Ask the Experts: Project Management

Lionel Vogelhut

Operations Manager Taymak Flooring

Communication, communication, communication. On the jobsite, people are often in such a rush to get things done that they don’t take the time to ensure that the employee receiving the instructions understands them completely. This leaves room for errors and can create delays and cost overruns.

A solution that we have implemented at Taymak Flooring is, when gathering pertinent job information, our sales representatives fill out a work order. This form is then passed on to operations and reviewed with the rep to ensure all information is received completely. This information is then passed on to our install team and reviewed before the job is ever started. This has helped mitigate any miscommunication. Additionally, it has helped improve our overall customer satisfaction and project completion.

Jason Morio

Global Segment Manager Projectplace by Planview

Whether on the jobsite or in the office, miscommunication is a major collaboration challenge. Whenever you get a team together, you must watch for things that could fall through the cracks due to a lack of communication, which could disrupt whatever project you are working on. Communication and consistency are the key responsibilities of the project manager.

According to a survey of 200 project managers across all industries in North America, nearly 9 weeks are wasted every year due to poor collaboration. Despite the innovative project management solutions available, organizations continue to rely on legacy communication tools. While email has its place, it can be difficult to keep track of messages sent and received, monitor version control and search for data and documents. However, choosing technology that is designed to deliver projects on time and on budget can help alleviate the vicious cycle of miscommunication.

The cloud-based, project-collaboration solution should provide a visual way to plan, schedule and track project milestones. It should also allow users to share documents. Organizations of all types can benefit from project collaboration technology.

Michelle LaBrosse

CCPM, PMP, PMI-ACP, RYT Chief Cheetah Cheetah Learning

Over the decades that I have worked with project managers, the most common project management mistakes I’ve seen on the jobsite have to do with estimating. Many PMs drastically underestimate the time it will take to complete a job. At the same time, they overestimate the quantity of material it will take to complete the job.

The result is wasted spending on unnecessary materials and a shortage of manpower, which forces PMs to work their employees too hard or scramble to bring more people on board at the last minute. Both of these outcomes can be avoided by more careful estimation of the labor time and the exact materials needed to complete each specific project task. To submit a question, email Managing Editor Elizabeth Manning at [email protected].