These can assist you to keep a project on schedule:
- Ask for "as soon as possible," rather than set a deadline.
- Never say, "I don't have time." According to Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu, it is the same as saying, "I don't want to." Better: "I can fit it in next week, would that work?"
- If falling behind, carefully consider:
- Can I start some tasks earlier or eliminate unnecessary tasks?
- Will the events that got us here continue to cause issues?
- Are there larger tasks that can be split, crashed, or fast-tracked?
- If getting ahead, carefully consider:
- Are there negative implications of an early project finish?
- Can we begin tasks with less confident estimates and risks earlier?
- Can value-added work be performed (e.g., improve the project management processes, tools, and test cases)?
- Evaluate the impact of risks and add a time contingency to the schedule.
See also 6 Essential Tools for Project Financial Control.
Want to learn more about how to integrate these practices into a project methodology? Check out our Micro Guide to the PROJECT Methodology.
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