Finish Your Projects

DD #30 – Finish Your Projects

We’re back with Edition #30 of the Digital Directive, to tell you why hitting that “Done” status on your projects is so important.

Putting it simply, we’re talking about your project close-out and what you can do to get more projects “Completed” on time.

It’s time to buckle down and get those projects done! We all know that feeling of satisfaction when you cross the finish line and complete a project. It’s a beautiful thing, and it’s time to bring that feeling to your business.

The four phases of any project

Let’s dive in and lay out the four phases of a project:

  1. Project Initiation/Kickoff
  2. Project Planning
  3. Project Execution
  4. Project Close-out/Completion.

Project Close-out/Completion is the most crucial phase of a project; it’s the time when you take a step back, reflect on your work, and celebrate your successes. But before you can break out the champagne, there are some steps you need to follow to ensure a smooth project closeout.

Steps to close out a project and why it’s so important.

What are the steps to closing out a project?

First, you need to conduct a thorough review of the project and make sure all the deliverables have been completed.

Then, you need to document any lessons learned and make sure all stakeholders are aware of the project’s status.

Finally, you need to release all resources and close out the project budget.

Why is project close-out important, you ask?

Well, not only does it help you take stock of what you’ve accomplished, but it also helps you prepare for future projects and improve your processes. Having historical documentation of previous works helps you give more accurate estimates, allocate resources in the future, and reduce stress across the team

Plus, who doesn’t love concrete closure?

Why don’t projects get closed out?

Alright, let’s talk about some of the reasons why a project may not get closed out so we can discuss ways to avoid them.

Lack of clear goals and objectives: If the project doesn’t have a clear goal or outcome, it’s hard to determine when it’s completed.

Poor resource management: Projects require resources, like time, budget, and manpower. When these resources are mismanaged, it can lead to delays and incomplete projects.

Poor communication: Miscommunication between team members or with clients can lead to mistakes and delays, which can ultimately result in an incomplete project.

Changing requirements: When project requirements change mid-way, it can disrupt the project timeline and make it difficult to complete.

Unforeseen events: Natural disasters, unexpected setbacks, family emergencies, and other events outside of your control can disrupt the project timeline and make it difficult to complete.

Inadequate planning: A lack of proper planning and preparation can lead to problems down the line, making it difficult to complete the project on time and within budget.

Improving the odds of project completion!

There’s a million and one reasons a project may not get closed out, but here’s six ways to increase your odds of completion with from a monday.com channel partner.

Automations: Set up automations to properly track progress, send notifications, and ensure the project stays updated and on timeline.

Status tracking: Use status trackingv to easily keep track of the progress of each task and overall project status.

Time tracking: Use time tracking to ensure all hours worked on the project are accurately recorded and tracked.

Dependencies: Set up and identify dependencies between tasks, ensuring nothing falls through the cracks.

Updates: Use updates to document work and to facilitate discussion and decision-making keeping all stakeholders informed.

We want to hear from you!

We want to answer your most pressing questions! Share your ideas for topics! Have a question? Stuck on a workflow? Wondering the best way to do something? We’ve got experience and we want to share it!

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