Project teams are often tasked with minimizing the dollars going out the door by keeping an eye on project spending. Many of the initiatives they plan and execute are intended to save the company money in the long run. Of course, while the project is in progress and tasks are being completed, the team is…
project management tips
6 Tips to Manage Project Delays
October 2, 2018 by
being able to manage project delays within the project lifecycle is crucial for a successful end result. Sometimes the problem is that tasks begin later than planned, or the schedule slips when activities take longer to complete than expected. If you’re worried about delays derailing your project, the right strategies can help you stay ahead…
Parachute Project? Do Not Panic!
September 21, 2018 by
A parachute project can rattle even the most efficient and experienced project teams. These initiatives—which often come out of nowhere and drop into the heart of a schedule that’s already busy—can throw everything off balance. They may be triggered by a variety of events, from the announcement of a new regulatory requirement to a competitor’s…
Indentify Which Top-Priority Projects are At Risk
August 24, 2018 by
Are any of your high-impact, high-visibility, can’t-fail projects at risk? Hopefully the answer is“no,” but if you don’t know for sure, now is the time to reevaluate how your team measures and reviews the health of your project portfolio. Most organizations have a process in place for reviewing individual projects. That usually translates into a monthly…
Why Consistent Project Data Matters
August 18, 2018 by
One common project portfolio challenge companies often encounter is that there’s a striking inconsistency in how project data and information is rolled up to the next level. Team members sometimes have wide discretion in interpreting how much work they have left to do, for example. Similarly, PMs may report to their supervisors differently, with some…
Tackle Project Resource Conflicts with Good Data
May 14, 2018 by
Resource conflicts can have devastating consequences on a project. Teams may be without labor support during a crucial time, or seemingly small workforce delays could snowball enough to impact the final completion date. With time at a premium, efforts to analyze resource issues aren’t always as in-depth as they should be, leaving PMs without enough…
Project Software and You
April 20, 2018 by
Project Software and other technology tools drive many business functions—from the routine to the critical—and project management is no different. There are a number of platforms out there to help teams keep track of their project activities. Some systems help with scheduling labor, others with resource allocations, and still others focus on budget adherence. A…
Break Down Your Project Silos
April 17, 2018 by
The silo mentality can be a serious threat to a project. It closes team members off from each other and stifles the flow of information. The ability to make good business decisions, develop resolutions to problems, and even properly identify issues are all diminished if cooperation among cross-functional groups is hampered by organizational project silos….
No Integrated Project Plan? Beware the Risks.
March 28, 2018 by
The development of an integrated project plan is crucial, particularly when your project involves disparate sub-teams. You might have internal stakeholders carrying out important tasks, such as when the IT department tackles infrastructure upgrades necessary to support a new software platform, or a business unit must revise their existing workflows to accommodate an expanded production…
Resource Risks Project Teams Must Address
March 8, 2018 by
Project resource management is a big component in many projects, but there are some resource risk areas that even very experienced PMs may sometimes overlook. Because these issues can cause big delays and budget overruns, teams should put a priority on identifying and mitigating resource risks early in the planning process. Leveraging internal staff is…
