Tools

&
Templates

Project Search and Rescue!

Tools and Templates
High-Level Work Breakdown Structure for PSAR Review
Template X.1

PSAR Review Project

1.0
The PSAR
Project Plan

2.0
Listing of Projects
To Review

3.0
Interviews

4.0
Process
Review

3.1
Project Manager
Communication

3.2
Project Participant
Interviews

3.3
Project Manager
Interview

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5.0
Project
Evaluation

6.0
PSAR Report

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Project Participant Interview Outline

Template X.2

Project Participant Questionnaire

Interview Questions

Emotions, Attitudes,
and Behaviors

Participant's Understanding of Why the Project Exists

What is your understanding of the client's strategic vision for this project?

Participant's Understanding Project Objectives

What is your understanding of the current objectives around scope, time,
and budget?

What is your understanding of why these objectives have been set as they
are?
What constraints were imposed on the team by the client or by
sponsorship? Do you understand why?

Do you believe objectives are achievable? If not, why?

What is your understanding of the scope of the project? (Note to

interviewer - watch for signs of means-ends inversion)

Are you aware of the current schedule for the project? Is it achievable? If
not, why?

What is your understanding of the budget components of the project? How

was the budget arrived at? Do you believe it is achievable? If not, why?
(Note to interviewer - not all participants may be privy to budget
information. Skip this section when appropriate)

Page 1 of 4

Interview Questions
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Participants Understanding of Project Risk

Do you believe that the project team understands the risk present? If not,
why?
Are risks being communicated and documented? If not, why?

Do you believe that the risks have been given appropriate response plans?
If not, why?

Project Participant's View of Project Progress

Adherence to the Plan
How well is work on the project effort adhering to the original plan? If
challenged, why?

Project Changes
What are your views on any changes that are occurring within the project
effort?
Is a change control process being used to manage change in the project?
If not, why do you think this is?

Do you find that changes are being implemented without supporting

documentation?

Do you believe that project change is jeopardizing the team's ability to

deliver the solution? Explain why you believe this to be true.

Project Issues
What are some of the project issues that you are concerned about? Why?

Do you believe that the current issues can be addressed?

Page 2 of 4

Interview Questions
Project Issues (continued)

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Emotions, Attitudes,
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What is the process that the team is using to document and manage
project issues? Do you believe the process is working?

Do you believe that the current issues are an overall threat to the success
of the project? Why?

Project Plan Updates

How is your actual work being logged and provided to the project
manager?

Are you providing revised estimates to complete work that is in progress?

Did the project manager provide you a method for reporting data to him or
her?

Does the project manager regularly initiate conversations around risk,

issues, change, schedule, budget, and scope?

Page 3 of 4

Interview Questions
Health of the Project Environment

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and Behaviors

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How does the team work together?

Do you believe that the team shares a common goal of what is to be

achieved? If not, why do you think this is the case?

Do you believe that the membership of the team is respectful toward one
another? If not, what specific problems do you see?

The Influence of the Larger Organization

Do you see challenges on the project that are created by factors outside of
the project team's control? If so, what are they?

Page 4 of 4

PSAR Discovery Report version 1.0

Project Name, Dated

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Project Search and Rescue!

Tools
&
Templates

Project Manager Interview Outline

Template X.3

Project Manager Questionnaire

Interview Questions

Emotions, Attitudes,
and Behaviors

Project Manager's Understanding of Why the Project Exists

What is your understanding of the client's strategic vision for this project?

Project Manager's Understanding Project Objectives

What is your understanding of the current objectives around scope, time,
and budget? Is there project documentation that defines these objectives?

What is your understanding of why these objectives have been set as they
are?
What constraints were imposed on the team by the client or by
sponsorship? Do you understand why?

Do you believe objectives are achievable? If not, why?

How is scope defined for the project? (Note to interviewer - watch for signs
of means-ends inversion)

What is the current schedule for the project? How were estimates
generated? Is it achievable? If not, why?

Do you have a documented budget of the project? How was the budget
arrived at? Do you believe it is achievable? If not, why?

