“Getting Started With Project Scheduling: 10 Ground Rules” on Runn.io, January 5, 2023.
Always keep a vigilant eye on the project’s progress
Considering how unsteady projects tend to get, being ready for change, re-planning, and adapting in case of a force majeure is key. Tracking project progress will keep everyone up-to-date.
“Complexity adds risk. Schedules with many team and task interdependencies are hard to plan and manage. Picture a ballet versus a dance party. The planning, choreography, and practice required for a successful ballet is mind-boggling. Complex projects with unknowns and unpredictable interactions are inherently risky. Upfront planning efforts are unlikely to succeed. However, iterative planning practices reduce risk by incorporating feedback loops that allow for learning and adapting”, says Alan Zucker, Founding Principal at Project Management Essentials, LLC.
There’s no point in letting your project schedule take care of itself. You are the one who knows it best — its purpose, its methods, what it takes to achieve success. And you can use a well-crafted tool to save your own time as you set up each new project.