In this blog post, we’ll discuss five common project planning mistakes that, when fixed, can improve your success rates.
1. Inaccurate project estimates.
To ensure the project is successful from the start, it is important to be as accurate as possible about deadlines during preparation. A thorough, realistic assessment and planning will help you avoid problems. Be willing to listen and adjust your course if project stakeholders raise concerns about the schedule.
2. Missing dependencies.
Foundations have to be built before the walls. This may seem logical, but in a complex project it is easy to overlook these kinds of errors. To avoid delays, schedules should be continuously monitored by multiple stakeholders to ensure that everything is in a logical order.
3. Bad allocation of resources.
Each company has a certain amount of resources available for a project. Whether that is time, budget, materials or manpower. Problems and delays often arise when schedules are made under the assumption that unlimited resources are available to you. When making your schedule, keep a realistic idea of what you need to work with at any given time. Also remember that there are external factors that can affect your resources.
4. Not preparing for the worst.
There are many factors that you cannot control. That is why you should have cautions people on your projects, monitoring schedules. Always plan for the worst-case scenario, allocate extra money, and include buffer time to absorb the things that are still unknown. Think about the weather, for example. You can’t predict a devastating storm from the start of a project, but it can mess up the entire schedule.
5. Not using the digital resources available
Use an online place where all parties can view all necessary documents. Integrating such a “cloud” provides more security, clarity and cooperation between parties. Centralized data and information provide greater accuracy and a seamless transition from one project phase to the next. 12Build can help. Find the subcontractors who fit the project, easily request quotations, immediately share the documents that are important, let your cost estimators work together efficiently and ensure that all parties always know where they stand.
Being able to stick to a schedule is one of the most important skills for all jobs in the construction industry. But it is also a difficult trait to find in people. Avoid these common mistakes to make sure your next schedule goes smoothly and you maintain a reputation as a contractor who works consistently, remembers the details and sticks to deadlines.
