A combination of management skills, coordination and comprehensive reporting is needed to track project progress. To avoid problems along the way, goals need to be clearly defined, channels of communication open, possible risks evaluated, and worst-case scenarios planned for.
One key route to efficiently tracking progress across large-scale projects is professional project monitoring. When combined with comprehensive risk management, it means that teams have the best chance of meeting deadlines and producing quality work that satisfies all parties involved.
5 essential tips for effectively tracking project progress
1. Set clear goals and milestones
Possibly the most important step in project monitoring is defining clear goals and to breakdown the major milestones into smaller, more digestible tasks. This will inform budgets, timelines and progress monitoring. Make goals measurable, with tangible expected results and document every action taken in the lead up. Establishing deliverables will also help teams to manage their time effectively.
2. Keep open lines of communication
Talk to your teams at regular intervals and make sure that each contributor knows which deliverables have been assigned to them. Clear lines of communication ensure that potential delays or issues can be headed off sooner. A key benefit is that stakeholders can be updated with the relevant information in good time. Staying consistent with regular meetings and following up with clear reports to keep a log of progress is also important.
3. Keep teams accountable
Making the process as transparent as possible increases accountability and likelihood of reaching milestones on time. Make sure all the relevant information is readily available for anyone who might need it, from stakeholders to team leads.
4. Utilise technology
Keep track of key events, budgets and all the important aspects of your project with management tools and software. Generate progress reports at the touch of a button, send important updates to stakeholders, get accurate information and increase visibility across complex schemes. Management software also means you can visualise tricky concepts in a more comprehensible way.
5. Keep goals realistic
As part of establishing the scope, it’s essential to make sure goals are achievable in a realistic timeline and to budget. Project monitoring teams will be able to advise on timeline goals and ensure that construction project decision makers have all the necessary information and due diligence checks completed in a timely manner. This approach helps to set stakeholder expectations and avoid costly changes and time lost further down the line.
Get help with project monitoring
Talk to the Naismiths team today to get advice on project monitoring. Our team of dedicated independent monitoring surveyors are passionate about delivering the best service possible for our clients and providing practical, professional guidance.
Our construction sector project management expertise includes (but are not limited to):
- Residential (Affordable / Private / PRS / Permitted Developments)
- Student Accommodation
- Commercial
- Hotels
- Industrial
- Retail
- Healthcare / Leisure