Resource management can be painful. Department managers know it; any manager who has direct reporting resources knows it. There's performance reviews, raises, staff meetings, needy resources – it all happens. Thankfully, the project manager often manages in a matrix environment and none of their project staff actually reports directly to them except for the specific project. But there are still headaches in keeping the project fully staffed, handling any conflicts that arise, ensuring client interfaces are going well and that project requirements are being met on a daily basis. It can sometimes be a very complex juggling or balancing act.
From my own experiences, there are usually four key areas where problems can originate and keeping those in view and in check can help keep project resource management problems to a minimum. Adding focus to them during problematic times can also help reduce or resolve resource issues and keep the project on the right track.
Aim for a conflict free project team. Conflict on the team can be deadly to the project. It needs to be resolved quickly and in the best interest of continuing forward and hopefully uninterrupted progress on the project. Meet with conflicting resources and gain quick resolution whenever possible. Meet separately and then as a group. Can the conflict be resolved? If not, then action must be taken and - unfortunately - that usually means replacing one or more resources which can be costly and risky to the project. Don’t do it unless absolutely necessary; the quicker you take action the quicker you will be back to productively moving forward on the project. No room for procrastination and conflict here....
From my own experiences, there are usually four key areas where problems can originate and keeping those in view and in check can help keep project resource management problems to a minimum. Adding focus to them during problematic times can also help reduce or resolve resource issues and keep the project on the right track.
Aim for a conflict free project team. Conflict on the team can be deadly to the project. It needs to be resolved quickly and in the best interest of continuing forward and hopefully uninterrupted progress on the project. Meet with conflicting resources and gain quick resolution whenever possible. Meet separately and then as a group. Can the conflict be resolved? If not, then action must be taken and - unfortunately - that usually means replacing one or more resources which can be costly and risky to the project. Don’t do it unless absolutely necessary; the quicker you take action the quicker you will be back to productively moving forward on the project. No room for procrastination and conflict here....
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