Managing multiple projects can be a nightmare, but when you plan ahead, everything will flow more smoothly. You should particularly avoid the following common mistakes most of the managers make when working on multiple software development projects. Although these blunders are not exclusive to people in the IT industry, they can be very damaging to them.
1. Not using asset management software
Many companies stack up information from multiple projects in several databases and spreadsheets, which is both inconveniencing and costly. Using a management software will help your company streamline operations by aggregating all of your records. This will allow you to monitor all assets on a centralized system. Additionally, it will allow you to organize inventory, making it easier to track all projects to make sure you are on pace and to detect any potential issues. Should you a problem arise, using a management software, , you can adjust goals, strategies and resources to achieve your necessary outcome.
Asset management software will also enable you to update project data regularly. If you make important changes in task or project deadline, the software will automatically update it. This will provide all employees working on the project with accurate information on their tasks and progress of the project.
2. Avoiding face-to-face meetings
Many managers do not engage in face to face meetings enough when running multiple projects. While it is acceptable to receive reports on email or phone, it is important to physically meet your team members. A meeting is the perfect forum to interact with team leaders and receive project updates.
At the beginning of every project, it is best to establish a foundation for meetings, including who the expected attendees should be and who will be responsible for ensuring that the meeting actually takes place. However, be mindful that there aren’t too many people in the meeting. Too many attendees can slow things down especially when everyone wants to participate in the discussions or ask questions.
3. Putting important tasks on the back burner
Often times, IT department staff work on lower priority projects while critical assignments are put on the back burner. If you are working on multiple projects, it is critical to prioritize your tasks. While some departments might view their projects as high-priority, the business owner might not because that specific project may l not generate any income. It is important to consider projects that align with the mission of the organization and work on them first. To ensure everyone is on the same page, brief all team members on all the tasks they will be working on and explain which ones are most important. You should also let them know when any changes occur.
It is also important to allow the team members to finish one project before they embark on another.. If you ask them to work on projects concurrently, their output may be worse and the tasks may take longer to complete. This also applies to writing emails or making phone calls while they work. If employees are doing too much outside of the project at hand, none of it will be done effectively and efficiently. . Additionally, working on multiple projects at once could leave employees confused and they could end up mixing projects, which leads to back to less productivity.
Conclusion
Managing multiple projects is challenging, both technically and financially. To manage the projects and your team properly, use tools that make your work easier and facilitate communication between team members. If you need more info, contact us!
