Without a dedicated function.
WHAT MATTERS MOST WITH LIMITED CAPACITY
A clear objective Someone accountable A written scope A simple plan Honest status
WHAT TO SKIP
Elaborate documentation Formal methodologies Tools nobody will maintain
WHAT TO USE INSTEAD
A shared list of tasks with owners and dates.
WHERE
Whatever the team already uses.
WHAT TO DO WEEKLY
Review the list, and update it.
HOW LONG THAT TAKES
Minutes.
WHAT THAT PREVENTS
Most project failure.
WHAT TO WRITE DOWN EVEN IN A SMALL PROJECT
What is in scope and what is not What you agreed with the customer or supplier Decisions and changes
WHY
These are what disputes turn on, regardless of project size.
WHAT TO ESTABLISH WITH CUSTOMERS
What they must provide, and when.
WHY
Customer-caused delay is the commonest cause of overrun in small projects.
WHAT TO DO WHEN THEY ARE LATE
Raise it immediately, and state the effect on the date.
WHAT TO AVOID
Absorbing delays silently and missing the deadline yourself.
WHAT TO CHARGE FOR
Changes outside the agreed scope.
WHY
Otherwise every project loses money.
WHAT TO DO AFTER EACH PROJECT
Ask what you would do differently.
WHAT TO KEEP
The answer, and apply it.
