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Can be described as the method to manage a Project. It’s a systems approach that helps Teams to work within a project by organizing, tracking and executing the tasks. Additionally it can help with planning, and management to meet the Project requirements to budget and the timeline.
BUT, inevitably delays can and do occur to a Project.

Project Delays - What, Why, How!

What?
Delays to the Project Schedule, delivery and expectations.
Why?
Why do these delays happen!
• The planned timeline is understated. Inadequate estimated timeframes jeopardize the Project particularly if there are several tasks and steps. Each impact the other. Estimate carefully!
• Project requirements are unclear. It is critical to have clearly communicated requirements at the start. Avoid guessing and playing catch-up later.
• Changed Project scope. Clients making changes along the way. It takes time to create new plans and often redoing work.
• Communication with stakeholders. Ensure you are timely and engaging with all your communication. Critical as milestones may need signoff before the next stage can commence.
• Other influencers include; external vendors not delivering on time; resources are unavailable along with unpredictable events such as natural disasters.

How
6 Tips – How to avoid Project delays

1. Create a Project Schedule.
This is a detailed document identifying the Project scope, Timeline and Organisational Resources required to complete each task. Break down into tasks, sequences, and steps.
2. Gather Your Team.
Do so from the start. Esstential to share, sell and seek buy-in of the Vision and benchmarks for success.
3. Set Realistic Goals.
Be honest when setting your goals. These need to be clear and measurable. Avoid being over ambitious to impress clients.
4. Gather the ‘right’ resources.
Review what you have in the critical aereas of; Finance (budget), People/Team (skilled/available) and Materials (technical, physical space).
5. Progress
Track and Measure progress. Collect data and measure against your goals. Also provides transparency. Schedule regular Team Meetings.
6. Forecasting.
By Forecasting we take stock of the Project current status at a certain point to predict results at the end of the Project. Forecasting takes Project risk into account, looking at cost, quality or a combination of those. This exercise provides the opportunity to course-correct and avoids delays.