Top Problems For Integrator Project Management

Author: Brian Rhodes, Published on Feb 13, 2018

Security projects routinely encounter issues that jeopardize deadlines, create confusion, and shrink profits. Unfortunately, there are common culprits that routinely affect integrators during projects, and recognizing them early can help avoiding problems before they become major pitfalls.

This continues IPVM's series on project management, adding to Project Management Software Used, Integrator Managing Projects Statistics, Security Integrator Project Management Certifications, and Project Plans for Security Integrators.

150+ integrators told IPVM what their top project management problems are. Among their answers, they cited the 7 biggest problems they face.

7 Most Common Problems

While individual responses cited a wide variety of incidental problems, most grouped into several key themes. Of those, 'lack of trained workers' and 'unexpected work changes' accounted for nearly half the responses:

The full spread of answers, in descending order, are listed below.

  • Lack Of Trained Workers
  • Unexpected Work Changes
  • Project Team Communication
  • Contingent Work Not Finished On Time
  • Project Material & Equipment Ordering
  • Adapting Plan To Changes
  • Cost Tracking & Reducing Overruns

Following sections detail each theme with color comments.

******** ******** ********* ********* ****** **** ********** *********, ****** *********, and ****** *******. *************, ***** *** ****** ******** **** ********* affect *********** ****** ********, *** *********** **** ***** *** **** avoiding ******** ****** **** ****** ***** ********.

**** ********* ****'* ****** ** ******* **********, ****** ********* ********** ******** ****,********** ******** ******** **********,******** ********** ******* ********** **************, ********** ***** *** ******** ***********.

***+ *********** **** **** **** ***** *** ******* ********** ******** are. ***** ***** *******, **** ***** *** * ******* ******** they ****.

7 **** ****** ********

***** ********** ********* ***** * **** ******* ** ********** ********, most ******* **** ******* *** ******. ** *****, '**** ** trained *******' *** '********** **** *******' ********* *** ****** **** the *********:

*** **** ****** ** *******, ** ********** *****, *** ****** below.

  • **** ** ******* *******
  • ********** **** *******
  • ******* **** *************
  • ********** **** *** ******** ** ****
  • ******* ******** & ********* ********
  • ******** **** ** *******
  • **** ******** & ******** ********

********* ******** ****** **** ***** **** ***** ********.

[***************]

Lack ** ******* *******

*** **** ***** ****** ******** * ******* **** ** *** endemic ** ******** ******* ** ********** ****, ** **** ******** related ** ******* ****. ******, **** *********** ****** **** ******* skilled ***** ** *** ******* ***** **** **** **** **** executing ******* ****:

  • "****** ********. ***** *** *** ******** ** *********** *********** ** a **** *****. ** ***** ** ** **** **** **** the ***** ***********. ******* ** **** ** ** ******** *** owns ** **** *** ******. ** * ***** **** ** more *********** **** **** *********** ** *****, ******, *** ******** we ***** ** **."
  • "******* ******* ** **** ** **** *****"
  • "*** *** ********* ***********. ** ** ** ******** ********."
  • "****** ** *** **** **********."
  • "** ****** ****** **** ******** ** **** *** ***** ***** we ******."
  • "****** *** ********** **** *** ***** ****** ********* ** ** the ******* **/*** ** **** ********* ***."
  • "******* ********* *******."
  • "*** ************* ** *** ******** *********** ******** ** ******* *********** or ************."
  • "*****. ********** ** *****."

******* ******* ************ **** ******* ** *** **** *** ******* for **** ****, *** *** **** **** *** ***** * sure ****** ** **********.

