(4.0.P1)

Issues are more than just common problems. They are problems that meet specific criteria. An issue is a formally-defined problem that will impede the progress of the project and cannot be totally resolved by the project manager and project team without outside help. Let’s look at that definition again,

• A formally defined problem. You must be able to document a problem if you hope to resolve it. While the problem is formless and vague it cannot be solved. In addition, you need to be able to communicate the nature of issues, and this requires that they be documented as well.

• Impede the progress of the project. There are many problems that exist in the organization but do not have an impact on your project. Likewise there are also problems that arise all the time on your project that are not significant enough to impact your progress. Issues have this characteristic. They must be resolved since they are impeding the progress of your project.

• Cannot be totally resolved ... without outside help. This is also a key point. If the project team can resolve a problem it does not raise to the level of an issue. The project team may have some influence on resolving an issue, but the resolution is not totally in their control.   

If a problem arises that the project manager and the team can resolve it is just one of the many fires that will ignite and be put out in a given week. However, an “issue” arises if the problem is impeding the progress of the project and if outside help is needed to resolve it. This is the time to ensure that a process is in place to make the appropriate people aware of the issue and then resolve the issue as quickly as possible.

Issues management is one of the fundamental parts of the TenStep Project Management Process and it is one of the skills that all project managers must master. Many projects have to resolve issues. They cannot be ignored and they cannot be deferred to some later time. Issues must be resolved quickly and effectively.