Location via proxy:   [ UP ]  
[Report a bug]   [Manage cookies]                
Scribd
Upload
102 views

What Is Project Execution?

The project execution phase is the longest phase where the project plan is carried out. The project manager's focus is on supervising activities to create deliverables outlined in the project plan and ensuring milestones are met. The project manager manages people, processes, and communication while allowing the team autonomy. Challenges include lack of understanding and poor change management. Deliverables, change requests, performance data, and documentation updates are produced.

Uploaded by

Russell Endoy
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
102 views

What Is Project Execution?

The project execution phase is the longest phase where the project plan is carried out. The project manager's focus is on supervising activities to create deliverables outlined in the project plan and ensuring milestones are met. The project manager manages people, processes, and communication while allowing the team autonomy. Challenges include lack of understanding and poor change management. Deliverables, change requests, performance data, and documentation updates are produced.

Uploaded by

Russell Endoy
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 5

What is project execution?

The project execution phase is usually the longest phase in the project life cycle; and
the most demanding. In the project execution phase:

 Your team carries out all the planned activities, constructs deliverables, and
presents them to project stakeholders
 Your focus, as a project manager changes to performing and supervising all
activities to create deliverables as outlined in the project plan
 You’ll need to continuously track the project’s progress and ensure that the
milestones and deliverables stick to the project schedule
 You need to step back a bit and let your team carry out the project plan

In project management, there might be hiccups along the way but if you catch them
early on, it’s easy to course-correct. For this reason, the execution stage always
happens in concurrence with the next phase–project controlling and monitoring.

The majority of the activities during the execution phase will be handled by your
team. It’s a fine line to tread because you need to give your team enough autonomy
while taking care that everything goes according to plan.

In essence, the project manager has three main objectives during the execution
phase:

 Managing people
 Managing processes
 Managing communication

The benefits of a well-executed project are threefold:

 The project can be completed on time and budget


 Team morale can be maintained
 Stakeholders are satisfied with overall project progress
What happens during the execution phase?

Depending on the nature of the project and your organizational preferences, you’ll
decide the sequence of activities that will happen during the execution phase.

 Execute the project scope


 Manage the team’s work
 Recommend changes and corrective actions
 Manage project communication with stakeholders
 Conduct team-building exercises
 Celebrate project milestones and motivate team members
 Hold status review meetings to make sure everything is on schedule
 Document all changes to the project plan

What challenges are you likely to face?

 A lack of common understanding


 Uninvolved sponsors
 Misalignment with strategic project objectives and goals
 Poor change management processes
 Ineffective corporate governance
 Poor leadership!

What’s produced during the execution phase?

The execution phase is where all the action happens and the plans start materializing.
There will be changes to the scope and the documentation will change as a result.

Project deliverables

Project deliverables are the tangible outputs of the project. They need to reviewed,
tested, and meet the acceptance criteria given by the clients.

Change requests

When client expectations change or there’s a disconnect between the team’s


understanding of the client’s requirements, scope changes happen. These are
documented in the change requests, which are then reviewed and approved.
Performance data

The execution stage produces a lot of data points that you can use to optimize your
team’s performance. You can find where your team is spending most of their time and
how you can cut down on time and costs.

Issue log

Whenever there are bugs, issues, or defects, you document them in the issue log.
This will help you get back to the issues and fix them.

Documentation updates

Any changes to the documents created during the planning phase like the project
scope and project schedule will be documented.
1. Leverage project management tool

Using the right project management tool can be a major differentiating factor for


your team. The best tools on the market offer deep visibility into work status and
reduce the need for manual tracking during the execution phase. Additionally, they
also provide the ability to generate periodic customs reports in an easily accessible
manner.

At the end of the day, the right project tool for you is one that boosts your
efficiency without the need to get past a steep learning curve.

2. Delegate tasks to get work done effectively

Task delegation does not mean that you let go of every aspect of the project and
start depending on the team members. Instead, it means that you enable your team
and build their confidence by making them responsible for a small part of the
project. It can be a repetitive task or something you feel a particular member is
better at.

3. Empower your team to make decisions

An empowering environment is a sufficient motivator for team members that


encourages them to go above and beyond. Give them enough authority to make
decisions and take the necessary steps to fulfill the plan.

4. Be open to new ideas

It’s good practice to involve the team in making some decisions. Even if they suggest
a different approach than what you had in mind, appreciate their input, and be
flexible enough to accept better suggestions. This will serve as a good motivator and
make the team feel valued and their contributions acknowledged.

5. Manage team communication

It’s the responsibility of the project manager to consistently maintain effective


collaboration between the project team and the project stakeholders. You need to
share the project’s progress with all stakeholders throughout this phase frequently.
6. Measure progress regularly

There’s no way to know if you’re staying on track if you aren’t measuring the project’s
progress. Your project planning process included setting measurable goals and KPIs
(key performance indicators). This is where all the effort you put into documentation
comes in handy.

During the execution phase, risks may materialize. By continuously assessing the


risks, you equip your team with contingencies and keep the project from failure.

You might also like