Page 1 of 4

Interview Questions
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Project Manager's Understanding Project Risk

Do you have a risk plan? How is risk being conducted on the project?
How were response plans built? Do you believe that the project team
understands the risk present? If not, why?

Are risks being communicated? If not, why?

What are the current assumptions that your project makes? Are there risk
plans backing up assumptions that create high risk? (Note to PSAR
Interviewer Look for Dangling Else Syndrome).

Project Manager's View of Project Progress

Adherence to the Plan
How well is work on the project effort adhering to the original plan? If
challenged, why?

Project Changes
What are your views on any changes that are occurring within the project
effort? Can you present recent documented changes?

Is a change control process being used to manage change in the project?

If not, why do you think this is?

Do you find that changes are regularly being implemented without

supporting documentation?

Do you believe that project change is jeopardizing the team's ability to

deliver the solution? Explain why you believe this to be true.

Page 2 of 4

Interview Questions
Project Issues

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and Behaviors

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What are some of the project issues that you are concerned about? Why?

Do you believe that the current issues can be addressed?

What is the process that you are using to document and manage project
issues? Do you believe the process is working?

Do you believe that the current issues are an overall threat to the success
of the project? Why?

Project Plan Updates

How is the teams actual work being logged and provided to you?

Is the team providing revised estimates to complete work that is in

progress?

Did you provide the team a method for reporting data?

Do you regularly initiate conversations with the team around risk, issues,
change, schedule, budget, and scope?

Page 3 of 4

Interview Questions
Health of the Project Environment

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Emotions, Attitudes,
and Behaviors

Project Search and Rescue!

Tools
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Templates

How does the team work together?

Do you believe that the team shares a common goal of what is to be

achieved? If not, why do you think this is the case?

Do you believe that the membership of the team is respectful toward one
another? If not, what specific problems do you see?

The Influence of the Larger Organization

Do you see challenges on the project that are created by factors outside of
your control? If so, what are they?

Page 4 of 4

Project Processes Review

Project charter
Scope documentation
Schedule
Budget
Risk plan
Issues management
Change management

PSAR Discovery Report version 1.0

Project Name, Dated

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Project Search and Rescue!

Tools
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Templates

PSAR Discovery Report Template

Template X.4
Date:
Project:
PSAR Team Members:

PSAR Discovery Report

Project Manger:

Executive Summary
<insert executive summary here>

PSAR Team Assessment

<insert score here>

1.

This project effort is a lost effort and the PSAR team recommends that this project
undergo an immediate, full Rescue & Recovery Effort as discussed below in the
recommendations section of this report.

2.

This project is in danger of being a lost effort. The PSAR team recommends that this
project undergo a Rescue & Recovery Effort as soon as resources can be made
available to conduct this effort. The PSAR team recommends the following
deliverables as discussed below in the recommendations section of this report.

3.

It is not clear that this project is a lost effort. The PSAR team recommends further
review of the project.

4.

This project effort seems to be on the path with minimal concerns. The PSAR team
recommends that findings be shared with the team along with suggested
recommendations.

5.

This project effort is on the path. The PSAR team recommends no further action at
this time.

PSAR Team Recommendations

<insert recommendations here>

PSAR Discovery Report version 1.0

Project Name, Dated

Page 1of 2

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PSAR Team Findings

Consistent Themes (listed in descending order from highest number of consistent
responses received)

Inconsistent Themes

Positive Findings

PSAR Discovery Report version 1.0

Project Name, Dated

Page 2 of 2

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Tools
&
Templates

Project Search and Rescue!

High-Level Work Breakdown Structure for PSAR Rescue & Recovery

Project
Template X.5

PSAR
Rescue & Recovery
Project

1.0
The R&R
Project Plan

2.0
Objectives
Identification

3.0
Evaluations

4.0
Scope
Clarification

5.0
Communication
Plan

3.1
Risk
Evaluation

3.2
Time and Cost
Evaluation

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6.0
Steering
Committee
Created

7.0
Project Review

7.1
Review
Schedule
Established

7.2
Project
Reviews
Conducted