Project Management Software

Whether a professional project manager or an accidental project manager who suddenly finds a project assigned to them, knowing how to manage a project is essential. You can never know enough for the journeymen and newbies should try to wing it. Let’s break down the process of how to manage a project step by step. Below are the 10 pieces that show how to manage a project successfully. While we recommend using project management software, for those not ready to upgrade, we end with free templates. 1. Define the Project Goals and Objectives Defining clear goals and objectives is the foundation of how to manage a project successfully. This step ensures all stakeholders have…

Your business operations are only as good as your ability to monitor and control them. For example, manufacturing teams would be lost without a controlling process that lets them measure and improve on their management function. The process of controlling management is essential for any business to remain viable. When you monitor with software and control the process of your manufacturing, you’re able to see what works and what isn’t working. What Is Controlling Process in Business Management? The controlling process in business management is when managers set, measure and refine their business operations and manage cost control. By using a controlling process, a compa…

There are many project risks that can affect your project and, as a project manager, you’re responsible for the risk analysis process. Risk analysis, or risk assessment is essential because it allows project managers to classify project risks and determine which of them should be tracked closely. What Is Project Risk Analysis? Risk analysis consists of using tools and techniques to determine the likelihood and impact of project risks that have been previously identified. Therefore, risk analysis helps project managers decipher the uncertainty of potential risks and how they would impact the project in terms of schedule, quality and costs if, in fact, they were to show up…

Big construction projects are a coordinated effort between many different professionals. Suppliers and contractors have to be solicited, bids submitted and partnerships created. This essential process starts with a tender document. To understand procurement, one must first understand what a tender document is, who uses it and what should be included to ensure that everything goes smoothly. To put that in context, we’ll also show how it’s done in a real-life scenario. /wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Tender-document-template-featured-image.jpg Get your free Tender Document Example Use this free Tender Document Example for Word to manage your projects better. Downloa…

One way to understand project management is by illustrating the process using project plan examples. This starts by defining what a project plan is, but then we’ll get into how it works in a real-life scenario. We’ll first define a project plan and outline what goes into creating a project plan document. Then we’ll show how it works by illustrating several project plan examples. What Is a Project Plan? A project plan is a foundational document that outlines the goals, scope, timeline, resources and key deliverables. It serves as a roadmap to guide teams through execution and ensures everyone is aligned on the objectives and how they’ll be achieved. The plan typically in…

We say it all the time — change is inevitable. This adage is as true for projects and organizations as it is for everything else. Change can feel like an inconvenience or a response to unexpected trouble. And while this does happen, a change request can also be completely natural, and even positive, in the grand scheme of things. Because, ultimately, change is evolution. So, how can changes be used to your advantage in project management? We create a system to guide these changes. This system prevents confusion and disorganization which can sink and operate, and it all begins with a change request. What Is a Change Request? Change requests act as these formal documents …

The day to get organized is now, not later. Without having some organization for your project, you run the risk of sending an extensive and time-consuming project spiraling into abject failure. A well-organized project ensures that everyone knows what’s expected of them, what their authority is and what they need to do. Project organization provides the track on which to run a project. Without it, a project is in shambles. What Is Project Organization? The project organization is the structure of the project. It’s created separately, with specialists and workers from various departments. These personnel work under the project manager or project management office (PMO). …

Whether it’s investors or customers, stakeholders are important to every project. But what is a stakeholder? There’s more than one answer to that question. Let’s take some time to define what a stakeholder is, examples of stakeholders and free stakeholder templates that can help with stakeholder management. What Is a Stakeholder? A stakeholder is either an individual, group or organization that’s impacted by the outcome of a project or a business venture. Stakeholders have an interest in the success of the project and can be within or outside the organization that’s sponsoring the project. Stakeholders are important because they can have a positive or negative influence …

A Gantt chart is a project management tool used to view project tasks scheduled over a time period, and provides information on overall project progress. The post What Is a Gantt Chart? appeared first on project-management.com. View the full article

