What are the Common Project Management Constraints?

Project management constraints are a major stumbling block to achieving the desired results. In project management, there are uncertainties that managers, personnel and even the stakeholders go through in a bid to initiate, plan, execute, control, and complete the project. The constraints may form part of the project risks and if not checked, they can send the whole venture into turmoil.

Common project constraints are; time, finance, personnel, planning and execution.  These constraints can be categorized as resource-based and strategic setbacks. For instance, time, finance, and personnel may be termed as resource-based whereas planning and execution are regarded as strategic setbacks. 

Time limits
The time frame set for a project completion is one of the challenging aspects to the project managers.  The managers should ensure that the period proposed as the project time scale is realistic and attainable.  Underestimating the time period may greatly frustrate the manager and at the same time disappoint the stakeholders.

It must be emphasized that stakeholders put pressure on the project managers to deliver the results within the shortest time. If proper evaluation of the timescale provided is not done, the project managers can find themselves in problems. This substantiates the reason why project managers must re-evaluate the time frame demands provided by the stakeholders.

Financial constraints
The backbone of a project management is a sufficient and even provision of funds and appropriate planning and utilization of these finances. The cost of running a project should critically be established. Besides, when the funds are supplied, a stringent financial planning should be ensured.

Transparency and accountability must be promoted. The project manager must closely monitor how the funds are being used by measuring the results of the project and comparing these outcomes with the amount spend.

Personnel uncertainties
The workforce to execute a project may be faced with uncertainties ranging from lack of sufficient skilled and experienced workers to lack of staff morale resulting to poor performance. The workers are the driving force for the project's plan implementation. Insufficient finances may also affect the morale of the workers especially if they are not paid in time and there is constant delay of materials and equipments to use.

Planning
Planning is an essential part of project management. For the resources to be mobilized effectively, proper planning is required. This defines how the goals and objectives are to be achieved. It also identifies the project execution team. The finances are budgeted for to unsure that every penny is channeled to the appropriate financial use.

Poor planning may derail a project plan. For instance, if the finances are not well budgeted for, this can lead to misappropriation of cash hence resulting to funds shortage. This is quite daunting to the project managers, stakeholders and even the staff executing the plan. In essence, when you understand the common project management constraints and how to deal with them, you can successfully deliver the results as desired. This reduces conflict of interest, dissatisfaction, and failure in achieving results.  Project managers can use project management tools and templates to be able to plan, communicate, store information and collaborate the execution team effectively.