Project management involves a complex set of tasks, from delegation and ideation to execution, observation, and decision-making, all of which interact with each other in various ways. Despite a manager's diligent efforts, challenges and issues are inevitable, ranging from recurring problems to unique situations. That is where issue management comes in - it can elevate the process and minimize the risks. The good news is that there are issue log tools available to streamline issue management, allowing you to report issues promptly, delegate solutions, track progress, and ensure that multiple issues are resolved within the designated time frame.
You can transform your management process by adopting effective issue management practices.
1) Document every smidgen of the process through resolving various issues
When managing an issue, it's crucial to remember that it can be a form of crisis and the seriousness can vary. It can be tempting to throw best practices out the window and solely focus on solving the problem as quickly as possible. However, it's important to document the process of resolving the issues and track progress. Doing so not only ensures that lessons are learned from what arises but also helps the organization develop better policies and structures in the future. Additionally, it's worth noting that past solutions to similar problems can help inform new solutions. By considering old patterns, you can potentially find more effective ways to address the issue and prevent it from recurring in the future.
2) Let your lens guide you to the core of the issue
If you notice a recurring pattern among the issues that arise, it's important to reassess your risk management plan and investigate if there's a common underlying cause. While it is difficult to predict all potential risks before a project starts, issue management can be used to your advantage by using new information to inform future risk management during the project. By identifying the root cause of an issue, you may uncover deeper structural issues that, if addressed, can prevent more significant problems from occurring in the future.
3) Make sure to communicate the issue across the concerned and invested team members
Effective communication is key to resolving issues as quickly as possible, especially for remote teams. If an issue goes unreported or is not addressed promptly, it can have consequences for the project. As a team, it is important to be transparent with each other and communicate regularly because project issue management is everyone's responsibility. By working together and assisting each other with tasks and issues, the project will run more smoothly.
4) Prioritize tracking the progress
To effectively manage the resolution process of an issue, it is important to track its progress. This involves labelling the issue according to the phase it is currently in. The initialization phase is where the issue is first identified and logged. Next, the assigned team member looks for possible solutions. Then comes the execution phase, where a potential solution gets implemented. If the issue is not resolved at this point, it may be escalated for further instructions. Finally, once the issue gets resolved, it should get marked as such to signify that no further action is required. It is important to update the progress label of an issue as soon as it moves on to the next phase. By doing so, you will be able to identify which issues are falling behind schedule and need attention.
Issue management anchors the spirit and escalation of project management! The more thorough and precise it gets, the better it will pace up the project journey.