A company cannot evolve and become more profitable if it relies solely on outdated business ideas and practices. Its management must be open to trying out new concepts to adapt to the ever-evolving market. Products and services can be developed based on these ideas. It sounds simple enough, but the reality is far more complex. It's one thing to come up with an idea, but quite another to build a project around it.
Things can get so out of control that only a third of all projects complete the production cycle on time and within the initial budget. This occurs due to errors made by inexperienced project managers. We offer you five common management issues that arise from overlooking certain aspects of project planning. By resolving them, you'll be able to manage projects effectively.
Failing to define the project’s goal is the most significant mistake made by managers
According to several studies by the American Project Management Institute, one-third of projects fail because the people developing them lack a clear vision. It’s one of the most common management problems. That’s why it’s crucial to have a clear picture of what you are aiming to achieve, how it will benefit the company, and why customers would want to use it. Otherwise, any subsequent work will be rendered meaningless.
Let’s consider a small mobile app company that wants to enter the mobile video games market with a puzzle game. In this scenario, developers would likely discuss the following:
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Who are our target age groups?
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Should we develop a 2D or 3D game?
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How many developers will we require to work on various aspects of the game, such as mechanics, level design, concept art, sound design, etc.?
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What type of game engine should we use, and do we have sufficient budget to get its license?
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What will the game cost for the customer?
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How much of our profit will go to the company that created the engine?
All these queries need to be addressed during initial and subsequent company meetings. Managers and employees should agree on the optimal way to achieve project goals and the estimated time required to accomplish this.
Top mistakes managers make – lack of requirements
When planning a project, understanding what the final result will look like is crucial. This is one of the biggest managerial mistakes. Managers are responsible for compiling a list of requirements for the project and providing it to employees. The list should include the following details:
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The number of employees needed for different stages of project development
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Criteria for assessing the project's quality and its components
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Guidelines for distributing the workload among workers
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The project schedule
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The list of objectives the project will achieve for the company
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Frequency of project alterations
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Initial budget size
This list should also include the final product to be developed. For a mobile video game, these might include concept artwork, audio samples, and code for various game elements like mechanics, physics, visual effects animations, etc. Each listing must include an estimated release date.
Creating estimates is another common mistake managers make
Deadlines are a common management issue that arises during project development. A competent manager needs to stay connected with the team and request updates on their progress. Are they meeting their deadlines, or do they need more time to complete each task properly?
Unexpected issues can arise, necessitating a delay in the entire project. If you fail to make the necessary calculations, you risk repeatedly postponing the deadline. To prevent future problems, it's best to meet with every team member and evaluate their work timeliness.
Neglecting risks is a common management problem
In theory, all your plans should smoothly fall into place each time, but in reality, any project risks delays, missed deadlines, ill employees, and other adverse events. A proper risk management program reduces the likelihood of project failure by nearly half. This process isn't too difficult but does require identifying several factors that might go wrong during a particular project. Your list of risks should include events like these:
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Failure to meet deadlines
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Working on additional features beyond the project's original scope
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Changes to the project scope, including goals, deliverables, tasks, costs, and deadlines
A project manager's role is to evaluate risks and determine their impact on the project. For example, you might appoint a deputy project manager who can replace the project head in their absence. Technical difficulties may also occur, like an abrupt change in hardware or software, which may require hiring additional staff. A contingency plan should cover all potential setbacks for the project.
Mistakes made by managers – having a rigid schedule
There's no better way to ensure a steady workflow than by scheduling your team appropriately. The timetable must clearly outline the workload and deadlines. All schedules should incorporate some flexibility in case of unforeseen events. If anyone working on a project needs to take time off due to illness, a family situation, injury, or another reason, they can do so within reasonable terms. In such cases, someone must be available to replace them in emergencies to maintain the project development pace.
It's crucial to allow team members the same flexibility when proposing new ideas to project managers that will benefit the project overall. Nowadays, there are diverse solutions available to simplify project management. These include tools like Social Shared, Wrike, Slack, Procore, and many others.
