What Is Project Slippage? (Plus How To Prevent It)

MS Project 2013 – Slippage

What causes project slippage?

There are several common causes of project slippage:

Schedule estimation

Project managers frequently predict the length of time it will take to complete a project when planning it. Planning a project’s entire schedule and making time estimates for each task are examples of this. In schedule estimation, a number of factors can result in slippage:

People

People frequently cause project slippage because numerous team members are needed for many projects. Here are some ways people can affect a project schedule:

Third-party involvement

Scope creep

Setting the scope before beginning a project is a crucial component of its successful execution. The review is a chance to make sure the specifications are precise and clear and that everyone concurs on the deliverables. Stakeholders may occasionally list several changes they want to make to a project while it is being developed. For instance, you might decide on a new feature you want to include in a first product release after gathering project feedback. Scope creep, which is the addition of new tasks or requirements after the project’s requirements have been established, can result in slippage.

What is project slippage?

Missing deadlines when managing a task or series of tasks is known as project slippage. This can occur while a team is carrying out tasks or during the project planning phases, delaying the scheduled times and the actual completion dates. When a project slips, the team assesses other benchmarks and tasks to see where deadlines could be shortened to adhere to the original completion date.

How to prevent project slippage

You can take the following actions to avoid project slippage:

1. Evaluate risk

Risk assessment is a crucial stage of the project planning process. This entails pinpointing any areas of the project where delays or other problems, like going over budget, might occur. It entails figuring out both the likelihood that a problem will occur and the effects it might have on a project. Consider assigning a numerical value to potential risks to identify the project’s highest-risk tasks.

2. Develop a corrective action strategy

A corrective action plan can be made once your risks have been identified and rated. In order to do this, you must assign team members who can assist in problem-solving, specify the actions you can take, and create a procedure to confirm risk mitigation. For instance, before moving forward with the project, you might ask a technical engineer to look into why a system shuts down, to address any problems, and to make sure the system is stable. Consider strategies for corrective action for all risks that have a high likelihood and severity.

3. Establish clear communication

Establishing effective channels of communication with each team member from the beginning of a project can help avoid any delays in this area. Consider making it clear where individuals can communicate the status of a task, ask questions, and offer one another support. Regular status meetings can make sure that everyone is informed of the status of a project, its milestones, its risks, and its communication of changes as it progresses.

4. Follow up with team members

A project manager frequently assigns tasks to individuals on different teams. Even though their managers may have more power to make them carry out their duties, checking in with people can motivate them to meet deadlines. To make sure a project is nearing completion and to proactively identify any potential delays, you might send a notice before the deadline. Similar to this, following up with third parties like customers, suppliers, or vendors frequently can motivate them to complete their action items on schedule.

5. Leverage technology

Utilizing various technological tools can help you keep track of your project’s progress and increase team member transparency. Think about resources such as task-tracking software, collaborative project plans, and data analytics These options can assist you in establishing a precise project plan, reviewing assignments and status, and identifying risks. You can plan projects in the future with the assistance of previous projects that you have digitally saved.

FAQ

What is meant by project slippage?

Missing deadlines when managing a task or series of tasks is known as project slippage. This can occur while a team is carrying out tasks or during the project planning phases, delaying the scheduled times and the actual completion dates.

What causes project schedule slippage?

Schedule slippage can occur for a variety of reasons, including poor planning, a lack of resources, unanticipated needs, and rework that consume valuable time from the anticipated schedule.

How do you deal with project slippage?

1. Manage Resources and Employees Effeciently.
2. Calculate Your Project’s Critcal Path.
3. Offer Incentives to Employees.
4. Offer Incentives to Third Parties.
5. Keep a Well-Managed Schedule.
6. Create Reachable Deadlines.
7. Take Disciplinary Action.
8. Maintain Communication.

What is schedule slippage in project management?

Slippage occurs when a project does not adhere to its schedule commitments. It is common knowledge that software projects frequently fall behind schedule Therefore, managing slippage effectively is a crucial component of the project manager’s job.