Dealing with a programmer who constantly misses project deadlines. Can you find a way to keep them on track?
When a programmer consistently misses deadlines, it impacts the entire project. To keep them on track, consider:
- Setting clear expectations and milestones. Break down tasks to make them manageable and monitor progress.
- Offering support and resources. Identify if they're facing obstacles and assist in finding solutions.
- Reviewing workload and priorities. Ensure they're not overburdened and help prioritize tasks for better focus.
What strategies have worked for you in ensuring timely project completion?
Dealing with a programmer who constantly misses project deadlines. Can you find a way to keep them on track?
When a programmer consistently misses deadlines, it impacts the entire project. To keep them on track, consider:
- Setting clear expectations and milestones. Break down tasks to make them manageable and monitor progress.
- Offering support and resources. Identify if they're facing obstacles and assist in finding solutions.
- Reviewing workload and priorities. Ensure they're not overburdened and help prioritize tasks for better focus.
What strategies have worked for you in ensuring timely project completion?
-
Get his/her To-do list every day before starting to work. This will make sure that the programmer spends quality time in tasks. Making use of AI accelerators will help boost efficiency.
-
Usually such ppl tend to lose track of their work easily which makes them miss their deadlines. Continuous monitoring could be too much. We can set them daily targets, smaller goals and ensure they complete it. This can eventually develop their habit of doing things on time. We can also offer them support if they are unable to do something. Also giving them space to open up if they are stuck and couldn’t proceed.
-
I would recommend breaking the project down into smaller, manageable tasks to ensure it is completed on time. When faced with a large project, it's easy to feel overwhelmed by its size, leading to doubts about our ability to estimate or accomplish it. This can create a sense of impossibility. However, focusing on small, incremental steps allows us to make consistent progress. Trust the process and avoid fixating on the overall end goal. Instead, concentrate on completing the tasks at hand, one step at a time.
-
From my point of view, the first step would be to have an open conversation to understand their challenges, whether they’re struggling with the workload or facing personal issues. Once we establish a clear understanding, we can collaboratively set realistic goals, breaking projects into smaller, manageable tasks with specific deadlines. Regular check-ins would be beneficial to track progress and address any roadblocks they might face. Encouraging teamwork and collaboration can also alleviate pressure, allowing them to seek help when needed. It’s essential to celebrate their small victories to boost motivation, and if skill gaps exist, I’d suggest relevant training resources.
-
It depends on the root cause. Are they frequently interrupted by different tasks, IMs, or meetings? If so, a manager’s role can be to remove possible interruptions: fewer meetings and fewer projects at a time. If they prefer flexible hours, consider providing it. I often need some time for my brain to get going. Some people are early birds. Allowing the team a bit more flexibility can let everyone work at their best times. If they struggle with time management, set mini-goals—daily or weekly. Assign tasks with clear guidelines using tools like Jira. Sometimes people need a bit of time to "understand" the objectives. Also, give them the "big picture" to understand the whole project.
Rate this article
More relevant reading
-
Project ManagementHow can you use feedback to identify project dependencies and constraints?
-
Product EngineeringHere's how you can navigate dependencies between product components while meeting project deadlines.
-
IT OperationsWhat do you do if you're an IT professional facing tight deadlines while maintaining quality?
-
Computer ScienceWhat do you do if your project scope changes but your deadline remains the same?