Project Management Software

Construction companies have to do some heavy lifting, and that’s not just the steel and concrete they use to erect buildings, bridges and other structures. Many different types of materials and labor go into their work which requires their contracts to have construction specifications. There are many types of specifications in construction. We’ll explain what construction specifications are, why they’re so important and detail the different types. Then we’ll go a step further by offering free templates and software that can help with construction project management. What Are Construction Specifications? Construction specifications are the products, materials and work th…

Many project management software alternatives can be used to plan, schedule and track the execution of projects. However, not all project management software is created equal. Some have a full suite of planning, scheduling and tracking features, while others can only help with some project management activities. What Is the Best Project Management Software? That’s not an easy question to answer because what’s best for a project depends on the industry, project management methodology, the work style of the team and many other factors. However, we’ve sampled the best project management software products and rated each according to what they do well and where they’re lacki…

Construction delivery methods matter. They are the means by which a construction project gets from idea to completion. That’s a long and complicated journey in construction project management, which is why knowing the best construction delivery method is so important. You can’t reach the end of your project if you’re not sure of the steps to get there, and construction delivery methods outline those steps. Before we look at the various construction delivery methods, we need to first make sure we’re clear on what a construction delivery method is. We’ll then explore how to choose the right construction delivery method for your organization and project. Finally, we’ll desc…

Managing construction projects is complex and stressful. You may stick to your schedule and budget, but if your project doesn’t meet quality acceptance criteria, then you’re not just going to upset your stakeholders; you might face lawsuits. Quality means different things to different people, which is why you should adhere to construction quality control. It’s a quality management system that allows you to define what quality is, track it and make necessary changes to ensure those benchmarks are met. What Is Construction Quality Control? Construction quality control is a management system aimed at ensuring the final deliverable meets the standards and guidelines set by …

Big things coming from small beginnings might sound like a cliche, but it’s rooted in truth. Project managers understand that before embarking on large endeavors, it’s best to test the waters. The phrase for that in project management is a pilot project. What is a pilot project? We’ll get to that and the industries that use a pilot plan before initiating big, expensive and complex projects. We’ll then explain how to execute a pilot project plan, what should be included, the benefits of doing so and much more. What Is a Pilot Project? A pilot project is a small-scale, preliminary study or test run of a new concept, process, product or service before full-scale implementa…

A stakeholder is any individual, group or organization directly or indirectly affected by a project. That means they are interested in its success and can influence its outcome. This can include the project manager, project team, customers, suppliers, executives, regulatory bodies and sometimes the community impacted by the project. Stakeholder engagement helps manage these various influencers. To understand how to manage stakeholders, we’ll begin by defining stakeholder engagement and a stakeholder engagement plan. Then we’ll outline what should be included in the stakeholder engagement plan and how the process is played out in project management. Then download a few fr…

Construction projects are notoriously difficult. They involve multiple teams, suppliers and more when building a structure. Ensuring the schedule is realistic and the project can be delivered on time requires techniques such as CPM construction. What is CPM construction? It stands for the critical path method in construction. What is critical path construction? That’s what we’ll learn, including how to make a CPM construction schedule and why general contractors want to use it. We’ll even throw in a free critical path template. What Is the Critical Path Method (CPM) in Construction? As noted above, CPM construction stands for the critical path method. It’s a project man…

Projects are made up of a large number of tasks, and keeping track of those tasks is a primary role of a project manager. Sometimes, the tasks in a project all run smoothly and independently of each other, and there are no complexities. Other times, however, there will be a large chain of dependent tasks that make things more complicated. What happens if a task needs to be completed today, but the person responsible for it is waiting on another task that hasn’t been completed yet? Delay happens. If you want to avoid delays in your projects, then it’s time to familiarize yourself with float or slack in project management. /wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Construction-Gantt-li…

Just as one wouldn’t drive a car without a dashboard as it provides valuable information on the vehicle’s speed, gas level and so on, no construction project manager should try to deliver construction projects without a construction project dashboard. A construction dashboard is one of the pillars of construction project management. Project management and program management both recommend using a construction project management dashboard and we’ll explain why. In the following blog, we break down what construction project managers should include in their construction management dashboard and even offer a free downloadable construction dashboard template to help get start…

The construction process is how projects in that field are broken into more manageable parts. Creating a building, bridge, warehouse or any structure is daunting when starting with nothing and having to create something complex. That’s where the building construction process comes in by working in stages that focus on specifics. These construction process steps make overwhelming projects possible. Let’s define those construction process stages and explain how to manage them. What Is the Construction Process? The construction process is the entire sequence of activities involved in creating a built structure, such as a building, bridge, road or infrastructure project. It…

As building codes evolve to respond to conservation, a new way to build has gained popularity. Sustainable construction is a new paradigm changing an industry that has been around since antiquity. Construction project management is responding to climate change and the need for renewable energy and natural resources. Understanding this trend toward environmental benefits requires understanding what sustainable construction is, what are sustainable construction materials and how this impacts the construction process and construction projects. We explain the push for green building and the need to be cost-effective below. What Is Sustainable Construction? Sustainable const…

Project management is a complex discipline requiring structured methodologies to ensure success. The Project Management Institute (PMI) has developed the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) as a global standard, providing a comprehensive framework for managing projects effectively. The PMBOK outlines essential concepts, best practices and industry standards that help project managers streamline their processes. Additionally, it serves as the foundation for PMI certifications, ensuring professionals acquire the skills needed to navigate diverse project challenges. What Is the PMBOK? The PMBOK is a globally recognized standard that provides best practices and guid…

