Project Management Tips for Developers

Understanding how complex information systems work is part and parcel of being an IT professional, but managing an IT project requires a whole other set of skills. It’s not enough to be technically proficient; pulling off a successful assignment means knowing how to harness IT to deliver tangible business benefits.

It’s no easy ask, and there can be pitfalls aplenty for rookie project managers – even old hands. So what can IT project managers do to up the odds of completing projects successfully, on time and on budget?

Set goals

Fail to plan; plan to fail. Even the smallest of IT projects will benefit from a project plan that includes clear goals and timelines for their achievement. Ensure that you allocate responsibilities from the start of your project, so there is no confusion between team members. Regularly check in or share updates on each milestone task, so that team members are across progress or hurdles, and work together towards achieving the shared outcome.

No matter the size of your team, it’s worth setting this up to get the most out of your time and to help with your team’s priorities.

Know when to be flexible

Say yes to every modification tossed up by stakeholders or hold fast to the original specification? Flexibility in any workplace is essential however, smart operators know they walk a fine line between being flexible and allowing 'scope creep' to hijack their project.

Changes can work, providing their effect on the project timeline is calculated and communicated to all parties. That means making sure the client you are working with understands the effect that a change can have on project deadlines and other commitments. Amend your timelines to match the new developments required or the changes requested, and ensure you’re making the right decision for the outcome before agreeing to too many large changes.

Keep a record

If it’s not written down, it didn’t happen. Diligent documentation is vital on projects of all sizes and stripes. It helps you to keep track of progress, particularly when you are working on multiple projects, potentially across multiple partners. This is beneficial both internally and externally, it ensures stakeholders and team members are accountable for their deliverables.

In addition to accountability, documented agreements, ideas, discussions and processes help in keeping the project efficient. Being able to easily refer back to an agreed discussion will mean less conjecture if certain team members or stakeholders want to change things or have uncertain deliverables.

Communicate

Is it possible to have too much communication? On an IT project, not usually. As project manager, it’s your responsibility to ensure stakeholders and team members know exactly where things are at, and that means keeping everyone in the loop on at least a weekly basis, when a deadline is approaching and when something doesn't go to plan. If there’s bad news to impart, it doesn’t pay to sit on it – ever!

Empowering team member to provide their own communication through updates on their certain areas of responsibility is a great way to build the team’s overall confidence and ownership over the project, while serving as a regular channel of communication regarding on-going work.

Staying ahead of the curve

Lifelong learning is something that cannot be underestimated – even for the most seasoned professional. A high level of relevant industry work experience prepares you with the knowledge to help meet the global demand for IT managers. It teaches the skills you need to oversee and execute IT projects and make complex, strategic decisions with confidence.

Ensuring you remain up-to-date with industry developments, and that your knowledge and skills are always relevant, means you’re able to lead with confidence and innovation. Imparting your knowledge and experience into your team is a key to success as it delivers trust in your ability as well as your leadership. When running large-scale IT projects, that trust in your leadership can be the difference between team cooperation or failure.

Want to make your IT projects seamless? Southern Cross University Online delivers a Master of IT Management which provides a deep understanding of project planning and methodologies. Learn more today.