Planning an event involves many moving parts, each generating costs that must be carefully tracked. Whether it’s venue rentals, equipment, catering or staffing, event planners need a structured approach to budgeting. Without a well-organized budget, costs can spiral out of control, leading to financial surprises. To simplify this process, an event budget template can help keep track of all expenses. Our Google Sheets event budget template provides an easy-to-use format for logging estimated and actual costs, ensuring your event stays within budget. Why Use an Event Budget Template for Google Sheets? Google Sheets is an excellent tool for creating an event budget because …

Most have heard of the phrase “historic data” when planning a project. It’s a way to look back at similar projects for clues as to the needs of the current one. For those who prefer a more erudite term, there’s analogous estimating. What is analogous estimating in project management? We’ll define that term, how and when it should be used and the various types that can be employed when forecasting projects. What Is Analogous Estimating? Analogous estimating is a project management technique used to estimate the cost, duration or resources required for a project or task by comparing it to similar, previously completed projects. It’s a form of top-down estimation that reli…

PRINCE2 (Projects IN Controlled Environments) is a widely used project management methodology mostly found in Europe and especially the United Kingdom. This structured approach to managing projects includes something called the project board. What is a project board in PRINCE2? That’s what we’ll answer first. Then we’ll explain who makes up a project board and their key responsibilities. There is a project board in PRINCE2 because it benefits the project, a topic that we’ll also get to. What Is a Project Board in PRINCE2? The project board is a group of key stakeholders who provide overall direction and governance for the project in PRINCE2. They are responsible for mak…

Ideas are essential to product development, but they’re intangible. Turning an idea into a product requires many steps. One of the first is to create a product prototype. If you want to know what product prototyping is, you’ve come to the right place. Below, we’ll define what a prototype is, why it’s important to make a product prototype and explore how to make a prototype. Along the way, we’ll offer tips, particularly on how project management software can help you realize your idea and turn a product prototype into a successful product launch. What Is a Prototype? A prototype is the physical manifestation of an idea, an important step in product management. That is, i…

Project management has developed the means to increase the likelihood of successful completion. That starts by breaking a project down into project management phases. What are those project phases? We’ll define them in detail. This is a great opportunity for those new to project management, but also serves professional project managers and their teams who can never go over this critical information enough. What Are the 5 Project Management Phases? The five project management phases are a structured approach to planning, executing and completing a project. Based on the Project Management Institute (PMI) framework, these phases help project managers and teams stay organiz…

A project is like a car; it starts somewhere and moves somewhere else. No one would think of taking that trip without a dashboard to monitor their speed, gas levels and other important data. The same is true with a project, which is why we’re going to write about dashboard examples. First, we’ll answer the question: What is a dashboard? Then we’ll move on to what is typically included in a dashboard and illustrate some dashboard examples. For each, we’ll list the type of metrics that they monitor. We’ll end with a few free downloadable dashboard templates for a hands-on idea of how they work. What Is a Dashboard? A dashboard in project management is a visual tool that p…

Time is a constraint that applies to any project, particularly to dynamic, agile projects. While some industries are more time-sensitive than others, all industries have projects that incur many changes along the way. A burndown chart helps agile project management teams keep track of what’s been done, what needs to be done and how much time is left in the project. While a burndown chart is traditionally a visual tool, it can also act as a list that outlines the work to be done and what percentage of it is complete. What Is a Burndown Chart? A burndown chart is a project management chart that shows how quickly a team is working through a customer’s user stories. This ag…

Project managers know the importance of project documentation. Project documents must be accurate and constantly updated to keep current with the project. Creating and managing project documentation throughout the project life cycle is critical for project success, but where to start? This guide defines what project documentation is and why it’s important in addition to outlining the top 15 project documents that you should always create to plan and execute your projects. What Is Project Documentation? The term project documentation refers to the project management documents that are created throughout the project life cycle. These documents, such as the project plan, p…

