If you’re a project manager the chances are you’re responsible for producing a schedule.
A project schedule is a list of the activities to deliver the goal of the project. This is usually time-based and often contains key milestones driven by groups of tasks. Project schedules are one of the more common tasks and deliverables within project management.
Unfortunately, projects often run late with some failing completely. For some good examples of this go check out this piece this tells the story of the biggest project failures from government-run projects in the UK and shows the need for great scheduling.
So, when it comes down to schedule management – how can the project manager get it so wrong?
In this article, we list our 5 common mistakes that people make when producing project schedules.
1/ The Watermelon effect
I love that term!!….Watermelons are green on the outside and red on the inside. In project terms, the watermelon effect is pretending everything is good with your project when in fact on the inside all is far from good. In schedule terms, this means being overly optimistic. Producing a schedule that deep down you know you can’t achieve.
2/ Not enough milestones
Milestones are a great tool for monitoring the health of your project. For most, they represent the completion of major elements within a project. A schedule with milestones shows that the person documenting it has thought of the projects key stages and how the projects “moves” through its life towards its deliverables. They offer both a way of tracking schedule health and enables you quickly see if you’re the project is starting to fail.
3/ Assuming that resource works harder than it actually does
Productivity – there it’s a dirty word in scheduling terms but miss it at your peril. People do not work 100% of the time. They work an allotted number of hours 9-5 for example and they are productive for around 80% of that time. Trying to run at 100% productivity rates is foolhardy. Also when you’re thinking about resource don’t forget to think about availabilty of that resource – are they working your project 100% of the time or do they do other things?
4/ Not involving stakeholders
Doing the entire project on your own? Thought not – so why not involve your key stakeholders in the planning of the schedule? I know it’s obvious but its surprising how many PM’s ignore this and think they know best when it comes to developing a schedule. The truth is that you won’t know best and your plan will be 100% better if you incorporate the thoughts of those that will assist delivery.
5/ Peer pressure
We’re all been there the boss says that you’ve got to get it done in super quick time so you create a plan that delivers it. Trying to appease your boss while knowing that you cant deliver is a repetition of the watermelon effect from point 1 but is perhaps, more delicate to solve when it’s not self inflicted. Peer pressure can undoubtedly have a big effect on your project team, especially if your new or inexperienced in the role and you want your boss to love you!. While it’s good to be pushed when it’s unrealistic it doesn’t help.
So there’s our list of 5 things that help screw your project schedule up. Have your own thoughts – feel free to use our comments section below.