How to avoid errors in project management?

The level of difficulty in project management is reflected in the fact that only every fifth project is completed on time, within the assumed budget, and containing all the features and functions specified in the original requirements. Regardless of how high project management expectations are, it is rare that everything goes smoothly. A lot of failures are caused by errors leading to serious problems, the resolution of which requires the increased expenditure of labor and resources such as project management coaches. Not everything is foreseeable and plannable. However, there are areas to which special attention should be directed. What errors and barriers stand in the way of the project's success most often and how to avoid them?

Ineffective plans are a source of errors in project management

Regardless of the type of project, no plan is a plan for failure. How to manage a project if it is not known how to measure its effectiveness because a solid work schedule was never worded and approved? Creating too vague plans, which make the effective coordination of activities impossible, is one thing, and a too detailed "timetable" is another, which, especially in long-term projects, loses its topicality very fast. Thus, even though the planning stage is usually time-consuming and requires a great deal of work both from the project manager and from the entire team, the creation of a good, flexible schedule is extremely important (some say, the most important) element of project management. What to do to ensure that the plan does not slip out of control? One of the most effective methods is the Kanban method. The IC Project, which is based on this method, facilitates access to the work schedule for all project participants. Thanks to this, anyone can check what the work is currently being focused on, what the priorities are, and, above all, if there are any problems requiring a response.

Chosen team

No one needs to be persuaded how important teamwork is in project performance. Hard skills, that is, the knowledge and abilities of individual team members, though essential, are not sufficient for us to be certain the goal will be obtained. There is also a human aspect that cannot be forgotten. The manner of communication, the readiness to share knowledge, or the ability to work under time pressure are only a few of the elements which impact the team's effectiveness. A separate issue is the attitude of people participating in a project. A situation where there is a group of well-prepared people who, in theory, should cooperate, but for some reason lack devotion, is a huge threat.

Errors in communication

Effective communication of all parties participating in a project is key to the efficient performance of each undertaking. Nothing causes problems to pile up more quickly than a lack of information and unclear communication. Often, all it takes is one signal about difficulties in performing a given task, sent adequately earlier, to prevent a serious crisis in a project. This is why determining clear rules and communication methods that will be accepted by all team members is one of the most important challenges for a project manager. Today, it is hard to imagine effective information exchange without the aid of modern tools. ICP proposes a range of functionalities in this area. Two of them are the possibility to communicate in real-time and a well-developed notification system. Thanks to them, we can avoid situations when an important decision or opinion waits for its turn in someone's mailbox, hindering the work progress.

Project management is an extremely complex task. No wonder errors and slip-ups are experienced even by experienced PMs at each stage of project performance. And though project management errors, as they are commonly known, are a part of our nature and an opportunity to conclude, in some cases, such education may cost dearly.