How to avoid project scheduling mistakes?

The schedule drives (almost) everything! Here’re 3 real cases and how NOT make these deceptively simple scheduling mistakes:

1. Look at an actual calendar. Real case: A manager was budgeting for a 3 YEAR project and I had to pull out a calendar to show it’s less than 15 months – starts in Q4 Year 1 and ends in Q1 Year 3. So, what that manager thought was a multi-year project was in fact close to only one year.
2. Understand total hours vs. total calendar time. Real case: A manager said the team has ample hours to complete the work and I had to point out calendar time is insufficient, e.g. 180 hours in 1 week. So, they needed another strategy such as adding considerable resources who are all available in one particular week, or reducing the scope of the work that can be humanly accomplished in one week.
3. Respect commercial holidays. Real case: A Saturday meeting was scheduled in advance but it turned out to be Mother’s Day weekend. The manager reasoned since Mother’s Day is Sunday, it shouldn’t affect the Saturday meeting. Let’s just say: DO NOT cross mothers. 🙂

Don’t make these scheduling mistakes!

SEE ALSO:

How to set achievable deadlines on a massive project?

How to convey work-life balance needs to stakeholders as the project manager?

How to manage deadlines without procrastination?

How to balance work preparation with personal obligations?

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