When a project starts scaling, the number of people and tasks grows fast — and it becomes very easy to lose control.
Ways how to prevent that
1. Build a clear methodology and plan from the start
Choose the approach that fits your team: Kanban, Scrum, Waterfall, or a hybrid — depending on complexity, speed, and level of change.
Set SMART goals: specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. This keeps everyone aligned on direction and purpose.
Break the project into smaller parts: divide the big goal into clear sub-tasks. This makes management easier and responsibilities clearer.
2. Clearly define roles and responsibilities
Everyone should know exactly what they own. In a growing project, this prevents tasks from getting “lost” between people.
It helps avoid duplicated work, confusion, and chaos when many people are involved.
The RACI matrix is a great tool — who is Responsible, who Approves, who should be Consulted, and who should be Informed. Simple and effective, widely used in BIM.
3. Set up control and track tasks, deadlines, and milestones
Track time, resources, and progress so you can identify delays, overload, or budget risks early.
Hold regular status reviews: meetings, reports, metrics — these help you react before issues escalate.
4. Don’t be afraid to adapt
As a project grows, tasks, priorities, and context may change. Sticking to outdated structures causes problems. Staying in control requires flexibility and a readiness to update processes, tools, and roles.
At the same time, keep discipline: document changes, follow updates, and make sure the team understands what and why things are changing.
5. Ensure transparency and clear communication
Communicate regularly: what’s done, what’s in progress, what’s next, and what risks exist. This keeps everyone aligned as the team grows.
Share information honestly — including doubts and challenges. Small problems can quickly grow into big ones if ignored.
Conclusion
Growth is a good sign — it means progress. But growth also brings complexity and the risk of losing control. Without structure, roles, processes, and a clear system of control, even the strongest project can drift off track. Making mistakes is normal, especially at the beginning.
To prevent this, choose the right methodology, define responsibilities, establish control, stay flexible, and communicate openly. This helps the project grow steadily, instead of “bursting at the seams.”
What challenges have you faced? Share in the comments.
