Don't Stake Your Reputation on Missed Deadlines.
Andrew Lambert
I help tech-driven executives optimize project delivery by building and equipping high-performing teams with cutting-edge tools and skills.
If you are a construction head, the chances are that Microsoft Excel is not one of the strongest points in your skill set. However, as a natural consequence of the way in which Project Management Offices (PMO) have functioned over the last few years, you may have found yourself being forced to get your hands dirty.
Spreadsheets and Word documents that are viewable and able to be updated by multiple parties used to be the way things got done in a PMO, leaving the door wide open to errors, miscommunication and oversights. This caused the potential for missing deadlines, straying over budget, and inaccuracy when it came to accounting, and reporting - but this way of working is fast becoming a thing of the past.
That's because of the rapid development of Project Portfolio Management (PPM) software as a way of dealing in an efficient and organised manner with a portfolio of projects, delivering improvements both to accuracy and understanding. Construction firms are now able to control their resources at the click of a button and build up a much better idea of the bigger picture, without having to struggle through a multitude of spreadsheets.
It is the ability of PPM software to allow the effective management of multiple projects that makes it so useful, especially when weighing up different budgets and resource levels between different projects - for the mid to large construction firms, this is a god send.
PPM software also carries a degree of flexibility which makes it easier to make changes when a change in the scope of the portfolio is needed, as well as allowing centralised management that is visible to all the key stakeholders.
For construction firms that have just started to dip their toes into the water of PPM software, there is certainly some learning to do. At first, upgrading to the platforms can be a little overwhelming compared to the systems used previously. But with the right training and guidance, there is no reason why PMOs can't get up to speed in no time at all. Just think of it like a super organised spreadsheet or Word document, but without the need for constant sending and updating!
By incorporating PPM into your business, your workload will go from slow and cumbersome to slick and sophisticated. You will be able to review who completes tasks on time, ahead of time or behind time, making communication with your staff a lot easier. You can have customised status reports as often as you like, you will be able to answer queries on your mobile immediately and you won’t have to speak to people on the phone or email them as often, allowing you to get on with what you do best - carry out the day to day requirements of your role!
By using the right software to transform processes and can eliminate resource-draining spreadsheets for good by providing a virtual Project Management Office (PMO) to ensure you never miss a deadline.