There are several common project management problems that most startups, and small businesses experience.
The consequences of not planning, and managing costs, and schedules can be exceptionally high for startups working with mining, oil and gas, and defence projects. The four biggest problems come from:
- Winning larger contracts, than a company has experience working with
- Needing more sophisticated project management than what is self-taught, or learned by experience
- Not providing enough project visibility, or not keeping the project tracking up to date
- Losing time, and missing deadlines trying to learn while setting up project management, schedules, and cost controls
Sara Dean from Olive Projects understands the requirements that larger clients demand from their smaller vendors. Despite the effort by larger clients to give preference to smaller vendors, often the project management is started too late.
Did you know the project management should be started before you win the bid?
Project management needs to become the structure that the tender, or bid documents are built around. The project management documents that need to start being developed during the design, and proposal phases include:
- Tender schedule
- Tender budget
- Project schedule
- Project budget
These schedules and budgets are the foundation for transforming the design management into construction, or implementation. Many startups do not have the time or cash resources to upskill their staff. And, many startups cannot intuitively deliver the format, and detail that larger clients demand. That’s where Sara comes in.
Sara Dean from Olive Projects works on a short-term basis to complete the project management documents, train the project team to maintain the records, and supports the staff as-needed. She works at both job sites, and executive offices around Australia. Her goal is to share the experience she has with large projects, and international companies with startups, and small to mid-size businesses.
Startups gain the base templates, and level of training they need without filling a new, full-time project management position.
Sara joined the Nestspace in Victoria Park in April. The Nestspace is a flexible office space that allows Sara a workspace to transition from the technical side of her project management into the creative side of solving issues. She enjoys the atmosphere of the Nestspace, and has mentioned how much she’s grown “right brain” with advice from fellow Nesters Ming Chong (marketing), Beate Ruuck (web development), and Diana Simich (sales and customer service). Working at the Nestspace has helped Sara see her project management business differently.
The Nestspace has a diverse membership. Where would you go if your startup or small business only needed an office a couple days a week? Take a look at the Nestpace, and meet our members. We think you will grow with us!
Contact Mark at [email protected] for details on the Nest’s flexible office space, and to network with our members.
