Projects fail, and often miserably. Every project manager faces various challenges while managing a project that cause unnecessary delays. Sometimes, they even make mistakes that lead to complete project failure. Many project management professionals reveal that a large portion of these mistakes are made during the planning and scheduling stage of a project. Now, the important question is – Are these mistakes avoidable? Or what project managers can do to keep everything on track?
In this article, you’ll discover some of the common project planning mistakes that can derail an entire project. And along with that, you’ll get helpful tips on how you can avoid them at all cost. So, let’s get started.
What should you do? - Make sure that you create a clear communication with your team and tell them what the goals are.
What should you do? – document the list of requirement you get from your client and your stakeholders. Make sure that you understand every requirement clear and loud.
What should you do? – If you’re planning a project, make resource planning your top priority. Make sure that you have everything and everyone you need before you get started with your project.
What should you do? – Planning and establishing the right kind of communication channel before the start of the project will help you keep things on track. Make sure that everyone on the team is communicating clearly and have up-to-date details regarding project status, risks, issues, developments, and more.
What should you do? – Consider using task management software to set accurate estimates for every task associated with a project. It will make your job a lot easier.
What should you do? – Take a deep breath and make a clear process for everything that needs to be done in a project. Create an order in which each task or activity will be performed and set milestones accordingly. Also, try to keep things as simple as possible.
What should you do? – Do a quick analysis before you plan your project. Determine what all could go wrong and be ready for every situation.
What should you do? - Go off-the-books and start improvising. Give yourself and your team the flexibility to adapt to the evolving needs of a project.
What should you do? – know what software or tool is ruling the business world. and if it fits right into your business needs, use it to plan and deliver your projects.
What should you do? – Do some thorough research on your end before buying any software. Know what you can expect and how it can help you manage your projects better.
Do you think we missed something important about project planning and scheduling? Leave your thoughts in the comments below!
In this article, you’ll discover some of the common project planning mistakes that can derail an entire project. And along with that, you’ll get helpful tips on how you can avoid them at all cost. So, let’s get started.
Mistake #1. Failing to establish a common goal
Before a team starts working on a project, it is important that everyone on the team has a clear understanding of the project’s goal. Establishing a clear purpose and goal helps to create a comprehensive work breakdown structure and determine the best course of action.What should you do? - Make sure that you create a clear communication with your team and tell them what the goals are.
Mistake #2. Struggling to establish requirements
Knowing the exact requirements is the key ingredient for creating a perfect plan. Now, things can go horribly wrong if you fail to figure out what requirements should be included in your project plan.What should you do? – document the list of requirement you get from your client and your stakeholders. Make sure that you understand every requirement clear and loud.
Also Read: 6 Ways Technology Is Changing Project Management For The Better
Mistake #3. Lack of resource planning
Effective resource planning is crucial to the success of a project. As a project manager, it is important that you have the right number of members on your team and each team member has the skills needed for a particular project. If you’re not able to identify and allocate the right kind of resources to a project, you’re not going to see your project succeed so easily.What should you do? – If you’re planning a project, make resource planning your top priority. Make sure that you have everything and everyone you need before you get started with your project.
Mistake #4. Failing to communicate properly
While nobody denies the fact that clear communication is crucial for the success of a project, it's easy for project managers and teams to get distracted when a project is underway. As a result, project management becomes immensely annoying and mistakes are made.What should you do? – Planning and establishing the right kind of communication channel before the start of the project will help you keep things on track. Make sure that everyone on the team is communicating clearly and have up-to-date details regarding project status, risks, issues, developments, and more.
Mistake #5. Giving inexact estimates
If you’re being too optimistic about the estimates, you’ll surely have a hard time meeting your deadline and deliverables. Giving inexact estimates is one of the major mistakes that you must avoid no matter what. Make sure that you evaluate every need before you decide what can be done and by when.What should you do? – Consider using task management software to set accurate estimates for every task associated with a project. It will make your job a lot easier.
Also Read: How to Put an End to Miscommunication at Workplace
Mistake #6. Failing to plan the right process
When a project fails, it doesn't mean that your teams aren't working hard. They are, but they just don't have the right process to follow. Since you started your project without planning or creating a clear process for various tasks and activities, everyone is going to struggle and the project is expected to get delayed.What should you do? – Take a deep breath and make a clear process for everything that needs to be done in a project. Create an order in which each task or activity will be performed and set milestones accordingly. Also, try to keep things as simple as possible.
Mistake #7. Ignoring risk management
A well-planned risk management strategy is crucial for project management. In other words, formulating and maintaining a contingency plan to respond to potential risks is important for your project’s success.What should you do? – Do a quick analysis before you plan your project. Determine what all could go wrong and be ready for every situation.
Mistake #8. Being inflexible
Don’t be too rigid. If you find out that a project is falling behind schedule, be ready to do whatever it takes to deliver that project on time.What should you do? - Go off-the-books and start improvising. Give yourself and your team the flexibility to adapt to the evolving needs of a project.
Mistake #9. Refusing to use the right software
Today, putting the right business management software or tool in place is a must for every team. Sadly, many project managers and teams are still relying on unconventional project management approaches.What should you do? – know what software or tool is ruling the business world. and if it fits right into your business needs, use it to plan and deliver your projects.
Mistake #10 Expecting the software to do everything
An advanced project management or business management software is designed to help teams with everything from initial project planning to task and file management, team collaboration and time tracking. Having such software in place is a smart move, but don't expect it to transform your business and make managing projects without any input. Remember, a project management software will never solve your problems on its own. So, don't invest in one believing that it will get everything done for you.What should you do? – Do some thorough research on your end before buying any software. Know what you can expect and how it can help you manage your projects better.
In conclusion
Planning a project successfully takes a lot of effort. Now, if you keep the above points in mind and avoid making common mistakes while creating your project plan, then you will be able to increase the chances of your project’s success effortlessly.Do you think we missed something important about project planning and scheduling? Leave your thoughts in the comments below!
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