Every project is unique in terms of its goals and objectives, scope of work and client requirements. Despite their uniqueness, however, most projects face some of the same types of issues. And how well you tackle those issues often determines the fate of your project.
Thankfully, modern software tools offer a solution to most project management issues. For instance, if keeping your remote teams on the same page is the problem, project collaboration software could be the solution. No matter what challenges you are facing, you can easily find one of the best online project management tools for your situation. Without further ado, here are some common project management challenges and how to overcome them.
1. Vague and unrealistic goals
Vague and unrealistic goals set your team up for failure right from the beginning. According to a recent survey by the Project Management Institute (PMI), 39% of the projects fail due to not having a clearly defined goal. Another PMI study reveals that projects often fail due to not having enough small milestones to measure progress. This means you need both long-term and short-term goals and a mechanism to measure success along the way.
Make sure your project goals are specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time-bound (SMART). It would be even better if your goals can make an emotional connection to your team members. Communicate your goals and objectives with your team so that everyone knows exactly what they are trying to achieve.
2. Lack of communication
In a recent Gallup survey, only 13% of employees said that their senior management communicated with them effectively. Communication issues often arise from a lack of information. However, sometimes too much information is a problem. For instance, if your team members receive different instructions from different managers, they could get confused. Communication gaps often lead to missed deadlines, costly rework, and even work-related conflicts. One way to deal with this is by using one of the best online project management tools to help centralize documentation and keep all project communication in one place.
3. Poor risk management
Projects don’t always go as planned. That is why you should have a system in place to identify any potential problems or risks. Once you identify a risk, the next challenge is work collaboratively towards minimizing its impact. At this stage, project collaboration software can help make sure everyone has access to the information they need, when they need it. Some advanced tools even help with risk identification. For instance, the software can help automate status reports, so you can spot potential problems in real time.
4. Poor resource planning
Project teams often get so busy with meeting deadlines and client requirements that they lose sight of the resources at hand. The truth, however, is that you cannot complete a project successfully with limited resources. That’s why you should plan and keep track of your resources throughout the project lifecycle. Make sure your team is equipped with the right tools, employee support and financial resources to pull off the project successfully. Make a detailed plan. For instance, if you need to outsource skilled professionals, consider how many people you need and for how long.