Unexpected **** *******

***** ******** ********** ****** ** *********** ************* **** *******,***************** ******* their *** ********* ********** ******** ***** ********* *** ********* ****** enough ** ******** ***** ***********:

  • "************ ****** ** ********* ******* ***** ******** *** ******* *********, hard ** ****** ** ******* *****."
  • "****** ***** **** **** ****** *** ******* ***** * **** is ******* ** *** ****** *** **** ******* ***** **** about ********* ** ****** ********* *** ***** ***-***** *******."
  • "**** ****** ******** **** **** ** ***** **** ****** ** site *** ****** **** ******** ** *****."
  • "******* ********* ** ****** ******. **'* **** ** ********* **** requires ******** ** *** ******* ** ** ***** ****."
  • "********* *** ******* ***** ***** ** *** **** ** ******** start **** *** ******* ******** ** *** **** **** ** tough."
  • "******* **** **** ******* ****** ** ******* ***."
  • "**** ******** *** ** ******** ********** ** ***** ****** **** rose-colored *******. ********** **** ****** *** * ****** *****."

***** ********** ******* ***** ********* ***** ******* ** ******* **********; specifically *************, ******** ********, *** **** **********. ******* ***** ******* being ************ *********, **** **** ****** **** ***** **** *** anticipating *** ****** **** ****** ** ******** * *******, **** for **** ** ***-** ** * ************ ** ********** *****.

Project **** *************

***** *** ******** ****** ** ***** *** ***** ************* ** changes, ****** ******* *** *********** ** *** ***** ****** ** the ***** **** ** * ******** ******* ****** **** ***********:

  • "**** ** ********, **** ** ***, ******* *** ** *** field *********, **** *****. ******, **** ***** ************* ** * timely ****** *** ********* ************ ****** **** ****** * ****** issue."
  • "*********** ***** ****** **/**** **** ** ***** ******. ****** *************."
  • "******** ********** ****** *** ** *********** **** ** ************* ** miscommunication **** ** * *** ***** ** **** *** ** throws ***** ******** *** ** **** **** *** ********** ***** a ******** *** ** ******* *** ***** ** ** ******** or ****** **** ********* ** ** ******** **** *********** **** up *** ***'* ** *** ** *** **** ** * little **** ** *** ******* ** ** **** ********* ** an ******* ***** ********"
  • "********* *** *** ******* **** **** *** ****."
  • " ****** *** ** ********* ************* **** *** **** ***********."
  • "************ ***** *** ********* *********** ****** *** *** *******. ** seems ** ** *** ***** ******* **** ** *** **** to *** **** *** ****** ** **** ***** *** **** together"
  • "* **** ** ****** ** **** ********* ** *** **** know ***** *** ******* ****** *** ********* **'** *** ****** able ** ** **."
  • "*** ******* ******* ******** ******** ***** ** ************* **** *** customer."

******* ******** ********* **** ************* ********** ** *** ******** ********, but ********* *** ******** ** ******** ********* **** **** ******** sources ** **** * *******.

Contingent **** *** ******** ** ****

*** ** *** ******** ********** ** *********** *** *** ******** they **** **** ***-********* **** ** *** **** ******** ** on **** ** ***** *** **** *** ** ****:

  • "********* ****** ** ******* ****** ** ******* *** ***** ***********..... you **** ******* * ****** ** * ******* ** *** ceiling ***'* *****!"
  • "**** **** ****** **** **** ******** ****** *** **** ***** be ******* *** **** **** ***** ********."
  • "*** ******* ******** ***** **** ******* ** *** ******** ** another ***** ** ******** ********* *** *** ******* **** * would **** ** ** ******** ** ****. ** ********* ** any ******* ** ***** ***, * ***** **** **** **** don't ** ** ** *********"
  • "*** **** *********** ***** ** *** **** ** **** *** construction ******* ***'* ***** ** ** ******** ** **. **** becomes * ********* ** *** **********, ********, ***."
  • "*** ***** *** *** ******* *** **** ******** ** ***** & *** ******* ***'* ***** **** ** ***"
  • "**** ** ********** ** *********** ** ********* ** ****, ***** materials ** **** *** *** ****, ********* ********** ****, **** hardware, *** ******** ** ** **** ******* ************."

