Ready-Made IT/Software Schedule Templates in Google Docs

How to Make an IT and Software Schedule in Google Docs?

In her Entrepreneur article, author, coach, and speaker Katrina Ruth wrote that time is precious, and it should be spent on doing things that give you progress. Such words apply even in the IT industry where time is indeed valuable with all the software development, project management, and production schedule it involves.

One of the things that manifest your value for time is to create a schedule that breaks down how you deal and treat all the time that you have. Should you want to continuously treat time like the limited resource that it already is, then take notes down from the following guidelines on how you can write one.

1. Determine IT Project Action Items

When dealing with IT projects, you should always determine action items in your schedule. Whether you need to define the requirements of your current software project, communicate with the IT project team, or figure out the underlying risks of the project, be sure to determine all of these beforehand. Making a checklist will also help as this will give a better perspective and a definite goal on what to on a particular working day.

2. Avoid Underestimating High-Priority Tasks

Upon determining your tasks every single day, do not miss out on highlighting tasks that you should prioritize. Often, high-priority tasks are interconnected with one another. IT and software projects follow the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC). The SDLC has seven phases. Each phase consists of high-priority tasks. If the project team does not work on such tasks immediately, it will be impossible for the team to proceed to the next steps and complete the project itself.

3. Incorporate Contingencies

It is typical for IT and software projects to encounter risks. Although risks are always accounted for, it often comes in a surprise and causes delays. So, if you are assigned to plot and lay out the schedule of the project, be sure to include time contingency that will ensure that the team will have enough time to deal with the challenges without resorting to overtime.

4. Schedule Logical Durations

To avoid burnout and to avoid getting disappointed with failed expectations, you and your team must set a realistic schedule. If the testing phase of the project requires more than three days, then set at least four to five days to make room if the team encounters challenges for the day. You should also take into account the workload, and the resources should also be taken into account to ensure the schedule is set reasonably.

General FAQs

• Why Is Scheduling Especially Crucial in the IT Industry?

  If you are a software developer or someone who had experience in managing IT projects, you may already be well-versed with the SDLC. The schedule plays a crucial role in all of the phases of the SDLC. Without proper scheduling, it will be challenging to determine whether the project will be completed on time or not.

• What Are the Different Schedules Used in the IT Industry?

  1. Service Level Schedule
  2. Work Rotation Schedule
  3. Project Schedule
  4. Routine Maintenance Schedule
  5. Software Schedule
  6. Services Schedule

• How to Deal with Schedule Roadblocks?

  1. Know when to step back and analyze the situation
  2. Determine, face, and correct mistakes
  3. Keep your main objective always in mind
  4. Stay focused

• How to Stick to a Schedule?

  • Bring it anywhere you go
  • Takedown notes in it
  • Update it conscientiously

• What Hinders a Good Scheduling Practice?

  Various roadblocks affect even the best schedule, particularly the ones used in the IT industry. There is such a thing as a schedule risk. These risks often stem from:

  1. schedule crashing 
  2. fast-tracking
  3. wrong resources
  4. sequence failures 
  5. lack of baseline