The scope of a project is the sum of all the work that needs to be executed. A project scope statement helps project managers define the boundaries of what will and what won’t be done. But scope statements aren’t just about work management. To write a project scope statement, you’ll need to understand the project goals, work breakdown structure and requirements, among other things. Then, once you’ve defined your project scope, you can create a scope document. What Is a Project Scope Statement? A scope statement is a document that defines all the elements of the project scope as well as assumptions, project requirements and acceptance criteria. Your project scope stateme…

Scope can make or break a project. If you’re not keeping a finger on the scope of the project, it can quickly go off-track, messing up your schedule and depleting the budget. That is how many projects fail. Yes, scope management is one more constraint a project manager must master, but then project managers love making plans to overcome challenges. A scope management plan is just another meaty piece of the project that any project manager will love to sink their teeth into. After all, the project manager is tasked with ensuring that the project reaches a satisfactory conclusion. That cannot be done without having a scope management plan. But first, what is the project s…

Before project management software, there were manual methods and traditional tools to plan, track and manage projects. This added time and effort, which exponentially grew with the size and complexity of the project. Paper-based planning, physical communication and manual resource management feel as if from another time. That’s because it is. While technology has pros and cons, few project managers and project teams dispute the improvements that project management software provides. Let’s explore how this project management tool is used, its features and the variety of commodities available and those that rise to the top of the list of preferred products. What Is Proje…

Goals are set easily enough, but reaching them takes work. Sometimes that work is falling short, and project teams need to figure out why and how to get back on pace to meet their goals. For that, they use something called a needs assessment. But what is a needs assessment, often called a needs analysis? We’ll answer that first before going into when one should take place and how to do it. To better understand, we’ll share an example and even a template to help readers get started. What Is a Needs Assessment? A needs assessment is a systematic process to identify and evaluate gaps between a current situation and desired outcomes. It helps organizations, teams or individ…

If you’re looking to become an IT project manager, Jennifer Bridges, PMP, explains the job description, skills, qualifications, path and training involved. Then read on to learn even more about starting your IT project manager career. Here’s a screenshot of the whiteboard for your reference! What Is IT Project Management? IT project management consists of applying project management principles to information technology projects. It involves planning, executing, monitoring and closing IT-related initiatives to ensure they align with business objectives. As this industry is constantly changing thanks to rapid technological enhancements, these projects must be completed …

What Are Deliverables In Project Management? Projects produce deliverables, which are simply the results of project activities. Project deliverables can be big or small, and their number varies depending on the project. They’re agreed upon by the project management team and stakeholders during the project planning phase. Put another way, there are inputs and outputs in any type of project. Inputs are what you put into the project, such as data, resources, etc., and the outcomes are the deliverables. Again, those deliverables vary greatly. For example, a project deliverable can be either a product or service or it can be the documentation that’s part of the project closur…

If all construction projects ran without a hitch, there’d be little need for project management software. However, we know that internal and external forces create construction delays that impact the project schedule. To have a successful project completion, general contractors rely on delay analysis. What is delay analysis and what should be included in a delay analysis report? We’ll get to that shortly. There’s also more than one way to analyze delays, and we’ll explore those different methods as well. Readers can download free templates to help with delay analysis or upgrade to project management software to better manage construction schedules. What Is Delay Analysi…

Even the most meticulously planned projects experience unforeseen changes, and when this happens, we need to quantify the effect these changes have. Luckily, there are formulas that eliminate the guesswork. One of these formulas solves for Estimate at Completion — an important metric for monitoring a project budget. Keep reading to learn why to always calculate Estimate at Completion and exactly what this formula can do. What Is Estimate at Completion (EAC)? Estimate at completion (EAC) is a part of the earned value management (EVM) system. This term refers to the practice of re-estimating the total cost of the project during the project execution phase. In other words…