How do you ensure that your project is on schedule to meet the deadline?

How do you ensure that your project is on schedule to meet the deadline?

IMPORTANCE-
 Helps in avoiding Scope Creep
 Helps in Risk Management
 Helps in Maintaining Quality of work in deliverables or Final Software Product.
 Winning the client in terms of Loyalty, strong business relationships.
 Winning the Deadlines proves teams and organization’s credibility; it helps to create brand value in market. Every client wants quality work in committed time.

BEFORE PROJECT –
• Setting correct expectations while communicating stakeholders about deliverables, Total time required and keeping everything documented.
• Proper Planning – Planning in details about each and everything
• Work Breakdown Structure – Properly breaking down work in small manageable chunks.
• Setting Milestones after deciding priority.
• Setting Deadline for Task & Deliverables.
• Following SOPs – meaning Standard Operating Procedures, if not available with company then setting it up project.
• Using Project management Tools – Gantt chart, Microsoft Project Plan, for Agile Project -JIRA
• RTM- Correct, Clear & Consistent requirements throughout project till signoff.

DURING PROJECT-
• Proper allocation of resources and talent of the team. – Manages team workloads better.
• Collaboration- with team and stakeholders
• Ensuring that stakeholder feedback is considered
• Proper management if employees are absent due sick leave or other leaves.
• Plan and track team member’s contribution.
• Communicate the value and importance of deadlines to team in meetings.
• Motivation to Team
• Following and updating the plan
• Avoiding Procrastination is very much important.
• Keeping every communication documented like email and in Project Management tools.
• Periodic Review – Health checkup of Progress
• If we manage Deadline for Task & Deliverables then it automatically manages project Deadline.
• Estimation- if chances of scope creep are estimated at any point of time during SDLC then acting on it on immediate basis with right actions like more manpower should be allotted immediately.

MANAGING AGILE PROJECTS-
o Nowadays JIRA is widely accepted as Project Management Tool for Agile SDLC. Previously, JIRA was a ‘bug management tool’ but with time and enhancements it is widely used as Project Management tool.
o It not only helps in planning phase but also helps in tracking and releasing software deliverables.
o Product burn-down charts & Sprint Burn down Charts helps a lot in avoiding scope creep.

Thank You (Writer- Vikram S.)