Project Management Software

KEY TAKEAWAYS Most of the organizations in different countries rely on PRINCE2 (PRojects IN Controlled Environments) methodology for efficient management of a project from initiation to closure and evaluation phase. It is the most practiced methodology as it is the most suitable for management of projects of all sizes developed in different industries. This methodology… The post PRINCE2 Project Management & 7 Principles appeared first on project-management.com. View the full article

Before comparing PRINCE2 vs. PMP, it’s important to understand that though they’re often mentioned in the same context within project management, they serve different purposes. PRINCE2 (Projects IN Controlled Environments) is a project management framework. That is, it’s a structured approach with defined principles, themes and processes. It focuses on governance, organization and clearly defined roles and responsibilities. While PMP (Project Management Professional) is a certification that validates a project manager’s experience. What Is the PMP Certification? PMP certification is a globally recognized credential awarded by the Project Management Institute (PMI). It v…

Processes benefit businesses, enterprises and the field of project management, and one of the most important aspects of a successful process is seeing the process flow drawn out. A process flow diagram is a great tool to outline and clarify that process to everyone involved. But what is a process flow? We’ll explain, including the process flow diagram symbols and different types. Then, to further illustrate the advantage of using one, we’ll provide a couple of examples and throw in a free template to download. What Is a Process Flow? A process flow is a visual representation or diagram that shows the steps involved in a particular process. It outlines the sequences of t…

Agile is a useful project management methodology when used correctly. Unfortunately, if the whole team is not familiar with it, things can become inefficient. To avoid that, all agile team members must know what a product backlog and sprint backlog are, both of which are essential for planning and prioritizing tasks in agile project management. These concepts also apply to scrum, kanban and other similar agile frameworks. What Is a Product Backlog? The product backlog is a list that compiles all the tasks and user stories that must be done to complete the whole project. But it’s not just a simple task list. An effective product backlog breaks down each of the backlog ite…

There are many projects, but not all are the right fit for an organization. Project appraisal is how one determines what is right for them. It’s like risk management or risk analysis to ensure that the approved project delivers benefits worth the investment. To better understand this process, let’s define the term and when a project appraisal should be done. Just as there’s more than one type of project, there are different types of project appraisals. We’ll explore those, including project appraisal techniques and more. What Is a Project Appraisal? A project proposal is a formal document that outlines a project’s objectives, scope, timeline, budget and overall plan. It…

Making assumptions is usually frowned upon. However, in project management, project assumptions are essential for planning a project. But how do project assumptions differ from the assumptions that often mislead us in our daily lives? Let’s take a look at how project assumptions are defined in project management and why they’re so important. Then we’ll learn about a project assumption log and how assumptions differ from constraints and risk. We’ll even throw in a project assumption example for further clarity. What Are Project Assumptions? A project assumption is used in project planning to define a factor that’s true, real or certain, even if there isn’t proof. You hav…

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…

Projects might have a roadmap, but when executed, they rarely go as planned. Internal and external factors can impact the project’s scope, budget, schedule and more. To address these issues before they even occur falls under project contingency. Let’s start by defining project contingency and what makes up a contingency plan. Then, we’ll show how to execute that plan to avoid scope creep, budget overruns and schedule delays. Finally, we’ll share a few free templates to help facilitate the process. What Is Project Contingency? Project contingency refers to a reserved amount of time, money or resources set aside to address unexpected events or uncertainties that may arise…

There’s never enough time when managing a project. That’s why we make schedules—to try and control time, just enough to get your deliverable by the deadline. Sometimes, however, things go awry. Changes in a project are common of course, but it’s the project manager’s responsibility to make sure that those changes don’t produce a negative impact on the project schedule. This is when the triple constraint usually comes into play; scope, time and budget. If one falls behind, the others have to make up the slack. There are many ways to adjust things on your project to make up for the time you’ve lost. That includes adding extra resources along the way, which is a method call…

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…

Managing a project with copious moving parts can be challenging to say the least, but project evaluation is designed to make the process that much easier. Every project starts with careful planning—this sets the stage for the execution phase of the project while estimations, plans and schedules guide the project team as they complete tasks and deliverables. But even with the project evaluation process in place, managing a project successfully is not as simple as it sounds. Project managers need to keep track of costs, tasks and time during the entire project life cycle to make sure everything goes as planned. To do so, they utilize the project evaluation process and make…

