|
Harvard ManageMentor — MANAGING CRISES
TOOLS
|
|
The 10 Worst Things That Could Happen List
|
|
Some managers find
it helpful to create and have available a list of the ten worst things that
could happen at work and what they would do about them. Use this tool to
record your own list or have a team or work group develop their list.
|
|
Situation
|
What I/We Would Do About It
|
|
|
1.
|
Lack of
communication from client
|
Timely
notification of lab instructor
|
|
|
2.
|
Loss of
project documentation
|
Keep backup
files; copies to all team members
|
|
|
3.
|
Bad weather
|
Plan
alternative dates or activities
|
|
|
4.
|
Falling
behind schedule
|
Additional
hours by team; if specific team member(s) fall behind; team offers assistance
|
|
|
5.
|
Uneven
workload
|
Review team
workload at each Tuesday meeting
|
|
|
6.
|
Transportation
failure
|
Exchange
cell phone numbers; offer transportation assistance
|
|
|
7.
|
Conflicting
schedules
|
Appointment
of team member to contact those who cannot attend to update them on meeting
discussion points and decisions.
|
|
|
8.
|
Conflict
within team
|
Come up
with resolution as a team; alternative – speak with lab instructor for
guidance
|
|
|
9.
|
Lack of
safekeeping of funds
|
Adhere to
client’s procedures for funds management; talk with lab instructor on how to
resolve mismanagement of funds
|
|
|
10.
|
Fall short
of fundraising goal
|
Implement
back up fundraising options
|
|
|
© 2004 Harvard Business School Publishing. All rights
reserved.
|
