In 2007, I was hired in a small company of web pages and software to be their Project Manager and manage 9 people between designers, software programmers and administrative staff. On my first day, while I was preparing my desk and planning the schedule of my new duties I receive the visit of an important marketing executive of a multinational company with the news that I had to deliver 207 online educational games in 20 days and the project was only made in a 10% When I was hired my boss never mentioned that problem that I had to face in my first days of work.

What action did you take? 

In the meeting I wrote everything that the executive told me for trying to understand what was they expected and which the causes of the delay were. At the end of my first day I had a plan of partial deliver schedule with actions and dates. We beg for extra time to finish the deliver with all the corrections and the final date was agreed 15 days after the initial date. With the new dates, I made a new chart with game, design responsible, software programmer, tester, comments and delivery date. The next days I hired three new designers and two more programmers and I made new motivational incentives like extra money per finished game and holiday time for everyone if we could finish on time. During those days I was in permanent communication with our client, making daily reports, working extra hours and at finish we made quality tests.

What was the outcome?

In spite of the lack of time and delays in the delivery of our products, the client was utterly satisfied. We managed to complete the 207 online educational games both in functionality and quality perfect. In fact, we continued doing more games in the following years for this client, in my own company. Not only games to learn English, to learn math, Spanish, science and social studies. The children, the final users of our games, were amazed and they enjoyed and learned a lot English with our products. The planning and motivation was the key.

Thanks a lot in advance for your time!!