From the course: Microsoft Project Step by Step: Planning for Successful Project Management

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Understand progress tracking

Understand progress tracking - Microsoft Project Tutorial

From the course: Microsoft Project Step by Step: Planning for Successful Project Management

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Understand progress tracking

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Failure to decide how you want to track progress leads to team confusion and answers that provide little value, such as almost done. Let me begin with a story. Years ago, I was in a room supporting a general contractor and all the subs were in the room and the GC was going around to each sub and saying, "What percent complete are you?" And you'd hear 75%, 80%, 90%, 75%, and so on. Well, suddenly the GC had to leave the room and take a phone call and I was taking notes and I said, you know, I didn't get everyone, can you please go around the room again and give me those percent completes again? Well, all of a sudden the whole room of subs started laughing. And I said, "Well, what's going on?" They said, "Well, Cindy, the only reason we're all 75% or more is because we don't get paid unless we report 75% or better progress." So most of the subs were really only at 30 or 40%. Well, later on I talked to the GC and I said, "I think you're asking the wrong questions and maybe you should…

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