How to Handle Project Backlogs and Bottlenecks

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Set Clear Project Stages and Milestones

Use Atarim’s Project Stage/Milestone feature to define each stage of your project. Breaking the project into stages can help the team visualize progress and anticipate upcoming steps, reducing the chances of bottlenecks.

Instructions:

1. In your project view, create distinct stages such as “Design review”, “responsiveness review”, “CTA review” and “Final testing”.
2. Create tasks to considering their respective stages to ensure team members know what’s required before moving forward.

Tip: Use these stages as checkpoints to verify task completion and identify any blockers before moving to the next phase.

2. Prioritize Tasks Using Custom Tags for Dependencies

With Atarim’s Tag feature, create custom tags that indicate task order and dependencies. For instance, tags like “Step 1” and “Step 2” can signal a sequential order, helping the team avoid starting tasks that depend on earlier completions.

Instructions:

1. Apply tags to tasks based on priority or dependencies (e.g., “Step 1: Initial Design,” “Step 2: Final version”).
2. Communicate the tag meanings to the team to ensure everyone understands which tasks need to be completed before others begin.
3. Learn how to work with tags here.

Note: Custom tags are flexible and can be updated as priorities shift. Tags are also visible to clients, allowing them to understand task progression better.

3. Use Kanban Boards to Visualize Task Flow

Visualizing tasks in a Kanban board allows for quick identification of bottlenecks and helps the team stay organized.

Instructions:

1. Go to your Atarim project’s Kanban board view.
2. Use Status/Priority OR tag filter to create a clear visual of where tasks are in the pipeline and identify any delayed tasks.

Recommendation: Regularly update the board to reflect the latest status, which keeps the team aligned and avoids miscommunication.

4. Implement Regular Progress Check-Ins

Frequent updates help detect bottlenecks early and allow for timely intervention.

1. Schedule daily or weekly check-ins with your team to discuss task progress.
2. Use Atarim’s visual collaboration tools to review project updates.

Tips: Encourage team members to raise potential issues early for quick resolution.

5. Leverage Reporting and Analytics for Insights

Analyze activity and project reports in Atarim to identify recurring bottlenecks.

Instructions:

1. Use Atarim’s Analytics features to review task completion rates, Pending urgent tasks and time tracking.
2. Adjust resources or workflows based on insights.
3. Learn more about Analytics.

Note: Data-driven adjustments lead to a more responsive and agile workflow.

FAQs