Top 10 project mgt. problems

Presentation on
Top Ten Project Management Problems

Agenda  To know what is Project Management.
To Understand the Project Management Problems.
Acquiring the Problems solution.

Project
Management
Planning, Directing, and Controlling resources to
meet the technical, cost, and time or deadline
constraints of the project.

Top Ten Project Mgt.
Problems
1. Resources inadequate/Insufficient.
2. Project can’t begin on time.
3. Unclear goals/direction.
4. Meeting (“unrealistic”) deadlines.
5. Staff gaps develop/ Issues within a team
6. Lack of Strategic Alignment.
7. Breakdown of communications.
8. Project managers ignore approaching disaster.
9. Project teams skip test phase.
10.Stakeholder Management.

Problem #1
Resources
inadequate/Insufficient.
Wrote one engineering manager,
“if insufficient resources are allocated to the project, you have
to be a magician to be successful.”
Inadequate resources was the issue most frequently
mentioned as causing problems in managing a project. “No
matter what the type or scope of your project.
Problems would be raised:-
 Poor Quality of Execution.
 First-mover Advantage is Lost.
 Team Morale Deteriorates/Collapse.
 Time Lengthens etc.
 Fail to Achieve the project objective.

Problem #2
Project cant begin
on time
Problem:
Project managers are given the assignment but its added to an
already challenging slate of projects. Yet, they are expected to
complete the project on schedule.
Solution:
Its important to begin the project, even if it is only assembling
the team and breaking the task down into individual
assignments. Project managers need to reevaluate the list of
projects, look at those tasks on which they are taking time and
reconsider their priorities. If project managers are still
concerned, they should determine if either the project or
other work should be reassigned to ensure the projects
completion on time.

Problem #3
Unclear
goals/direction.
Problem:
A lack of direction and unclear goals are among the largest
reasons why projects fail. If the goals and objectives are not clearly
defined, the project is doomed to fail
Solution:
 The first major challenge that project managers and team
members have to know that what exactly to expect from the
project.
 When no one is aware of the what’s, whys and whens of the
project, what will follow is a lot of confusion and chaos.
 Starting a project without clear objectives, a specific direction
and a prepared plan; it’s like going on a road trip with no idea
where you’re going and how to get there.

Problem #4
Meeting (“unrealistic”)
deadlines.
Problem:
The second reason why most projects fail or what most project
managers and project members struggle is with the unrealistic
expectations clients and stakeholders have from them. Most
project timelines do eventually slip due to the unrealistic ‘initial
deadlines’.
Solution:
 Keep a list of projects & deadlines.
 Communicate a clear deadline.
 Break down the project
 Have a start and complete date for each step
 Care about deadlines.

Problem #5
Staff gaps develop/
Issues within a team.
A team consists of multiple members, each having a different
personality, managing and catering to their needs can be a
daunting task at times. With so many people working on a project
together, there can be disagreements and differences in a team that
can have a negative impact on the project and work environment.
The team has one individual critical to the teams success. Suddenly
that person announces he or she cant continue on the project
Project managers identify key people at the start of the project and
design workflow so that others in the team may be cross-trained to
fill these roles should vacancies occur for whatever reason. Backup
these key people through the work so there will be someone
remaining who is familiar with the project should one of these key
people leave the group or get reassigned.

Problem #6
Lack of Strategic
Alignment
Problem:
There's only one thing more important than doing projects right
and that's doing the right project. An all too common reason for
IT projects being cancelled is because they never should have
been started; that is, there is no auditable mapping between the
project objectives and the business objectives of the organization.
Solution:
Ensure that each project charter contains and explains the
rationale for undertaking a project in the context of the current
business drivers of the organization. This rationale should
include the measurable benefits that will result in the
advancement of the business objectives.

Problem #7
Breakdown of
communications
Breakdown of communication means a lack of
communication; a failure exchange
information/message/objective.
Highlight, record and track enterprise-level and project-
level objectives, and communicate them in an
understandable manner. Always begin with documented
criteria for measuring success. Require the project
sponsor to define a measurable end result. Not only will
this increase the chances for project success, it also will
aid in project scope management. To avoid
communication breakdowns, project managers also
should facilitate good communication � conflict
resolution, coordination and empowerment.

Problem #8
Project managers
ignore approaching
disaster
Problem:
Management determines a plan and it is politically unwise either to say or show
the objective is unachievable.
Solution:
No project is perfect. Problems occur because of inaccurate milestone
predictions, budget allocations, schedule delays, new technology demands,
additional requirements unanticipated during initial planning and changes in
project mission. Management hates surprises and any of these situations can
cause disaster during the life of a project. The key to avoiding the "impending
doom" scenario is to track the project process carefully and provide management
more frequent status reports. With available project analysis tools on the market,
project managers can predict more objective analysis of the problem to present to
management. Once project managers have composed a plan, review it weekly, if
not nightly, against the teams actual performance. Use schedules and budgets as
tools. Day-to-day changes in deadlines, expenditures and revenues cannot be
ignored. With regular and timely assessment, it is possible to reflect this
constantly changing reality and to keep management regularly informed.

Problem #9
Project teams skip
test phase.
Problem:
The number one problem in the development lifecycle is that
project teams spend too much time designing and not enough time
testing.
Solution:
Project management should detail the strategic business objectives
and the process to achieve them budgeting in ample time for
testing, testing and retesting. This phase is often the first phase to
go due to time and budget constraints. Project managers should
note that if their teams spend all of their time designing and no
time testing, the project is highly likely to fail in the end. Project
managers need to have the foresight that when the project goes
live, problems will cost more. The success of the project depends on
testing throughout the project lifecycle. The process of delivering
successful projects, in the end, will prove more worthwhile than
management thought.

Problem #10
Stakeholder
Management
Problem:
Effective stakeholder management requires the identification of
individuals who are affected by and/or can affect the successful
outcome of a project, especially those who are of a less than
positive disposition toward the project objectives. All stakeholders
require attentive management to minimize obstacles of this type.
Solution:
Create a truly collaborative work environment where visibility of
the work involved in the project and the change which is likely to
occur as a result of the project can be analyzed, and discussed by
interested and affected parties. This ensures minimal uncertainty
and the wherewithal to keep all interests "on board." Ownership of
risk identification, planning, management and tracking must also
be taken, to then be published to the appropriate stakeholders.

Top 10 project mgt. problems

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