5 IT project mistakes to avoid

A tech worker wearing glasses and a tie looks at a laptop while standing next to servers.We all know that nobody’s perfect, and everyone makes mistakes. However, it’s preferable to avoid errors if possible – especially when you’re working on a vital IT project for your business.

Whether you’re preparing to set up a new headquarters, revamp your current office, or establish connections for remote locations, you’ll want to do everything you can to ensure everything goes as smoothly as possible as you deploy or revamp your IT infrastructure.

Before you get started, here are some common IT project pitfalls you should be aware of and take steps to avoid.

1. Not creating a project plan.

If you want to stay on schedule and successfully achieve what you set out to do, you’ll need a comprehensive IT project plan, Ben Allen of Allen Forensics stated in the Forbes article “16 Industry Experts Share Best Practices For IT Project Management.” That plan should include clearly defined goals, the actions necessary for reaching those goals, and a timeline.

2. Failing to communicate effectively.

A lack of communication and coordination with the others involved in the project can cause issues such as redundancies, according to the TechRepublic article “10 ways to avoid mistakes during project development.” Regular meetings, emails, instant messages, and status reports among everyone working on the initiative will ensure you’re all on the same page and not replicating each other’s efforts.

3. Not setting milestones and checking progress periodically.

Your IT project is more likely to go smoothly if you define milestones at the beginning (e.g., planning, installation, testing, etc.) and evaluate your progress as you reach each one of those checkpoints, Chintan Shah of Brainvire InfoTech told Forbes.

4. Underestimating the amount of time needed.

Your IT environment could end up with serious issues if you don’t allow adequate time for the project, according to TechRepublic. Work with your team, consider how long similar projects have taken in the past, and inflate your estimates a bit to allow for unexpected obstacles and delays.

5. Not checking your work.

To avoid careless mistakes and having to go back and redo tasks, you should always double (or even triple) check your work, according to TechRepublic. You should also test as early and as much as possible so you can catch and fix any issues.

Ultimately, there’s no way to guarantee your project won’t run into roadblocks. However, following these recommendations will increase your odds of successfully completing technology initiatives.

The Stratosphere team offers professional IT project services if you’d like to ensure everything stays on schedule and within your budget. We provide project management services and can tackle all kinds of initiatives.

A graphic listing Stratosphere Networks' IT project services: data room buildouts, IT infrastructure installation (routers, firewalls, switches), Wi-Fi installation, access management (key fobs and door entry systems), physical security set-up, and low-voltage wiring.

Our team has extensive experience overseeing these kinds of IT projects and will maximize your return on investment. Get started today by calling 877-599-3999 or emailing sales@stratospherenetworks.com.

Contact Us

We will handle your contact details in line with our Privacy Policy. If you prefer not to receive marketing emails from Stratosphere Networks, you can optout of all marketing communications or customize your preferences here.