********** *** *** ************ ********, ****** **** ** ***** ** other ***** *** ******** ** ******** *** *********** *** ********. If ***** ****** ** ************** *** ****, ******** ********** *** likely ***** ** **** *** **** ******.

Project ******** & ********* ********

************, * ****** ***** ********* ******* ********** *********** *** ****** getting *** ***** ********* *** ***** ******* ** *** ***** time, ** **** **** *** ********* **** ******:

  • "******* ** ** ******** ********* ******** *** ******* ** *** required ***** *** **** ***."
  • "*** ***** *** ***********, ******** *********** *** *******. ****** *********** has ** **** *** ****** ***** *** * *** **** it ** **** *** **** ** **** ******** ******** *** a ***** ***. **** **** ** ******** *** ****** ***. Then ** ** ** *** ***********, ******** *********** *** *******. In *** **** *** *****, ***** *** **** **** *** less ******* ** ************ ** **** ** *** ***** **** mfgs. ** *** ********* **** ***** ** **** ******* ******** enough *** * ******* ** ** *********. ******* ******** ** our ********* *******, ** * **** *********."
  • "******** *********, **** ****** **** ***** **** ** ** ***** of ****"
  • "** **** **** *** **** *** ** ** **********, ** to ********** **** *** ****** ******* ** ******* ********** ** installation ******** *** ************ ******** ** *********. ** ** *** "get ** *** *** *** *******" ** ***** *** ********* delays **** ****** *** *** ******* "******" **** ************* **********."
  • "**** **** ***** ** ******** ********* ** ******* ***** *** makes ********** ********** ***********."

******* ******** ******* *** ********* ****** ** ******** ******** **** project ********* **** ** *** *****, *** *** ****** ** ready ** ******* **** ****** ** **** * **** *******. Efficient *** **** ******** *** ************ ** * *** **** of ********* *******.

Adapting **** ** *******

******* **** ***** ** ********* *** ******* **** ****** *** course ** **** ** **** ** ************ ******. ****** ** work ******, ********* ********** *** ****, ********* ****************** *** ****** ****, ******* *** *********** **** ** **** becoming *****:

  • "** ****** ********** ******, *********** ***** **** **** ********* ***** to ***** ***** ***** ****. ***** *** ***** ****** ********* my ********* ****."
  • "***** ** **** *** * **** ****** ** ****** **** an ********, *** **** *** ******** ****** ** ** ** will *** *** **** ****** **** *** ****. "
  • "******* **** **** ******* ****** ** ******* ***."
  • "** **** ***'* **** ****** *** ** **** *********** *** then ** **** ***** ** ***** *** ******* ** *** how ** ******** *********."
  • "******** *** ********, **** ****."
  • "****** ******* *** ******* ** ** *** ***. ** ** not ***** *** ******* **** ****** ****** *** ** ** always *******/****** **** *********."
  • "****** *** ** ************* ***-********* ********, *.*.****'* **********/************, ******, ************* weather *** ******* *************."

Cost ******** & ******** ********

*******, ******* **** ** *** ******** *** *********** **** ******* the ****** ** * *** ******* *** ****:

  • "*** *********** ** ****, ** **** ** *** **** ** the *******, ***** **** ****** *** ****** ** ** *** lose, *** ** *** *** **** ** ******."
  • "****** ** ***** ******. ** *** **** ** ****** ***, simple ************ ****** *** *** ***** ***** ** *** ****. Sometimes *** **** *** ******* ** ****** **** **** ****, but **** ** *** **** *** ** ***."
  • "*********** ** ***** *** ****** *** *******. ** **** ** more **** ****."
  • "****** *** ***** ******* ** ***** **** *** **** ****** to ******* * ******** *******."
  • "***** ********** **** ****** *** ********* *****."
  • "** **** ******** ******** *** ***** ****** *** ***** ****** install *** ** ************* ** ***** *** ****** ******** ******."

