Project management
Project management is the way a person organizes and manages resources that are necessary to complete a project. People that manage projects are known as Project Managers.
A project is a piece of work which is not a process or an operation. It has a start, an end, and goals. Projects can be very simple, like organising a party, or very complex, like building a space rocket.
Projects are common in the construction industry, the telecommunications industry and the IT industry.
The management of a project requires special skills.
Project managers must ensure that the project is delivered within the existing limitations. These limitations can be time, cost, people, risk, and many more. Project managers must also ensure the best possible distribution of resources.
A project manager works mainly with people. They need to have people management skills, a good understanding of the tasks and skills needed on a project, an understanding of how long tasks will take, good organising skills, good communication skills, and good efficiency skills.
Project managers do not need to know how to do all of the work that may be needed in a project. For instance, a building project manager does not need to know how to pour concrete. However, they need to know how to manage people that pour concrete, and they need to know how long concrete takes to pour, how much it costs, what needs to happen before concrete is poured, and what needs to happen after concrete is poured.
Types of Project Management
- Waterfall Project Management: This is a traditional project management approach where the project is divided into phases, and each phase is completed sequentially. This approach is best suited for projects where the requirements are well defined and changes are unlikely.
- Agile Project Management: This is an iterative and incremental approach to project management, where the project is completed in short iterations, called sprints. This approach is best suited for projects where the requirements are likely to change and there is a need for flexibility.
- Scrum Project Management: This is a subset of agile project management that emphasizes on cross-functional teams, self-organizing teams, and a set of ceremonies, such as daily stand-up meetings, sprint planning, sprint review, and retrospective.
- Kanban Project Management: This is another subset of agile project management that emphasizes on visualizing the work, limiting work in progress, and continuous delivery. The Kanban board is used to visualize the work, and the flow of work is managed by limiting work in progress.
- Lean Project Management: This is a project management approach that emphasizes on eliminating waste, maximizing customer value, and continuous improvement. This approach is best suited for projects where the focus is on delivering value to the customer and improving the efficiency of the process.
Types of Project Management Software
There are various types of project management software available, each with its own features and capabilities. Here are some of the most common types:
- Desktop project management software: This type of software is installed on a user's computer and can be used without an internet connection. Examples include Microsoft Project, Primavera P6, and OmniPlan.
- Web-based project management software: This type of software is accessed through a web browser and is hosted on a cloud-based server. It can be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection and allows for easy collaboration among team members. Examples include Asana, Trello, and Basecamp.
- Mobile project management software: This type of software is designed for mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets, and allows users to manage projects on-the-go. Examples include Wrike, Trello, and Basecamp.
- Open-source project management software: This type of software is freely available and allows users to modify and customize the software to suit their specific needs. Examples include OpenProject, Odoo, and Taiga.
- Agile project management software: This type of software is designed specifically for agile project management methodologies, such as Scrum and Kanban. Examples include Jira, Agilefant, and Targetprocess.
- Enterprise project management software: This type of software is designed for larger organizations and provides advanced project management features, such as resource management, portfolio management, and financial tracking. Examples include CA PPM, Planview, and Workfront.
- Integrated project management software: This type of software combines project management features with other business functions, such as customer relationship management (CRM)[1], accounting, and human resources. Examples include Zoho Projects, Smartsheet, and Teamwork.
Best Project Management Software[2]
- Asana: Asana is a web-based project management tool that allows users to create and manage tasks, track progress, and collaborate with team members in real-time. It offers a range of features, such as project templates, custom fields, and integrations with other tools.
- Trello: Trello is a visual project management tool that uses a Kanban board to organize tasks. It allows users to create cards for tasks, move them across columns, and add comments and attachments. Trello offers a range of integrations and is available on desktop and mobile devices.
- Jira: Jira is an agile project management software designed for software development teams. It offers features such as issue tracking, scrum boards, and sprint planning. Jira also integrates with other development tools, such as Bitbucket and GitHub.
- Monday: Workforce Software Monday is designed to act as a cloud-based project management solution for small businesses across many industries. Monday's software helps companies manage different projects and share knowledge among their team members.
- Basecamp: Basecamp is a web-based project management tool that focuses on communication and collaboration. It offers features such as message boards, to-do lists, and scheduling. Basecamp also includes a client portal for sharing project updates with clients.
- Clickup: ClickUp is a wonderful business tool with a plethora of features even with the base plan. It is an all-in-one productivity software that reduces the workload of employees by many folds. It believes in only growth and thus, it brings teams together to plan, organize, and collaborate using tasks, docs, chats, kanban boards, and more. It covers almost every management, scheduling, and tracking tool under the hood.
- Wrike: Wrike is a web-based project management tool that offers features such as task management, Gantt charts, and time tracking. It also includes collaboration features, such as real-time commenting and proofing. Wrike integrates with other tools, such as Salesforce and Google Drive.
References
- "11 Top Performing WooCommerce CRM Platforms". 2021-06-02. Retrieved 2023-06-08.
- "7 Best Project Management Software For 2023". TechHarry. Retrieved 2023-04-26.
Other websites
