What do you do if your IT Strategy project progress is difficult to track and measure?

1 Assess Status

Begin by conducting a thorough assessment of your current IT strategy project. Evaluate the established goals, milestones, and deliverables to determine where discrepancies may exist between the plan and actual progress. This step involves reviewing project documentation, meeting with team members, and analyzing the data collected thus far. It's essential to identify the root cause of tracking difficulties, whether it's a lack of clear objectives, inadequate resources, or ineffective communication channels.

2 Set Metrics

Once you've pinpointed the issue, it's time to set clear, quantifiable metrics for your IT strategy project. Metrics are vital as they provide a way to measure progress accurately. These should align with your project's objectives and be SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. For instance, if your project involves deploying new software, relevant metrics could include the number of users trained per week or the percentage of features implemented against the plan.

3 Review Tools

The tools you use for project management can make or break your ability to track and measure progress. If your current tools are not providing the visibility you need, consider exploring alternatives that offer better tracking capabilities. Look for tools that allow for real-time updates, customizable reporting, and integration with other systems used by your team. The right tool should enhance your ability to monitor tasks, resources, and timelines effectively.

4 Engage Team

Engagement with your project team is crucial for tracking progress. Ensure that all team members understand the importance of reporting their activities accurately and on time. Foster an environment where communication is open, and any issues or delays can be discussed without fear of reprisal. Regular team meetings and updates can help keep everyone aligned with the project's goals and aware of their responsibilities in maintaining accurate progress tracking.

5 Iterate Process

Tracking and measuring progress is not a one-time setup but an iterative process. As your IT strategy project evolves, so should your tracking methods. Regularly review and refine your processes to ensure they remain effective. This might involve adjusting metrics, switching tools, or redefining roles and responsibilities within the team. Remember, the goal is to maintain a clear picture of where your project stands at any given time.

6 Manage Change

Finally, managing change effectively is critical when tracking progress is difficult. Introduce a structured change management process to handle any alterations to the project scope, resources, or timelines. This process should include assessing the impact of changes, updating plans and metrics accordingly, and communicating these changes to all stakeholders. By managing change proactively, you can minimize disruptions and keep your IT strategy project on track.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?