Challenges in Scheduling and Cost Control Processes, Research Paper Example

Regardless of whether you have a long experience in management or you are a new entrant into the management field, project management will always come with a combination of presentations. Part of project management will look like art, some other part like a science making it very confusing. There are challenges that are common in implementing schedule and cost control processes.

Communication shortcomings

The team members involved in the project many times do not give clear instructions on what needs to be done at every level. The project managers have the same problem of not being in a position to make their juniors understand what the job is all about. At the time when the project is in progress and the damage already done those with the responsibility of overseeing will complain of incompetence by the workers especially the subordinates. This can also affect the costing process of the project because the client might have been briefed and funding that is not well reflected is reserved for the project (Bower, 2005).

Deadlines that are not realistic are another challenge faced by project managers. Many of those who have been victims believe most projects have a “slippage in schedules”. It is a common occurrence almost in every project (Fleming & Joel, 2002).

Resource competition will lead to a strain of finances, the people involved and the time consumed. This is because some projects have a political basis. To solve this kind of a problem a project manager has to ask his superiors in the workplace to set a plan for prioritizing across all the projects that have to be undertaken. All projects should be aligned to the goals and objectives of the organization (Cesarone, 2007).

The unrealistic deadlines can be resolved by managing the forces that participate in the project. Make an observation and identify those projects that have been carried out in line with the company goals and objectives (Al-Jibouri, 2003).

The communication challenges that one can come across are solved by determining proper communication channels. This will guide in knowing when to disseminate particular information and to whom. Resource competition can be reduced by engaging only in those projects that were planned for and in the order in which the planning has been done in line with the organizational goals and objectives.

If presented with the same situation, I will make sure all the team members are aware of what is going on at every step and avoid projects that do not serve the general objectives of the organization.

References

Al-Jibouri, S., (2003). “Monitoring Systems and their Effectiveness for Project Control in Construction.” International Journal of Project Management 21:145-154.

Bower, D. C. (2005). Phase Earned Value Analysis. Paper presented at the PMI Global Congress North America, Toronto, Canada.

Cesarone, J., (2007). “Project management by the numbers.” Industrial Engineer: IE 39.11: 36- 41.

Fleming, Q. W. & Joel, M. K., (2002). “Earned Value Management.” Cost Engineering 44:32- 36.