'm feeling more comfortable with this process," Ralph told me, "but I'm still uneasy that we don't know for certain we can be ready by June. Can't you give me at least a tentative implementation schedule at this point?"

I could appreciate how he was feeling. "I could give you one, Ralph, but I couldn't commit to it. We haven't even got the preliminary design done yet, so we don't know for sure what we'll be doing." I tried to reassure him. "We're talking to all the experts around the plant to get their very rough assessments about each option so that we're reasonably comfortable that our best option can be completed in time. But a guess now won't change how long it actually takes."

"To be honest, Will, the Hyler board is pushing me for some kind of schedule. How soon can I give them something?" Ralph was obviously trying ...