“Projects fall behind schedule one day at a time.” Tracking + control catch slips early. Mechanisms: meetings, audits, milestone tracking, comparing actual vs scheduled start dates, informal conversations, and formal techniques like EVA.
Key facts
Slippage compounds — small daily slips become quarter-long misses.
Combine quantitative (EVA, milestone tracking) with qualitative (informal chats).
Catch problems at the next meeting, not the next quarter.
Project Tracking and Control
How do software projects fall behind schedule?
One day at a time
Project scheduling is important, but tracking and controlling are even more important.
How to track and control project progress?
Periodic meetings where team members report progress
Evaluating the results of reviews and audits conducted as a part of the software engineering process
Tracking formal project milestones
Comparing actual start dates with scheduled start dates