Hearing the term “Swivel Seat” said out loud in a conference call always makes me smile. I imagine a MacGyver stepping out on the wings of a flying plane to firmly duct tape a propeller component.

Definition of Swivel Seat – a term found in project management circles to describe what happens when two automated and sophisticated systems from different companies need to seamlessly talk to each other, but can’t. It means assigning an individual sitting at a computer reading from one screen and then retyping that same information into another screen.

It’s a good term to use because it goes back to the primary principle of control and understanding that if you can name your animals, then you are well on your way to having control of your project. If Adam were alive today and still naming the animals, he would have taken one look at that kind of operation and said “Swivel Seat”.

I love it!