Do you find yourself grappling with delayed timelines, budget overruns, poor delivery quality, and an overworked staff? If so, you’re not alone. These are all typical problems that plague many projects due to one of the critical factors: ineffective project management.
As someone who has spent years managing PV Systems delivery and establishing project management practices and organizations, I can confidently say that effective project management is the key differentiating factor between the success and failure of projects.
In fact, according to a survey conducted by the Project Management Institute, a staggering 56% of projects fail due to poor project management practices. According to another survey by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), companies that prioritize project management experience a success rate that is 71% higher than those that do not.
Unfortunately, many organizations overlook the need for project management expertise when selecting a consulting partner for their PV projects. While subject matter expertise and technology knowledge are essential, they alone cannot ensure the success of a project. Without proper project management, even the most talented team can struggle to deliver a project on time, within budget, and to the expected quality standards.
To achieve success in PV projects, project management must be prioritized from the outset. This requires strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills, along with a deep understanding of PV and technology. The project manager must be able to collaborate effectively with stakeholders and team members, establish clear lines of communication, and manage expectations throughout the project lifecycle.
In a typical PV system implementation project, there are often multiple work streams that need to be coordinated to ensure project success. These work streams can include business transition, configuration, data migration, reports and validation, among others. While each work stream is focused on their specific tasks and deliverables, it is the project manager who has the integrated view of the project.
The project manager must have a clear understanding of the interdependencies across work streams and the risks associated with these. Delays in one workstream can have a cascading effect on the entire project, ultimately impacting project timelines and budgets. The project manager’s role is to identify and mitigate these risks, ensuring that all work streams are progressing as planned and any issues are addressed in a timely manner.
According to a report by McKinsey, effective project management can result in a 20% increase in project efficiency, a 50% reduction in project duration, and a 35% reduction in project costs.
At Ultragenic, we understand the critical role of project management in the success of PV projects. That’s why we prioritize project management for all our consulting assignments and have established tailored project management processes, tools, and methodologies to ensure our project teams have everything they need to deliver successful projects.
In summary, project management is a critical differentiating factor in the success of PV projects. By prioritizing project management expertise when selecting a consulting partner, organizations can ensure that their projects are set up for success from the outset and avoid the all-too-common pitfalls that can arise from ineffective project management.
The Project Management Institute’s survey on project management practices: https://www.pmi.org/-/media/pmi/documents/public/pdf/learning/thought-leadership/pulse/pulse-of-the-profession-2018.pdf
A report by McKinsey & Company on the impact of effective project management on construction projects: https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/capital-projects-and-infrastructure/our-insights/reinventing-construction-through-a-productivity-revolution
A study published in the Journal of Management on the importance of project management for information technology projects: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0149206315575556
