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

SavvyTech Security | 02/13/18 03:52pm

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

Thumbnail silva18c

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.

Thumbnail mizela corporation logo

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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