Project Management Software

Manufacturing teams rely on various tools to keep production moving smoothly, and the andon board has become one of the most recognizable parts of that environment. Its purpose is to bring clarity to fast-moving operations and support immediate responses when conditions change. Understanding how an andon board fits into modern shop floors offers valuable insight into lean manufacturing practices and real-time communication. What Is an Andon Board? At its core, an andon board is a visual control tool used to communicate production conditions instantly. It signals normal operations, identifies abnormalities and prompts immediate action when attention is required. By presen…

Compare coordinator vs manager on duties, authority, pay, tools, and career path—plus when to hire each and how to move from coordinator to PM. The post Project Coordinator vs Manager: Roles, Pay & Path Differences appeared first on project-management.com. View the full article

Without a plan, projects are in trouble. Project planning is one of the first and most important aspects of project management. Using project planning templates can help you schedule tasks, estimate budgets and allocate resources. Project management software does more than a static Excel or Word template, but using these free 23 project planning templates for Excel and Word is a decent substitute. Download one or all to start your next project on the right foot. Why Use Project Planning Templates? Project planning templates are an important part of project management. They organize your tasks, help you write a project charter, come up with an accurate budget and so much…

IT projects are unique. IT teams plan hardware and software installations, upgrades and rollouts, and the tools they use are specific to working with infrastructure, information systems and computers. These IT project management templates are essential to get those jobs done properly. ProjectManager has dozens of free project management templates for Excel and Word that IT managers need when working on web development, software development, mobile app development, network configuration and so much more. Try these 21 free IT project management templates today. 1. IT Project Plan Template IT project managers are responsible for many different types of projects, from devel…

Project scheduling can be hard, but software can make it more manageable. If you’re not quite ready to make the leap to an online project scheduling software, though, then project scheduling templates for Excel can be a decent substitute to get started. ProjectManager has dozens of free project management templates that you can download to assist in managing every phase of your project. Here are a few project scheduling templates to help you get started right away. But if you’re looking for project scheduling software that can take you to the next level of scheduling, then you want ProjectManager. Our cloud-based software can plan, monitor and report on your project sch…

You have a desired outcome, but what steps will you take to get there? Goal setting and tracking are important for both personal and professional success. Goals provide direction, purpose and motivation, while tracking helps with accountability and identifying roadblocks. Using goal-setting templates and goal-tracking templates will help deliver projects successfully and likely keep you much more organized along the way. There are over 100 free project management templates for Excel and Word available to download right now on our site. They cover every phase of managing a project and can be used across industries. We’ve cherry-picked the best free goal-setting templates …

Product management is a way to organize the development, positioning and pricing of your product. It helps you manage every step of the process that sees your product go from concept to market. As you might imagine, having project management software helps plan, manage and track this work, but if you’re not using such tools, there are product management templates that can help you steer the course. ProjectManager is award-winning project management software, but we understand that not everyone is ready to upgrade right away. For those of you managing product development projects, here are some of the product management templates we offer for free download on our site. …

The project budget is developed during the planning phase of a project. It’s a document that captures the total costs required to complete a project over a specified timeframe. The more accurate your forecast for project costs, the more likely you’ll be able to deliver a successful project and make a profit. To help you get started, we have 13 free budget templates that you can download right now. 18 Budget Templates for Business and Project Budgeting Below are 18 budget templates that you can use for estimating your project costs. There are some industry-specific budgeting templates, too, but all of them will help you forecast costs, which is the first step in running a…

A PMO, or project management office, can be an internal department or an external group or agency that defines and maintains the standards for a company’s project management. There are three types: supportive, controlling and directive and each has varying degrees of involvement. However, all three can use PMO templates to support project programs and portfolios. ProjectManager is project management software that’s more dynamic than static PMO templates, but if you’re not ready to upgrade, our site is rich with free project management templates for Excel and Word. We’ve collected 33 free templates that are suitable for a PMO. These templates cover everything from Gantt c…

Construction projects come in all shapes and sizes, but all must be monitored closely. This is why a project has many construction documents. Building a structure is a complicated job and every aspect of it requires construction drawings to plan on paper before the build begins. The importance of construction documents and drawings in construction project management cannot be understated. They set up the project for success by detailing everything from the site to the design and even the project administration. But what exactly are construction documents and what types of construction drawings are there? What Are Construction Documents? Construction documents help proje…

Throughout the life of a project, you must report on a wide variety of information. This information will be compiled into different reports and passed along to managers, investors, clients and other stakeholders. From there, reports can be used to make project decisions and adjustments. Using project report templates, like a weekly status report template, ensure these reports are created quickly and effectively. Why Use a Project Report Template? No matter how thoroughly a project is planned, the unexpected is bound to happen. Project reports document these changes, whether good or bad, and inform future strategies. Without regularly completing project reports, valuabl…

Having a successful marketing campaign involves the coordination of many different departments. Marketing plans manage research, design and copywriting, digital and print production, plus so much more. These separate departments all have to work together, sticking to a shared schedule and budget. Managing all those marketing assets is challenging. Get a headstart on your next marketing project by using these 20 free marketing templates for Excel and Word. They’ll help you from the planning stage and budgeting to tracking your campaign to ensure you stay on schedule and within your budget. We have dozens of free project management templates to choose from. Here’s a select…

If there’s one thing you can be certain of when managing a project, it’s change. If only you knew ahead of time what those issues would be, you could better address them. Although it’s impossible to predict the future, with these free risk management templates, you can better prepare for the unexpected and be more apt to keep your project on track. There are many project management templates that are designed to help you identify, respond to and track those risks. This helps you avoid an issue that becomes a problem that negatively impacts the project’s time, cost and scope. Download these free risk management templates and gain more control over your project. 1. Risk M…