Projects are expensive. Project financing is how they acquire the funding to pay for the project. To understand this process, one must begin with the meaning of project financing and then work towards the various methods of getting it. We’ll go over that, explore various project financing sources, explain the process of getting that financial support and provide an example to see how this plays out in the real world. We’ll end by sharing some free templates to help estimate costs, budget and more. What Is Project Financing? Project financing refers to the process of securing and managing the financial resources needed to execute a project. It involves structuring fundin…

Smooth project transitions rely on effective handovers. Utilize these free project handover checklists & templates to ensure success. The post Project Handover Templates & Checklists for Effective Transitions appeared first on project-management.com. View the full article

An abundance of information is created, transferred and stored over the project management life cycle. Without a way to organize the documentation that’s produced, your project may be doomed to fail. That’s when PMIS comes in, an acronym for project management information systems. A PMIS enables an organized and controlled flow of information so nothing is siphoned off or misplaced. Project management software that’s collaborative and offers unlimited file storage, such as ProjectManager, is a given. Our tool can organize your documents and make them accessible to the project team on any of our multiple project views. For example, the list view allows teams to share file…

Project management is a unique field. It exists in many industries because a “project” applies to almost anything that achieves a goal or produces a deliverable. This can include anything from software development to construction. Nearly every industry has projects of varying lengths and complexities—prompting a diverse list of project manager titles. However, project managers are not a monolithic group. They have a wide variety of skills, which include technical know-how, business acumen and leadership skills. Additionally, within the field of project management, there’s a range of project manager titles and roles, which we will explain further. /wp-content/uploads/202…

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). …

When you’re managing a project, the triple constraint should always be top of mind. But there’s a fourth constraint that’s just as important, yet sometimes forgotten by some project managers as they go through the project planning phase—project quality management. What Is Project Quality Management? Project quality management is the process of defining quality standards for the deliverables of a project, as well as the quality assurance measures to guarantee those standards are met. However, quality can be an elusive word. In project management, quality is simply what the customer or stakeholder needs from the project deliverables. Project quality management can be simp…

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…

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…

Construction projects manage many different types of resources. General contractors have to accurately estimate the amount of those items to keep their profit margin. They do this through the process of a quantity takeoff. What is quantity takeoff and when should this process happen in the construction project management cycle? We’ll address those questions, note who should be involved in the process, how to do it and why it’s so important. What Is Quantity Takeoff in Construction? Quantity takeoff (QTO) in construction refers to measuring and listing the quantities of materials, labor and resources required for a construction project. This detailed assessment estimates…

Imagine that you’re taking the lead on a new IT project that involves building a call center from the network to the servers. The call center itself will house hundreds of jobs and will bridge the gap between customer and product. There are many requirements for a big project like this and as a project manager, you keep track of them all. Requirements gathering is a step in the requirements management process, which consists of gathering, documenting and analyzing project requirements. We’ll start with a requirements gathering definition and then we’ll look into the process and tools you can use. /wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Requirements-Gathering-Template.png Get …

Projects are delicate operations. There is so much that can impact them; a storm cutting off the supply chain, equipment failure or a labor dispute are merely three possible situations in a seemingly endless succession of risks. The risk response plan that you create to deal with these risks, which describes risk identification, assessment, and mitigation response strategies, could mean the success or failure of the project. It’s no wonder so much of project management is focused on risk! Controlling risk, having a risk response plan and implementing risk response strategies are methods to better manage your project and deliver success. Another way is to have project ma…

The secret to agile and scrum project management is simplicity, even in the face of complexity. And although scrum ceremonies are simple, they can be difficult to master. Scrum requires self-organizing teams that can quickly solve problems in agile environments. To provide transparency and regular communication amid such environments, scrum ceremonies are held. Scrum ceremonies or agile ceremonies are meetings that are unique to scrum and agile teams. What Are Scrum Ceremonies? Scrum ceremonies are meetings that ensure that the scrum master, product owner and development team are in-sync. These ceremonies, or scrum events, are held at key instances in the agile sprint cy…

Ask a dozen people what agile is and you’ll get a dozen different answers. But it’s best defined by scrum as a model. Scrum is a way to manage a project within an agile framework and is made up of three roles: product owner, scrum master and team—all of whom are involved in sprint planning. The product owner is focused on the business side of the project, the scrum master is the expert, who acts like a coach. The team is self-directed and works as they see fit to meet the goals of the product owner. If you’re interested in the nuts and bolts of scrum, check our our guide. For this post, we’re going to take a deep dive into one of the events in the scrum framework, the s…

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…