Planning and project management is an important business skill. Projects have become a commonplace occurrence and important component to the modern organization. It is important that these projects are run in the best way possible to avoid wasting time and money. However, there are mistakes that can cause a waste of time and money as well as a failed project. Here are some common ones. One common project mistake is selecting a bad project manager (Schiff, 2012). Project managers are a very important component of any project team. They are the leaders who help keep the team on track, resolve disputes, keep track of progress, solve interpersonal disputes, and so much more. There are several signs that a project manager was a bad choice to lead
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Communication is important in day to day business activities, but even more important during projects, where there is often a large amount of time and money, as well as the reputation of the company, on the line. There are several reasons for this. First of all, regular communications makes sure that team members understand what responsibilities they were assigned. This prevents duplicate tasks and confusion. Secondly, regular communications allow project managers to keep track of progress. It allows them to quickly become aware of roadblocks in the plan, investigate the cause of the roadblocks, and adjust the schedule accordingly. Finally, good communication can help strengthen a plan. Sometimes lower level employees can offer good suggestions that a project manager will not think of. Encouraging open, honest, and respectful communication, even when the communication may be critical, pays off heavily in managing a project. There are several ways to ensure good communication. The first way is to put together a communication plan before beginning work on the project. This can make sure there is a commitment, and that communication is a priority from the beginning. It can also create more organized and efficient communications. A second way is to lay out ground rules for meetings from the very beginning. This can help employees make the most of meeting and discussion time. …show more content…
This causes several problems. First of all, an unrealistic timeline places unnecessary stress on employees while a more realistic timeline would allow them to have more ease in the project. Second of all, an overly optimistic timeline does not allow much wiggle room for unexpected events, making them much more destructive than they need to be. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, an overly optimistic deadline is less likely to be met. This causes people who have a stake in the project to not get the project when expect, creating loss of confidence and credibility (Schiff, 2012). There are several ways to avoid overly optimistic timelines. The first way is to consider all of the involved team members when creating the plan. Considering the different skills, speed, and abilities and factoring that into the timeline can give a better idea of how long it will take. The second way is to make room in the project timeline for unexpected events and issues. Most projects have something go wrong with them at some point, and it is important that these issues do not cause the project to miss deadline. Finally, set the deadline a little later than what is thought to be
Communication is important in day to day business activities, but even more important during projects, where there is often a large amount of time and money, as well as the reputation of the company, on the line. There are several reasons for this. First of all, regular communications makes sure that team members understand what responsibilities they were assigned. This prevents duplicate tasks and confusion. Secondly, regular communications allow project managers to keep track of progress. It allows them to quickly become aware of roadblocks in the plan, investigate the cause of the roadblocks, and adjust the schedule accordingly. Finally, good communication can help strengthen a plan. Sometimes lower level employees can offer good suggestions that a project manager will not think of. Encouraging open, honest, and respectful communication, even when the communication may be critical, pays off heavily in managing a project. There are several ways to ensure good communication. The first way is to put together a communication plan before beginning work on the project. This can make sure there is a commitment, and that communication is a priority from the beginning. It can also create more organized and efficient communications. A second way is to lay out ground rules for meetings from the very beginning. This can help employees make the most of meeting and discussion time. …show more content…
This causes several problems. First of all, an unrealistic timeline places unnecessary stress on employees while a more realistic timeline would allow them to have more ease in the project. Second of all, an overly optimistic timeline does not allow much wiggle room for unexpected events, making them much more destructive than they need to be. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, an overly optimistic deadline is less likely to be met. This causes people who have a stake in the project to not get the project when expect, creating loss of confidence and credibility (Schiff, 2012). There are several ways to avoid overly optimistic timelines. The first way is to consider all of the involved team members when creating the plan. Considering the different skills, speed, and abilities and factoring that into the timeline can give a better idea of how long it will take. The second way is to make room in the project timeline for unexpected events and issues. Most projects have something go wrong with them at some point, and it is important that these issues do not cause the project to miss deadline. Finally, set the deadline a little later than what is thought to be