How do you handle situations where a stakeholder attempts to bypass the established IT decision-making process?

I approach this differently. When a stakeholder bypasses the process, they often seek approval from someone outside or above the team. I prefer to address the person who granted this approval, questioning why it wasn't a collaborative decision involving all parties. I ask them to explain the perceived value in bypassing the process, especially if it impacts the schedule and budget negatively. It's crucial to understand their reasoning and encourage collaboration to prevent such occurrences in the future.

When I discover a stakeholder bypassing the process, I engage them in a conversation to explain how such actions ultimately slow us down. I emphasize the importance of our established processes and intake procedures, which are designed for efficiency. If our processes are overly complex, we welcome feedback to improve them. However, if the processes are straightforward and the bypassing continues, it becomes a behavioral issue that needs addressing.