{"id":2093,"date":"2022-12-09T15:44:23","date_gmt":"2022-12-09T15:44:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/project.co\/?p=2093"},"modified":"2024-10-18T15:49:43","modified_gmt":"2024-10-18T15:49:43","slug":"project-schedule","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/project.co\/project-schedule\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Create a Project Schedule That Works"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Last updated on 14th June 2024<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA plan is what, a schedule is when,\u201d <\/strong>says time management expert Peter Turla. \u201cAnd it takes both a plan and schedule to get things done.\u201d <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s so much truth in this. A plan is so conceptual, so vague. It makes us feel good – like something is in the offing, something exciting is ahead of us. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But until we put dates to it – and specify when <\/em>things will happen – it\u2019s always going to remain a fuzzy, abstract \u2018thing\u2019 that lies somewhere in an unspecified future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here at Project.co, we\u2019ve built up tons of experience in project scheduling. Through our sister brand, Wyzowl<\/a>, we create video content for our clients, a process which involves multiple people, stages and processes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, in this article, we thought we\u2019d share some expertise in terms of building – and sticking to! – a schedule, to get your work done on time. <\/p>\n\n\n

\n For illustrative purposes, we\u2019ll look at scheduling a fictional project where we need to create a video for an upcoming event – and time is of the essence!\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n

Step 1: Start at the end (if there\u2019s a deadline!)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It seems counterintuitive to put the \u2018end\u2019 at the beginning – but, ultimately, working out the date you need your project to be completed by, and working backwards, is a great starting point. It makes it totally clear what needs to happen and how much time you\u2019ll have at each stage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is one of the first questions we ask our clients through our brief form. It\u2019s crucial because it lets us establish whether projects are realistically deliverable – and what needs to be done at each step to make this happen. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Getting an unrealistic answer to this question can be bad – but it\u2019s far better than not asking at all. There\u2019s nothing worse than a deadline that appears out of the blue when you aren\u2019t expecting it, weeks after you began a project. This is highly likely to result in either a manic rush to get the work finished, or – even worse – a situation where we logistically just can\u2019t complete the project on time. Unhappy team, unhappy client!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our example is an internal project so we don\u2019t need to worry about a client at this stage. But we still do need to specify the deadline. <\/strong>Let\u2019s say we just confirmed that we\u2019re attending an event in 3 weeks, and we need to get the video created in that period. <\/p>\n\n\n

\n <\/i>Our Insight\n<\/div>\n
\n Make sure this date is documented, whether you have some sort of physical work board, an online calendar or project management system.

Deadlines really do need to be front-and-mind, clearly documented, and centrally available if they\u2019re to be stuck to.\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n

Step 2: Map out workflow stages<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The next step is to map out the different people and teams who\u2019ll be needed to work on your project. This will likely vary depending on the nature of the project. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To create our animated video, we know we have a three-step process.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n 1. Copy –\u00a0 <\/strong>we create the video script.
2. Illustration – <\/strong>we create the graphics for the video and order the voiceover.
3. Animation – <\/strong>we buy the music and animate the graphics into a completed video file.\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n

This is a pretty common process for us, with set turnarounds. These are…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This gives us a total of 19 working days which, unfortunately, works out at just under 4 weeks when we need to get this done in 3! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this point we obviously need to be looking to shorten each of these processes. We have a total of 15 working days to work with – 3 working weeks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, if we moved to something like this…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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…we could deliver in 14 days, giving us a day of breathing space. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The fact that we have this information is a great head start for a project manager. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why?\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because asking the individuals or team manager:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCan you do a script in 2 days?\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tends to be far more effective than asking:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHow quickly can you do a script?\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

\n <\/i>Our Insight\n<\/div>\n
\n Being clear about what you\u2019re asking from your people is a crucial component in making sure project schedules are deliverable and everyone is bought in.\u00a0\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n

Step 3: Map out timelines and create tasks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Like eating the proverbial elephant one bite at a time, executing a great schedule is about everyone doing small, manageable bits <\/em>at the right time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So now, based on the inputs you\u2019ve gathered, you can start to work out specific deliverable dates for each part of the process and – just like you did with the deadline – plot them into your calendar or PM tool.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our tool here at Project.co<\/a> is a brilliant way to keep daily tasks and deliverables at the front of peoples minds, delivering efficiency, productivity and mental clarity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you\u2019ve added those tasks\/milestones and assigned them to the relevant person –  it gives everyone a sense of clarity and direction. Everybody knows what\u2019s needed on any given day. You can view just your own <\/em>tasks in chronological order, or shift to view everyone\u2019s \u2018to-do\u2019 list across your whole business…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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You can then filter to view any team\u2019s <\/em>task<\/a> list, perhaps for picking through in a morning meeting…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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…as well as viewing any individual person\u2019s task list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Throw in the extra task views that let you see all these various groups of tasks in a list, on a calendar, in a scheduler or a Kanban view to gauge capacity – and you\u2019ve got a powerful way to manage to-dos. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This really makes sticking to a schedule a million times easier!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 4: Communicate timelines to client (If applicable)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In our fictional example, we\u2019re creating an internal piece of content. But if you have a client involved, it\u2019s really important to bring them in on the process, too – since you\u2019ll often be relying on their input (and compliance!) to keep things on track.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thinking back to the time frames we outlined earlier\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This would get us all completed within 14 days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But what if client feedback was required on each step, and each time this took – say – 2 days?
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Suddenly we\u2019d be massively overshooting our deadline, by over a week. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once you\u2019ve worked out what you can do on your <\/em>side – make sure to work out what you need from your client. In our case, things would be so tight that we\u2019d be looking for same-day sign-off which would most likely require some sort of feedback call.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before moving forward with the project, we\u2019d want to make sure the client understood this. We might say\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n

\n \u201cWe\u2019re obviously working on a really tight time frame here. We can move things around on our side, but in order to deliver on time, you and your team would need to be able to provide feedback and sign off on the same day as work is delivered. Would you be able to put things in place to commit to this?\u201d<\/em>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n

This way, if you do <\/em>have to have any difficult conversations – you can call on the fact that requirements on both sides were discussed, and both sides committed to a specific timetable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 5: Reassess regularly<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Sadly, making a schedule generally isn\u2019t a case of \u2018set it and forget it!\u2019 A schedule is a living, breathing thing that needs to be managed and revisited. Sometimes, inevitably, there\u2019ll be hiccups and delays, which means you may need to revisit your workflow steps and see if there\u2019s any further room for manoeuvre. But you can\u2019t simply assume that things are sorted because you built a schedule!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, take time to reflect regularly on schedules, to make sure things are on track. That, after all, is the essence of great project management! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some great ways to do this include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n