Tip of the Week: Managing Your Project Starts With You

Project management is key to the success of all businesses. Luckily, there are great software options that can do a lot for you, if used correctly. Today, we look at project management and share tips to help make sure you are using the software correctly, further organizing your business and success of projects. 

While there are many options available, getting your team to understand the one you have chosen is crucial. Regardless of the platform, we have a few tips you and your team can use.

Tip #1: Don’t Skip the Details

All projects start out as ideas. Getting them off the ground usually is the next step, but it is wise to first evaluate a number of details. There are a few key ingredients to ascertain when launching a new project. Do you have the resources (time, capital, and physical resources) needed? Is there enough support for this project?  How reasonable is the proposed timeline? Being sure you are confidently able to answer these questions should be the first step before even a minute of work is done on the project. 

Once you have done so, it is time to allocate roles.

Tip #2: Choose One Project Manager

Teamwork is a wonderful approach to completing a project, but a project leader should still be appointed. Sure, teamwork makes the dream-work, but after a couple projects with this approach it will become painfully evident that there needs to be one person your team can go to with questions or concerns. 

A project leader's role is to cultivate positive team dynamics. Acting as a mentor to the rest of the team vastly improves efficiency.

Tip #3: Setting Milestones

As with any project, it is important to track progress. Milestones should be set in order to keep your project not only on schedule, but your team motivated. Your team should be informed when a milestone has been passed, or if a shortcoming is apparent. 

Tip #4: Risk Management

Undertaking a project does not come without risk. Understanding what could go wrong means scrutinizing every aspect of the project. Doing so ensures that the team is able to recognize detours and won’t make a wrong turn along the road to project completion. One of the best ways to identify risk is by keeping an open-door policy with your team. If an issue comes up, it should be communicated sooner rather than later, before it becomes a catastrophe. 

Tip #5 Evaluation

There is no project that is a waste of time. There is always a value or lesson that can be taken away. By reviewing every aspect of the project, you will be able to improve for the next one. It is important to bring your team together to discuss what went right, what went wrong, and how problems could be avoided in the future. 

At OnSite I.T., our technicians thrive on project management. Whether it is running cable, building, testing, and deploying hardware, or simple proactive maintenance, we have an answer for all of your business’ computer problems. Call us at (403) 210-2927 to learn more.