Project plans can be unworkable for any number of reasons and our team of project management consultants have stepped in to rescue failing initiatives due to most of them. Some project plans are bad from the get-go, others become a nightmare mid-lifecycle. And though the process of getting at-risk projects back on track requires skill…
common project plan problems
Your Project Plan is Broken: Should You Fix It or Start Over?
March 19, 2021 by
Sometimes project plans run into so much trouble they can only be described as broken. Missed milestone deadlines are usually one of the first signs your plan is falling apart, but as part of our project management consulting work with customers we’re often able to identify a host of earlier issues that should have triggered…
Get Control of Your Project Punch Lists
March 6, 2020 by
Punch lists are an important part of the project execution process. Closing the loop on these final tasks helps to ensure that your stakeholders are satisfied with your initiative’s outcome. Completing punch list items is also key to delivering the full value everyone expects from the project. However, between the volume of activities occurring in…
Beware These Threats to Project Teamwork
August 19, 2019 by
Projects provide a window into many facets of teamwork. People with different backgrounds, skills, and areas of expertise must come together around a common mission. They need to communicate effectively as they share information, solve problems, work through conflicts, and reach consensus on difficult issues. Each of them brings important knowledge and competencies. Though some…
5 Signs Your Project Communications are in Trouble
August 12, 2019 by
Good project communications are a fundamental component of project success. Formal memos, meeting agendas and minutes, quick question-and-answer sessions in the hall—they all contribute to moving your project forward. Your stakeholders need to know what’s happening and what’s scheduled. Your sponsors and the organization’s senior leadership team expect regular updates on progress and notification of…
Control the Project Ripple Effect: Tips to Get Started
July 29, 2019 by
If you’ve ever run into problems in a project, you probably noticed it wasn’t just a single issue that needed to be resolved. Trouble has a way of snowballing, starting out small before it grows into something big enough to bring progress to a halt. It’s also possible for problems to jump across the project…
Conquer Fear and Enjoy More Project Success
June 21, 2019 by
The influences of fear within the project team can be immense. Uncontrolled anxiety is capable of overwhelming people and putting your initiatives at risk of failure. Fortunately, the right steps can help your group conquer its fears and get back on the road to consistent project success. Addressing and managing fear requires a multi-prong approach….
6 Ways to Make Your Project Better
April 17, 2019 by
When your team handles projects on a routine basis, it’s tempting to just plug the information on the latest effort into your software, add in a bunch of time and budget estimates based on previous projects, and start working on the first set of tasks. Stop! This approach sets you up to repeat mistakes you’ve…
Make Your Project Meetings More Powerful
February 25, 2019 by
Does it feel like your project meetings could be better? Maybe they used to be more productive and focused. The discussions might seem less dynamic now, or you’ve noticed that team members no longer leave meetings as engaged on the actions and issues that come out of those conversations. With everything going on, it’s possible…
7 Project Questions to Start the New Year
January 14, 2019 by
The prospect of a fresh, new year offers the perfect opportunity for PMs to take stock of the strengths and weaknesses within their teams. If you’re serious about driving tangible improvement in the months ahead, kick off the year by asking these key project management questions. 1 – Does our project team have the right…
