Your Project Manager Isn't the Problem Your Process Is

Gil Rosa
Jun 11
2 min read

Before you fire the PM, fix the broken system they're stuck in.

The Problem:

You're over budget, behind schedule, and the team is pointing fingers. The default move? Blame the Project Manager. Replace them. Reset the deck.

But here's the uncomfortable truth:

Most failing projects don't have a people problem.

They have a system problem.

Your PM might be drowning, yes but not because they're weak. It's because they're managing chaos without a map.

How Broken Systems Break Good People

Let's break down what "project chaos" really looks like:

Daily fire drills and shifting priorities
Missed procurement deadlines
Subcontractors working without clarity or coordination
Incomplete information passed like a hot potato
The schedule? A wish list, not a working tool

That's not a personnel issue. That's a process failure.

And replacing your PM is like swapping the driver while ignoring the blown tires, cracked windshield, and missing brakes.

The Fix: GRPM's 3-Step System Check

This is how we help clients stop the bleeding and start rebuilding clarity:

Step 1: The Flow Audit

Map your actual workflow submittals, RFI responses, procurement triggers, field updates. Where's the real breakdown? Spoiler: It's not where your org chart thinks it is.

Step 2: The Calendar Check

Look at your scheduling tools. Are you building from a CPM that has been updated? Are your look-ahead feeding your daily execution? If not, your PM is just guessing in a hard hat.

Step 3: The Communication Loop

Are the right people getting the right info at the right time? We evaluate meeting rhythms, update cadences, and decision bottlenecks. Clarity isn't a feeling it's a signal system.