***** **** **** ****** *** *** *********, *** ** *** primary ***** ** *** ******* ******* ** ** **** ***** from ********* *** ** ******* *** ********* ******* *** ******* on ******.

Comments (8)

Robert Shih

IPVM | 02/13/18 03:52pm

** *********, ** *** *** ** *** ***** **** ** "good **** ** **** ** ****".

Avatar

Michael Silva

Silva Consultants | 02/13/18 04:06pm

*'* ********* **** "*** *** *** **** *****" ** *** on *** ****. **** * *** ********** ******* *** * systems ********** (**** ** *** ***** ****), ** *** *** techs **** ********** *********** ***** *** *********** *** **** *** job.

**** ****** ********** **** *** ***** *** ******** **** ******* would ** ********* ***** ** *** ********** ** *** *****, sold *** ***** ******** *** *** ***********, *** ********* *** too *** ***** *** *** ************ - ******* **** ** be ****-****** ** ***** ****** *** *** **** *******.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Michael Silva | 02/13/18 04:08pm

*******, **** *******. *'** ****** ** * *** ****** *** 'overselling' ** ** *** *** ***** ** ** ** ** not * ******* ****** ***********.

Undisclosed #1

In reply to Michael Silva | 02/13/18 08:13pm

** *** *** ** ******* ** **** "***** *** **** it *****" ***** ******* *****. ***** ** * ******** **** of ****** **** *** ***** *** ** * **** ******, insufficient ***** *** ********* ********* *****. **** ***** ***** ***** reps **** ***** **** *** ****** **** ** ***** *** try ** ****** ******** **** *** *****? * **** ****** a ******* ** *** *** *********** ***** **** ******* ***** to *** ***** ** ***** **** *** ****** ******** ** a **** ** ******** *** ***** ***** ******* ***********.

Undisclosed Integrator #2

In reply to Michael Silva | 02/13/18 10:31pm

******* - ** *** ****'* ***** **** *****, * ********* would ****. ** **** * ****** ** ***** **** **** varying ***********, *** *** **** **** ****** *** **** *** most ******* ********* (***********:**********) *** *** **** **** ********* *********** *** **** ***** of ***** **********. *** **** ** *** *** ******** ** if *** **** ******** *** *********** ** ********. **** ***** guys/gals ***** *** *** **** ** * ******, **** *******, and * **** ** *******. * *** ** *** ** from *** ****** ** & *** ** ** * **** putting ** ********. ***** *** ********* ****** **** ***** **********, patch ******, ***** *** **** *****, *** ************ ** ***** seem ** *** *********. *** **** ******* **** ***** ******, there's **** ***** ****** *********** ***** ***** ** ** ***** your ***** ** **** ***** ******* *** * ******* **** or ******* ******** *** ** **** **** **** *****.

Undisclosed End User #3

02/16/18 01:00pm

*** **** ** ******* ******* *** ******* **********/***** *********** *** huge ***** *** **. ** *** *** **** ******** *** integrator/maintenance ********, ** ********** ********** *** **** ******. * **** a ****** ******* ***** *'** ******* ** ***** **** ***** orders. ** ** ************* **** * ****** *** **** ** do *** ** ** *** **** *** ** **** ******** on *****. *'* ***** **** ****** *** *** ******** ** let **** **** **** **'* *** **** **.

*'* **** ** ******** ** **** *** ****'* ******** *** fair.

Avatar

Bobby Mancia Jr.

MIZELA Corporation | IPVMU Certified | 02/17/18 11:00pm

*** **** ****** ** *** ***** *** **** ******** *********** cost?

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Bobby Mancia Jr. | 02/18/18 12:38pm

*****, ** **** *** ***** **** ******** *** ** * survey. *******, *'** ***** ** ** *** **** *** ****** surveys.

*******, ** ** *****, * ***** *** *** *********** ****** about ******* - *** **** ***** ****** / ***** **** the ******* ********** *** ** ******* *** ******* *****? ** that *****?

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