If you are pursuing project success, infrequent updates are a significant obstacle. Delayed task updates of one to two weeks can have significant consequences, potentially leading to inaccurate predictions, Resourcing, and other critical predictive metrics. To address this issue, project managers should focus on the three leading indicators of project success.
Three Key Indicators of Project Success
1. High Frequency of Task Updating (less than 2 days): This indicator emphasizes the importance of real-time intelligence. When project tasks are updated frequently (within two days or less), we ensure that project data is current and practical for decision-making. This is the difference between – Information and real-time intelligence in decision-making. Reviewing outdated information is making decisions relative to the past but expecting the predictable future to evolve.
The prediction error dramatically increases with delayed updating, and proactive management and intervention are compromised. See Figure 1.
Fig. 1
2. Lots of Notes (Nt) on Project Tasks and the Use of Reason Codes (RC) for Delays: Comprehensive Notes and the use of Reason Codes signal that resources are engaged and actively thinking about the project and issues related to delays. Nt and RC provide context and explanations for project updates, creating a deeper understanding of project progress and challenges. The Nts’ and RCs’ history is critical for analysis and establishing continuous improvement and project modulation.
3. Wide Span of Decentralized Participation in Updating: Project success is not the sole responsibility of a select few. Engaging a diverse team in task updates is a key indicator of high adoption, understanding, and participation in the project’s success. Different perspectives and expertise contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the project and its complexities.
The Role of the “Last Modified” Date Column.
The “Last Modified” date column serves as a visual representation of our engagement metrics. It indicates when tasks were last updated and when notes and reason codes were added for delayed tasks. By paying attention to this column, we gain insights into the timeliness of updates and the overall health of our projects.
Conclusion
In conclusion, this guide underscores the critical importance of Engagement in achieving project success. By ensuring a high frequency of task updating, encouraging comprehensive notes and reason codes, and fostering decentralized participation in updates, we set the stage for more successful projects. Monitoring the “Last Modified” column allows us to track and measure our progress in these areas. By collectively adhering to these three engagement metrics, we increase the likelihood of accurate resource allocation, project success, and customer satisfaction.