What do you do if your IT project lacks direction and structure?

1 Assess the situation

The first step is to identify the root causes of the lack of direction and structure in your project. Is it due to unclear or changing requirements, poor communication, inadequate planning, unrealistic expectations, or conflicting priorities? You need to gather feedback from your team members, clients, sponsors, and other stakeholders to understand their perspectives and expectations. You also need to review your project scope, schedule, budget, risks, and quality metrics to see if they are aligned with the project objectives and deliverables.

2 Define the vision

The next step is to clarify and communicate the vision of your project. What is the main goal or problem that your project is trying to solve or achieve? How does it align with the organizational strategy and values? What are the benefits and outcomes that your project will deliver to the end-users and stakeholders? You need to articulate the vision in a clear, concise, and compelling way that inspires and motivates your team and stakeholders. You can use tools like vision statements, project charters, or elevator pitches to convey the vision.

3 Establish the framework

The third step is to establish the framework that will guide your project execution and control. What are the processes, methods, tools, and standards that you will use to manage your project? How will you define, assign, and monitor the roles and responsibilities of your team members and stakeholders? How will you plan, track, and report on the project progress, performance, and issues? You need to choose a framework that suits the nature, size, and complexity of your project, such as agile, waterfall, or hybrid. You can use tools like project management software, project plans, or project dashboards to implement the framework.

4 Engage the team

The fourth step is to engage your team in the project direction and structure. How will you foster a collaborative and supportive culture among your team members? How will you empower them to make decisions, solve problems, and deliver value? How will you provide them with feedback, recognition, and coaching? You need to involve your team in the project planning, decision making, and problem solving processes, and encourage them to share their ideas, opinions, and concerns. You can use tools like team meetings, workshops, or surveys to engage your team.

5 Communicate effectively

The fifth step is to communicate effectively with your team and stakeholders. How will you keep them informed, involved, and aligned with the project direction and structure? How will you manage their expectations, needs, and feedback? How will you handle conflicts, changes, or risks that may arise during the project? You need to communicate frequently, clearly, and consistently with your team and stakeholders, using the appropriate channels, formats, and tones. You can use tools like status reports, newsletters, or presentations to communicate effectively.

6 Review and adjust

The sixth and final step is to review and adjust your project direction and structure as needed. How will you measure and evaluate the project performance and outcomes? How will you identify and implement the lessons learned and best practices? How will you adapt to the changing requirements, environment, or feedback? You need to review and adjust your project direction and structure regularly, based on the data, feedback, and results that you collect and analyze. You can use tools like audits, reviews, or retrospectives to review and adjust.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?