Have you experienced the same way on your project?
Why last 10% take 90% of the time?
That is the 90/10 rule for Projects.
The last little bit to complete takes forever and consumes a lot of resources and costs.
I have seen a project manager get sick of the last 5% of engineering to be completed on the project and demobilise the engineering team without completing the last 5%. That’s the only way to get 100%.
This is applicable not only for engineering but for any function and the total project too.
The reasons for this challenge to complete the last bit are mainly
- keeping unknown and difficult tasks in the parking lot;
- last minutes changes led to running out of time to complete;
- project is almost finishing and resources are pulled off or shared with other projects;
- project is not a priority anymore;
- the team dropped the ball and ran away.
So how can I finish my last 10 % effectively to make 100% complete?
It’s not easy, but a few steps below may help.
- Keep project end state in mind;
- Plan the last 10% as an independent project itself;
- Plan every single bit in detail to be finished;
- Make sure to have assigned resources ;
- Get priority right;
- Get help from closeout experts;
- Ensure Management support to finish the project.
Need help? Explore how zerofloat can help you control your project.
