A company can't grow and become more profitable by relying solely on outdated business ideas and practices. Its management needs to try out new concepts to adapt to the constantly changing market. Products and services can then be developed based on those ideas. It might sound simple, but the reality is much more complex. Coming up with an idea is one thing, but creating a project around it is entirely different.
Things can get so out of hand that only a third of all projects meet their production deadlines and budgets. This is usually due to errors made by inexperienced project managers. Here are 5 common management problems that arise from neglecting essential areas of project planning. By overcoming these, you will be able to manage projects effectively.
Failing to define the project's goal is the biggest mistake managers make
According to several research papers from the American Project Management Institute, a third of projects fail because those developing them don't have a clear vision. It's one of the most common management issues. That is why it's important to have a picture of what you're trying to achieve, how it will benefit the company, and why customers would want to use it. Otherwise, any further work becomes meaningless.
Consider a small mobile app company wanting to expand into the mobile video games market with a puzzle game. In this scenario, the following would likely be discussed by developers:
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What 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 need for various aspects of the game, like mechanics, level design, concept art, sound design, etc.?
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What kind of game engine should we use, and will we have enough funds to cover the licensing costs?
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How much will the game cost the customer?
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What portion of our profit will go to the company that produced the engine?
All these questions must be addressed during the initial and subsequent company meetings. Managers and employees need to agree on the best way to achieve project goals and the projected timeline to make this happen.
Top mistakes managers make – lack of requirements
When planning a project, it's crucial to understand what the final result should look like. Failing to do so is one of the biggest mistakes managers make. Managers are responsible for compiling a list of project requirements and sharing it with employees. This list should include the following information:
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The number of employees required for different stages of project development
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Criteria for evaluating the quality of the project and its components
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The principles of distributing the workload among workers
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The project timeline
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A list of objectives the project will accomplish for the company
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How often the project will be modified
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Initial budget size
This list also includes the final product that will be developed. In the case of a mobile video game, these can include concept artwork, audio samples, code for various game elements, like mechanics, physics, visual effect animations, etc. Each entry must include an approximate release date.
Making up estimates is another common mistake managers make
Deadlines are a frequent management issue that arises during project development. A good manager has to stay connected with the team and request updates on their progress. Are they meeting their deadlines, or do they need more time to ensure everything is done correctly?
Unexpected events can arise, leading to delays. If you fail to make the necessary calculations, you risk continuously postponing the deadline. To avert future problems, it's best to meet with every team member and assess their work time.
Neglecting risks is a common management problem
In theory, things should always proceed as planned, but in reality, any project may suffer delays, missed deadlines, employee absenteeism, and other unfortunate events. A proper risk management programme reduces the potential of project failure significantly. The process isn't difficult but does require identifying many factors that could go wrong during project execution. Your list of risks should include events such as:
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Failure to meet deadlines
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Working on additional features outside the original project scope
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Project scope changes. Alterations in project goals, deliverables, tasks, costs, and deadlines
A project manager's duty lies in evaluating risks and establishing their impact on the project. For example, appointing a deputy project manager who can step in for the lead in their absence. You might also encounter technical difficulties, like a sudden change in hardware or software, necessitating the hiring of more employees. A contingency plan must cover all potential project setbacks.
Mistakes made by managers – having a rigid schedule
There's no better way to maintain a steady workflow than by scheduling your team. The timetable should provide clear information on the workload and deadlines. All schedules must have some flexibility for unforeseen circumstances. If a team member needs to take time off due to illness, family matters, injury, or other reasons, they should be able to do so within reasonable terms. In such cases, there should be someone ready to step in so the project's tempo isn't disrupted.
It's crucial to give your team members the same flexibility when proposing new ideas to project managers that will benefit the project overall. Nowadays, there are multiple solutions that simplify project management, including Social Shared, Wrike, Slack, Procore, among others.
