Here is a running conversation that I had with a project manager named Rajiv a few months back. We were working on a site for a local Career & Technical Center / Adult Education place.
[Rajiv]: Have you had a chance to look at the list of tasks I gave you?
[Me]: Yeah. (Showing him on paper as I talked) I sent you an email telling you that I had gotten these three things done and that you needed to take care of getting this other information for me. I also told you that you would need to take care of this other task before I could complete the rest of it.
[Rj]: I did not get that email. When did you send it?
[Me]: Three days ago.
[Rj]: Well can you send it to me again?
[Me]: Yes. I'll send that right away.
The next day.
[Rj]: Did you finish up with that list yet?
[Me]: No. You didn't do the things I needed you to do.
[Rj]: Oh. So you are waiting on me?
[Me]: Yes. I'm waiting on you.
[Rj]: Ok, well, I will get right on that. I should have it done by (2 days from then).
[Me]: Great.
A week later.
[Rj]: Have you finished yet? I have got them (the client) calling me every day asking what the status is.
[Me]: No, I haven't finished. I haven't gotten any further than the last time we talked because you still haven't gotten done with your part yet.
[Rj]: Why didn't you say anything to me?
[Me]: I've been sending you two emails a day for the last four days. I also left you several voice mails about it.
[Rj]: Oh. I will get to it next week. Can you work on another section of the project while I am doing that?
[Me]: There are no other sections, remember? This is the last one (this was the guy who had drawn up the project plan).
[Rj]: Oh, ok. I will let you know when I have finished.
[Me]: Thank you.
Two weeks later.
[Rj]: Both the client and our billing department want to know why you have not completed this project yet. They keep asking me when it will be completed.
[Me]: It will be completed when you've finished up with the one thing that I've asked you to do!
[Rj]: I don't have time to do that. Can you do it instead?
[Me]: I would've done so already, but I don't have any of the contact information for the client — you have it all.
[Rj]: Can you do this if I give you the name and email of our contact at the client site?
[Me]: Yes, I can.
[Rj]: Very good. I will email it to you.
Two days later.
[Rj]: Did you get what you needed from the client yet?
[Me]: How could I have? You never sent me their contact info!
[Rj]: Why didn't you just get it from my desk after I emailed you to do so?
[Me]: You never sent me any email about that.
[Rj]: Yes I did, I sent it right after speaking with you.
[Me]: Well I never got it. Why don't you check that you sent it to the right person?
[Rj]: I would not have done that.
Ten minutes later.
[Rj]: I sent it to the wrong person. What is your email address?
(All of the company email addresses follow exactly the same format, but I give it to him any way.)
[Rj]: Ok. I have sent it again. Did you get it this time?
[Me]: Yes, I did.
[Rj]: Then you will get right on this?
[Me]: Yes, I will.
Four days later the project was completed.
[This message has been edited by Gwynarion (edited 01-04-2001).]