Video:How to Keep a Project on Schedule

Transcript:How to Keep a Project on Schedule

Hello, I’m Brian Smith for About.com here to discuss how to keep a project on schedule.

A project can be defined as a group of tasks that need to be completed by a certain time in order to solve a particular problem. As a project manager for many years, one consistent project goal is to complete the project properly and on time. So whether you’re running a million dollar project for an outside client, a company internal project or a project at home, here are some tips to help you keep things on track.

Schedule a Plan

Have a plan – Sounds simple, right? But it’s hard to tell if your project is on track if you do not have a definitive plan. Your project plan can be created with sophisticated project management software, a spreadsheet or simply on paper. Your plan should include: When the Project Starts, What tasks need to be accomplished, how long should each task take to complete, who will accomplish these tasks and finally when your project is due. Be certain to work with your team to ensure all task durations are realistic.

Expect Things to Go Off Schedule

All plans look good on paper but know that things may not always go as planned. People get sick, flights get cancelled and humans make mistakes so always try to allocate more time than what’s needed and try to do tasks ahead of schedule to allow flexibility when things go wrong.

Manage Expectations

There’s no worse feeling as a project manager than knowing you and your team have finished a project only to find out it didn't meet your client's needs. Make sure you know exactly what problems your project is supposed to solve and that your deliverables will accomplish that. Manage expectations internally as well by monitoring both your project plan and the progress of individuals making sure you and your team are on track. The magic is in the details so be specific with your expectations!

Beware of Scope Creep

Adding to your list of tasks during the project is a FANTASTIC way to miss deadlines. Watch out if a client wants to add more work to your project but cannot give you more time. Scope Creep can also be a result of you just wanting to do more than what’s expected which is great! unless it severely affects your overall timeline.Finally, and most important...

Communicate Project's Progress

The absolute best way to keep things progressing on your project is to communicate with your entire team. The idea of “no news is good news” does not apply to managing your project and getting things done on time. Always know whats going on with everyone involved in your project so you can identify small problems and solve them before they become big problems.I hope these tips will help you keep your projects on schedule. For more information, be sure to check us out on the web at management.about.com