FreezePoints eMagazine

On August 11, 2026, PMI Orange County hosted its monthly Dinner Meeting virtually, featuring keynote speaker Zach Herman, Director of IT Portfolio Management at UC San Diego Health. Herman, who holds a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, PMP, and MBA, is also a doctoral candidate, adjunct professor, and author of Project Management Made Practical. His presentation, "The New Iron Triangle for Problem Solving: Stakeholders, Risk Management, Communication," offered attendees a fresh framework for thinking about what truly drives project success.

Beyond Scope, Schedule, and Budget

Zach opened with a bold premise: as AI increasingly absorbs administrative project management tasks (such as scheduling, budgeting, meeting notes) what will distinguish effective PMs is their ability to solve human problems, read stakeholders accurately, and deliver difficult messages with clarity and confidence.

This shift, he argued, calls for an updated version of the traditional iron triangle. Where the classic model balanced scope, schedule, and budget, Zach proposed a new triangle built on stakeholder management, risk management, and communication. When any one of these three legs falls out of balance, project stability suffers. He emphasized that these three elements function as an interconnected system rather than separate workstreams to be managed in isolation.

Where Problems Really Come From

According to Zach, most project problems trace back to a few recurring root causes. Stakeholder misalignment often stems from unclear expectations or an assumption that ambiguity will simply resolve itself. He also drew a sharp distinction between risks and issues. A risk is a potential, actionable threat, while an issue has already occurred. Each requires a different communication approach: risks should be framed as an identified threat, its potential impact, and proposed mitigation steps, while issues call for a clear account of what happened, its impact, and what's needed from stakeholders to move forward. Inconsistent (or lack of) communication was also discussed as a prevalent source of friction.

Preparation That Actually Prevents Problems

Herman stressed that documentation only has value when it's actively used, not simply created and filed away. He also spoke to the importance of stakeholder analysis, noting that it should remain an internal tool. He also pointed to RAID or DARE logs as practical tools for identifying issues, assessing them quickly with the team, communicating clearly, and deciding on next steps.

Pivoting as Strength, Not Failure

One of the most memorable moments of the session was a real-world example of a 16-month Microsoft 365 rollout that required a major pivot just two months before go-live. Rather than proceeding with the original plan to rely on Microsoft on-site support, the team deployed a 400-person IT department across every hospital location to support the rollout directly. The result was the smoothest possible launch given the scale of the deployment. Zach shared this story to reinforce the point that pivoting isn't a sign of failure or impatience, but an adaptive strength. 

Communicating Up, Down, and Across

Zach offered practical guidance on tailoring messages to different audiences. Executives, in particular, need communication that's succinct and front-loaded. He recommended a simple structure: what happened, the impact, what's being done, and what's needed.

He also addressed decision paralysis. If leaders have everything they need to make a call, there's no excuse for delay. Escalation is sometimes necessary, but PMs should know their organization well before pushing hard. Zach then stressed the importance of closing the loop. Once a problem is resolved, communicate the root cause of the problem and steps to prevent it back to stakeholders.

Key Takeaways

Zach closed with a few core reminders. Problem-solving is continuous and a core responsibility of project leaders. Risks and issues require distinct responses. Preparation, stakeholder knowledge, and communication discipline all work together to reduce the severity of problems before they escalate. And lastly, pivots are a legitimate tool, not a sign of failure.

Many of the participants left with a lot to think about, including how they can apply this in their careers.

Keep the Learning Going at PDD 2026

Don't miss PMI-OC's annual virtual Professional Development Day on Saturday, August 22, 2026. This year's theme, Future-Ready PMs: Leading with AI & Insight, dives deeper into how project leaders can pair emerging technology with human-centered judgment to lead more effectively.

📅 Learn more and register here