Creating an IT strategic plan is a vital step for organizations looking to align their technology initiatives with broader business goals. As technology continues to evolve, having a clear, forward-looking strategy ensures that IT investments support long-term growth, efficiency and competitiveness. We’ll explore what an IT strategic plan is, how it fits into IT strategic planning, what should be included in the plan and who’s responsible for it. Whether an organization is scaling operations, improving cybersecurity or integrating new systems, an IT strategic plan provides a structured approach to decision-making and resource allocation. What Is an IT Strategic Plan? An…

Need to know how to plan an event? If you’re planning a big event like a conference, we can help you successfully create, structure and lay out your event plan. This blog will cover everything you need to consider when planning an event, including event planning steps, tips and an easy-to-use event checklist. What Is Event Planning? Event planning is the process of putting on and managing a variety of events, from something as small as a meeting to as big as a convention and everything in between. When event planning you’ll be taking into account every aspect of that event, whether it’s a birthday party or a networking event. That means you’ll be estimating budgets, cre…

As professionals with targets, projects to manage and bills to pay, we must perform, whether it’s the beginning of the week or the exhausting end of a long, hard one. And it’s precisely when times get tough that a good motivational speech is most beneficial, inspiring us to clear any psychological and physical hurdles that are keeping us from our goals. What’s amazing about people is, that despite the external forces at play on our constitution, we can always be influenced by attitude. If your coworkers or managers can motivate you, suddenly that hidden resource is tapped, and you’re ready to get up and go again with renewed energy and focus. Leaders can motivate and in…

Project management planning is made up of many parts. There’s the schedule, the stakeholder matrix, the managing of resources. Speaking of the latter, there’s the matter of how you’re going to procure resources that require vendors of goods and services. That’s procurement management. The procurement plan is part of the overall project management plan. Over the life cycle of a project there are likely to be many points where it will intersect with vendors. This process needs to be managed. To manage these relationships and keep the flow of those goods and services moving without interruption requires a procurement management plan. If it seems like we’re going too fast, …

Monday.com is project management software that is easy to use, highly visual, & customizable. Explore the best monday tutorials & webinars today. The post Top 10 monday.com Tutorials & Training appeared first on project-management.com. View the full article

Just because a project is pitched doesn’t mean it’s the right project. Organizations have to explore the proposal and determine if it’s a good fit for them in terms of risk, reward, resources and so on. That’s why there’s a feasibility report. What is a feasibility report? We’ll answer that, show what should be included and even add a feasibility report example to show what it would look like in a real-world scenario. Then, we’ll add links to some related free templates to help with the feasibility study report. What Is a Feasibility Report? A feasibility report in project management is a detailed analysis that evaluates the practicality, risks and potential success of …

Project management is the planning & organizing of resources to achieve a specific goal. Learn about types and examples to get started. The post What is Project Management? Definition, Types & Examples appeared first on project-management.com. View the full article

If you’re looking for ways to increase productivity in your project (and who isn’t?), then you’ll need to know how to effectively measure your progress. Tracking these key performance indicators (KPI) will help keep the team productive and the project on track. Having your eye on KPI metrics is one of the best ways to track the progress of your team. But first, let’s define some key terms and then get to the essential KPI metrics for teams. /wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Light-mode-portfolio-dashboard-CTA.pngTrack KPIs in real time with dashboards. Learn more What Is a KPI? KPI is an acronym that stands for key performance indicator. It is a measurement that demonstrates h…

The stage is set. Primavera P6 vs. Microsoft Project. Two heavyweights in the project management software division. Known as project scheduling software, project portfolio management, project planner and more, but which is the champion or is there a dark horse in the wings to steal the title? To make the Primavera vs. Microsoft Project fair, we’ll define both, explain what they’re used for and where one surpasses the other. These are both widely used project management tools, but that doesn’t mean they’re without issues. One of the main complaints is the cost and complexity. We’ll get into the stats and let readers decide which is better, Primavera P6 or MS Project, but…

Projects are made up of many moving parts. One of the ways that you can determine if the project is behind or ahead of schedule is called schedule control. Project planning, scheduling and control all go together when managing a project to stay on time and meet your deadlines. Learning what schedule control is and what you can do to best apply it can help you bring your next project in on-time and under budget. What Is Schedule Control? Schedule control is used in project management to monitor your activities and tasks to ensure you’re proceeding as planned. Of course, it’s more than just monitoring status. Project schedule control also means updating your project proce…

When working in an agile or scrum environment, teams plan their work by creating a product backlog, a document that lists all the activities and deliverables that must be done to complete a project. Then, once a product backlog has been created, teams execute work in sprints, a short period of time from one to four weeks. Because of their short length, agile teams need to constantly prioritize the tasks defined in the product backlog through a process known as backlog refinement, or backlog grooming. What Is Backlog Refinement? Backlog refinement is the process of identifying and prioritizing the most critical product backlog items for an upcoming sprint, which is done …

Total Quality Management (TQM) works to maintain success by doing what is necessary to improve customer satisfaction. Of course, that satisfaction is seeded in employees and business processes—long before any product or service reaches its customer. How does a business or organization make sure that its processes and people are aligned with creating success and customer satisfaction? That’s where total quality management comes in. What Is Total Quality Management (TQM)? Total Quality Management is a management approach that focuses on delivering products and services with the highest quality to maximize customer satisfaction and meet regulatory standards. Total quality …

Projects are made up of tasks. Each of those tasks needs to be completed to meet certain quality standards. However, they also have to be done safely and, often, under specific conditions or regulatory requirements. A method statement is a document that ensures tasks check these boxes. We’ll explain what a method statement is, when it should be used and what should be included to help with writing one. To ensure that nothing is left out of this process, readers can also download a free method statement template to help them get started. What Is a Method Statement? A method statement is a document that outlines the step-by-step process for completing a specific task or a…