Lessons from the Dark Side

Lessons to project managers Include the following in case of failure: a) make a timeline of events and include everything that is known; b) put down known facts and check every theory against them; c) don't beat the data until it confesses, i.e., know when to stop trying to force-fit a scenario; d) do not arrive at a conclusion too rapidly. Make sure any deviation form the norm is explained--remember the wrong conclusion is prologue to the next failure; and e) know when to stop.