Planning an event can range from a meeting at work to a convention and everything in between. It’s another project where you have to manage time, cost and scope (and don’t forget quality) to deliver on a deadline. Using planning templates can help you stay organized and keep to your budget and they allow you to schedule and create the kind of event that serves its purpose, whether that’s networking at a trade show or launching a team-building workshop. ProjectManager is award-winning software that can help you plan, manage and track your events. We’re also the online hub for everything project management-related. You can read weekly blogs, guides and download free event …

Software development lives in a digital world. Why would anyone want to use software development templates? But some software developers and their teams might not be ready to upgrade to project management software. If that’s the case, check out these free software development templates for Excel, Word and more. They’re just a sampling of all the free project management templates available to download on our site. They cover every aspect of managing a project across multiple industries. For those wanting a more efficient and effective tool than software development templates, there’s ProjectManager, award-winning project and portfolio management software with robust Gant…

Contractors bid for jobs. They have to outline what they’ll do, how long it’ll take and at what cost. Those estimates must be accurate or it can lead to a failed project or cut into the contractor’s profit margin. Using bid proposal templates is one way to ensure the bids are thorough and complete, covering all bases. ProjectManager has over 100 free project management templates for Excel and Word that can be downloaded now. There are over a dozen templates that can help during the construction bidding process. They are listed and linked below to help land work that serves the contractor and their client. However, templates are static documents. Project management softw…

Businesses need all the help they can get. These 38 free Word and Excel templates for business help with everything from cost-benefit analysis to timesheets. Business templates are a great way to work consistently and not have to reinvent the wheel each time you need to do repetitive tasks. ProjectManager is more than great project management software, it’s a depository of dozens of free Word and Excel templates for business that you can download right now. 1. Excel Timeline Template for Business Planning This Excel timeline template is a versatile Excel template for business that can be used to visualize all the projects your business will execute in the future, identi…

Project portfolio management (PPM) is the centralized management of all projects within an organization to ensure that they align with the overall strategic goals, deliver value, and are executed efficiently. The main objective of PPM is to optimize the selection, prioritization, and execution of projects to maximize organizational benefits, minimize risk and improve resource utilization. Below are free project portfolio templates to help with PPM. ProjectManager’s award-winning project and portfolio management software is more dynamic than static project portfolio management templates. Our software has tools to plan, manage and track programs, portfolios, resources and …

Any successful business requires thoughtful planning and well-structured documentation to stay focused and achieve growth. With the right business planning templates, organizations can capture goals, strategies and financial plans clearly, ensuring every stakeholder has consistent, accurate information to guide decision-making. Below, you’ll find our top 12 business planning templates for Microsoft Excel and Word. These resources help streamline strategic planning, improve analysis and support better communication across teams. Use them individually or as a complete toolkit to build a comprehensive business plan that investors, leaders and employees can trust. 1. Busine…

Making an action plan is essential for turning goals into results. Whether you’re launching a new initiative or improving existing processes, you need well-structured documents that outline tasks, deadlines and accountability. Using action plan templates ensures every step is clearly defined and supported with the information required to execute successfully. Below are our top free action plan templates for Excel and Word. Use them individually or combine them to build a complete execution toolkit your team can follow with confidence and clarity. 1. Action Plan Template for Excel When a project moves from ideas into execution, an action plan becomes the roadmap that gui…

What Is a Project Proposal? A project proposal is a formal project management document used to present a proposed initiative in a clear, structured way before work begins. It defines what the project is, what it aims to achieve and the high-level requirements needed to move forward. Rather than detailing execution, a project proposal establishes a shared planning framework that allows organizations and external stakeholders to review, discuss and refine an idea early. Because proposals are written for sponsors, clients or decision-makers, they must be tailored to their priorities and concerns. Understanding the audience is critical to presenting information at the right …

Daily affirmations have long been used to boost self-esteem. They compel people to start their days on the right foot. But while letting a smile be your umbrella might fortify your positive attitude, it’s not going to inspire your business ventures. Everyone must work, but for many of us, that job isn’t just a paycheck; it’s an opportunity to express ourselves and make something better. Entrepreneurs and go-getters often feel as if they carry the weight of an entire organization on their backs, and therefore could always use a little extra motivation. To all the entrepreneurs and go-getters out there, these 60 inspiring business quotes are for you. Now, get out there an…

Failure is an unavoidable part of any project process: it’s the degree of failure that makes the difference. If a task fails, there are ways to reallocate resources and get back on track. But a systemic collapse will derail the whole project. Why Is It Important to Analyze Failed Projects? What good can come from failure? A lot, actually. Sometimes a project reaches too far beyond its means and fails, which is unfortunate but can also serve as a teaching moment. If project managers don’t learn from their mistakes, then they’re not growing professionally and will revisit the same problem in future projects, programs or portfolios. Project managers and organizations can l…

What Is a Scope of Work? A scope of work in project management is a formal document that defines the specific tasks, deliverables, timelines and responsibilities required to complete a project. It establishes clear boundaries by outlining what is included and excluded, setting expectations for performance standards, acceptance criteria and work requirements. The scope of work supports project planning, scheduling, budgeting and monitoring and reduces ambiguity between stakeholders and provides a contractual reference for managing changes, tracking progress and preventing scope creep throughout execution. /wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Scope-of-work-template.jpg Get yo…

You identify them, record them, monitor them and plan for them: risks are an inherent part of every project. Some project risks are bound to become problem areas—like executing a project over the holidays and having to plan the project timeline around them. But there are many risks within any given project that, without risk assessment and risk mitigation strategies, can come as unwelcome surprises to you and your project management team. That’s where a risk management plan comes in—to help mitigate risks before they become problems. But first, what is project risk management? What Is a Risk Management Plan? A risk management plan defines how the project’s risk manageme…