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 04:52pm

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

Avatar

Michael Silva

Silva Consultants | 02/13/18 05:06pm

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

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

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Michael Silva | 02/13/18 05:08pm

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

Undisclosed #1

In reply to Michael Silva | 02/13/18 09:13pm

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

Undisclosed Integrator #2

In reply to Michael Silva | 02/13/18 11:31pm

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

Undisclosed End User #3

02/16/18 02:00pm

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

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

Avatar

Bobby Mancia Jr.

MIZELA Corporation | IPVMU Certified | 02/18/18 12:00am

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

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Bobby Mancia Jr. | 02/18/18 01:38pm

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

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

Login to read this IPVM report.
Why do I need to log in?
IPVM conducts unique testing and research funded by member's payments enabling us to offer the most independent, accurate and in-depth information.

Related Reports

Sales Turnover At Anyvision on Feb 13, 2019
Anyvision raised a $43 million Series A and according to their newest investor: what you need to do is push the gas pedal and build an...
Uniview / UNV Favorability Results 2019 on Feb 12, 2019
Uniview / UNV, the self-proclaimed #3 China manufacturer, while starting late, has been working to make inroads internationally. In IPVM's 2019...
Solink Raises $12 Million - Company Profile on Feb 12, 2019
Most industry professionals have never heard of Solink, a company whose tagline is: It's time to revolutionize the way business uses...
Barnes Buchanan 2019: Despite 'Strange Narrative' Great Time To Be In Security on Feb 11, 2019
A "strange narrative" is being spun, said Michael Barnes at the 2019 Barnes Buchanan Conference. However, despite that narrative, it is a "great...
FLIR Favorability Results 2019 on Feb 08, 2019
FLIR has had a challenging past few years including FLIR Security business struggling, FLIR restructuring their security division and FLIR selling...
Sony Favorability Results 2019 on Feb 05, 2019
Sony Favorability amongst integrators improved moderately compared to their 2017 favorability results, with a modest net positive...
Hanwha Techwin Favorability Results 2019 on Jan 31, 2019
Hanwha Techwin's favorability results surged, in IPVM's 2019 study, going from barely neutral in 2016 to strongly net positive, as the results...
Vivotek Favorability Report 2019 on Jan 29, 2019
Taiwanese video surveillance manufacturers, even relatively large ones like Vivotek, have lost ground in the PRC-China-driven race to the bottom....
Verkada Cloud VMS/Cameras Tested on Jan 28, 2019
Verkada is arguably the most ambitious video surveillance startup in many years. The company is developing their own cameras, their own VMS, their...
Genetec Favorability Report 2019 on Jan 25, 2019
Genetec's favorability moderately strengthed, in new IPVM integrator statistics over their results from 2017, with 2019 results showing solid, but...

Most Recent Industry Reports

Casino Surveillance Pro Interview: James Lathrop on Feb 15, 2019
James Lathrop has been working in casinos for almost 25 years. During that time, he says he has held "just about every job you can do in the...
Hikvision 2018 Revenue Tops $7 Billion USD But Growth Slows To Low on Feb 15, 2019
Hikvision's annual revenue topped $7 billion for the first time in 2018, although growth slowed sharply. In this post, we analyze the latest...
Hanwha Smaller Multi Imager Tested (PNM-9000VQ) on Feb 14, 2019
Hanwha's first repositionable multi imager PNM-9081VQ tested well, but was huge, over 12" wide and weighing in at over 10 pounds. Now, they have...
ADT And 'The Defenders' Silent About Massive Complaints on Feb 14, 2019
ADT's largest dealer, "The Defenders" has been the subject of a massive number of complaints over many years and many forums, most recently a CBS...
Hikvision Chairman Praises United Front on Feb 14, 2019
Hikvision’s controlling shareholder held a meeting last month praising the United Front, a Communist Party organization known for its secretive...
Sales Turnover At Anyvision on Feb 13, 2019
Anyvision raised a $43 million Series A and according to their newest investor: what you need to do is push the gas pedal and build an...
Cisco Meraki Cloud VMS/Cameras Tested on Feb 13, 2019
Cisco Meraki says their cameras "bring Meraki magic to the enterprise video security world". According to Meraki, their magic is their management...
Uniview / UNV Favorability Results 2019 on Feb 12, 2019
Uniview / UNV, the self-proclaimed #3 China manufacturer, while starting late, has been working to make inroads internationally. In IPVM's 2019...
Nortek Mobile Access Reader BluePass Examined on Feb 12, 2019
Nortek's Linear access control division claims to make mobile credentials "more secure and easier to use than ever before" with their BluePass...
Solink Raises $12 Million - Company Profile on Feb 12, 2019
Most industry professionals have never heard of Solink, a company whose tagline is: It's time to revolutionize the way business uses...

The world's leading video surveillance information source, IPVM provides the best reporting, testing and training for 10,000+ members globally. Dedicated to independent and objective information, we uniquely refuse any and all advertisements, sponsorship and consulting from manufacturers.

About | FAQ | Contact