Issues in Project Management | PRINCE2 Solutions - The Knowledge Academy

While project management is a very rewarding and empowering position to be in within a company, there are a number of drawbacks that can be faced. Many bosses understand the importance of project management and invest a lot into making sure their managers are knowledgeable enough to deal with problems that can crop up on a daily basis.

The following are some of the biggest issues in project management:

Unclear Goals

A manager is often implementing the work set out by those above them, so when the tasks they are given to manage are unclear, it can mean that the whole team struggles to meet the demand of the project at hand. To overcome this, the manager must find a way of establishing a clear line of communication in order to establish goals effectively.

Scope Creep

Scope changes are perhaps the most obvious problems faced by many project managers. It is inevitable for clients and other influencers to ask for alterations to the objectives of the original plan, which is something that really tests the skills of a project manager. They are put in a position where they must decide on how best to make the necessary changes while also working to a budget and deadlines etc.

Accountability

Teams and projects shine when a manager is able to offer each team member their own tasks to complete and ensure that the responsibility for the project as a whole is properly delegated. Without there being some form of accountability, the whole process of the project can fall into disarray and can lead to incorrect blame being placed on certain employees, which can be counterproductive. It cannot be stressed enough how essential management training is to ensure a lack of accountability does not happen.

A Lack of Contingency Planning

One of the most important skills a manager can have is their ability to carefully map out contingency plans to cover any unexpected scenarios that may come about. Through training and experience, a successful project manager should be able to plan ahead for any eventuality.

Communication

Project managers are looked upon as being someone who can set out clear instructions and direction during every stage of a project. Being able to communicate well is key to ensuring the whole project runs smoothly, even in the face of unexpected problems occurring. Having proper project management training can really help to ensure that both written and oral feedback is delivered throughout the duration of a project and to ensure that there are always clear expectations at every stage of the process.

Time Allocation

Project management often involves being able to allocate the correct amount of time to each task throughout the course of a project and this can be a difference between getting work done and draining a team’s morale. A project manager should ensure that deadlines are met in a realistic manner to ensure quality does not suffer and to avoid falling into common pitfalls highlighted in Why Projects Fail, which ultimately helps make sure the project does not fail. 

If you are a manager looking to improve your skillset, it may be worth considering learning a new approach to your management technique by completing a course with us. Through taking part in one of our project management courses such as Agile, Project Management Professional (PMP)®, ITIL® or PRINCE2®, you can soon find yourself finding solutions to some of the problems we discussed earlier. It’s never too late to see where a new skill can take you! If you would like to find out more about project management, take a look at our guide. 

The Knowledge Academy has been reviewed and approved as a provider of project management training by the Project Management Institute (PMI)®. PMI, PMP, CAPM, PMBOK and The PMI Registered Education Provider logo are registered marks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.

Project Management Institute, A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge, (PMBOK® Guide) – Fifth Edition, Project Management Institute Inc., 2013.