5. Which Control is Missing?

A multinational project team receives an important change to a client specification.

The project manager:

Sends the updated requirements to everyone.

Uploads the new version to the shared system.

Gives a clear implementation deadline.

Assigns responsibility to each team.

Two weeks later, one team has continued working to the old specification.

Which communication control was missing?

A. A clear deadline

B. Defined responsibility

C. A central source of information

D. Confirmation that the change was received and understood

E. More detailed written instructions

Choose your answer before reading on.

ANSWER: D — Confirmation of understanding.

The message was distributed, documented and assigned — but nobody verified that the people responsible had received, understood and acted on the change.

A message sent is not a message controlled.

Could this happen in your organisation?

The MC3 Method Toolkit includes audit checklists to help you identify missing communication controls before they become costly mistakes.

Download the toolkit at www.mc3method.com