“The ability to identify problems and address them as
quickly as possible depends on the team’s knowledge
and experience.”
Complex projects typically have many people involved. For instance, when we do a website project, we have our own team of subject matter experts, which includes web managers, designers, copywriters, and analytics experts. At least one but often more business units will be involved, along with marketing, the information technology department, and any vendor assisting with implementation. We also include our internal security team, which makes sure that the deliverable is safe and ready to go public.
With so many people involved, challenges are inevitable. One challenge is scope management. Stakeholders have their vision of what the scope should be, and that vision translates into project requirements. Often, however, when the project is built and goes back to stakeholders for review, they decide to make changes. Therefore, it is essential that project managers stay close to stakeholders, keep them informed, and show them the results of each project phase.
Another challenge is resource and budget constraints, which require planning and adjusting priorities to accommodate the organisation’s strategy. Teams must work closely together on the different phases of the project. Managers must notify everyone of problems as early as possible so that they can help the project meet its goals. Close cooperation amongst team members is key.