6 Steps How To Manage Schedule for Small Projects
Sunday, October 13, 2019, 6:00 AM | Leave Comment
All projects, big and small, need a schedule. If you have a small project, perhaps the schedule can be a simple checklist or work in a spreadsheet.
As projects get larger, they need more formal scheduling templates and tools.
As a project manager you are responsible for scheduling any size project and see to it that the schedule for completion is met successfully.
However, the processes and methodologies you use to manage a schedule also vary depending on the size of the project.
Large projects need a lot of rigorous and formal schedule management.
Small projects can use a lighter process.
A successful project starts with planning which, at a minimum, may include documenting goals, identifying risks, measuring success, along with confirming decision makers unless, like I said before, it’s a simple checklist or a spreadsheet.
By the way, Google dictionary defines schedule as “A plan for carrying out a process or procedure, giving lists of intended events and times.”
The following steps can be used to manage the schedule of a small project.
-
Review schedule every week
Review the schedule on a weekly basis with your team members. Either you do it informally sitting with each member or call a meeting and each will give status of his or her task. This is an important step to perform and should not be overlooked.
-
Identify activities
Identify activities that have been completed during the previous week and update the schedule to show they are finished. Also, the activities that have been started and check to see if any team member has any hardship performing them.
-
Determine status of activities
Determine whether there are activities that should be completed, but are not. Sit and work with the individual that is assigned to the activity. Find out what’s holding the task from completion on schedule. If the individual needs additional time and effort, update the schedule accordingly and let the concerned folks know about the updated schedule.
-
Evaluate the remaining work
Evaluate the remaining work to see if the project will be completed within the original duration. You may find that even though some activities may be completing later than planned, other activities may be completing early and the overall schedule may still be okay.
-
Is project falling behind schedule?
If your project is falling behind schedule, there are schedule management techniques you can apply to get the schedule back on track. Raise a schedule risk in your status report if the original deadline appears to be in jeopardy.
-
Adjust the schedule
Adjust the schedule so that it reflects the remaining work to be completed, and is as accurate as possible. Let the concerned parties know about these adjustments.
In a Nutshell
Since this is a process for a small project, it would be unusual to have major problems with the schedule. The consequences of problems on small projects are generally small as well.
Throw us a like at Facebook.com/doable.financeCourtesy of…
This column is © copyright to www.Method123.com and originally appeared in their weekly project management tip newsletter.
Use the best project management process in the world. Method123 Project Management Methodology (MPMM) is used by tens of thousands of customers around the world.
Take a test drive with the free trial download.
Buy MPMM today – NOW with extra program management and IT development modules.
