Project Management Software

In today’s fast-paced work environment, teams rely on project planning and task management tools to stay organized and hit deadlines. Microsoft’s suite of productivity solutions offers several options, and Microsoft Planner has long been a favorite for its simplicity and integration with Microsoft 365. With the introduction of Planner Premium, users now have access to an upgraded version of the tool that offers more advanced functionality for managing projects and tasks. Planner Premium builds on the foundation of basic Microsoft Planner by adding features designed for more complex projects, including task dependencies, milestones and workload views. While MS Planner Pre…

Microsoft Planner is widely used by teams looking for a simple task management and collaboration tool within the Microsoft 365 ecosystem. But while it’s easier to use than Microsoft Project, Planner has its own limitations. So, how to use Microsoft Planner effectively? This quick guide walks you through the main features and views so you can get the most out of the software. Understanding how to use Microsoft Planner is key to deciding if it’s the right fit for your team. While it’s helpful for basic task lists and lightweight planning, it doesn’t provide the robust project management features that larger teams often need. That’s why it’s important to explore whether Pla…

Learn the expert-approved best project management courses to gain certifications and grow your career at any experience level. The post 8 Best Project Management Courses: Expert Picks for 2025 appeared first on project-management.com. View the full article

In the world of project planning, there’s no shortage of tools to help you organize, schedule and deliver work. Microsoft Project Professional, in particular, is one of the most well-known project management solutions on the market. It is designed for project managers who need advanced planning, scheduling and resource management features in a professional desktop application. Microsoft Project Professional gives you the ability to build detailed project plans with tasks, milestones and dependencies while managing resources and costs at a granular level. As part of Microsoft’s project management suite, it integrates with other Microsoft 365 tools, allowing teams to colla…

Coordinating a construction project involves multiple teams, vendors and phases that must stay aligned to deliver on time and within budget. Construction workflow management helps bring order to this complexity by organizing tasks, tracking progress and ensuring everyone knows what needs to happen next. When construction workflows are well designed, teams can move from planning to execution without costly delays or miscommunication. A strong construction workflow also improves collaboration between office staff and field crews. It gives managers visibility into schedules and resources, while allowing teams to share updates as work is completed. The result is a smoother p…

What project management is good at is making the complex simple, or at least manageable. That’s done by using project management tools such as project network diagrams. A project network diagram helps project managers simplify a complex project plan, enabling them to see the project network. It’s important to have an overview of any project, see when it starts and finishes, and quickly note all the activities and how they work together. The critical path method uses project network diagrams to achieve this. However, some might avoid project network diagrams, thinking of them as dense schematics that depict the nodes and connections in a computer network. That would be a…

Project portfolio management software differs from project management software in that the former has to oversee many projects while the latter only involves one project. That’s going to require specific project portfolio management tools that can manage all those projects at once. To understand which is the best project portfolio management software for your organization, let’s first list the must-have project portfolio management tools and why they’re so important. Then we’ll rank the top 15 project portfolio management software products, detailing each. What Features Make the Best Project Portfolio Management Software? Project portfolio management (PPM) isn’t drastic…

Businesses are data-driven. By collecting and analyzing data they can make more insightful decisions about their business, whether they work in manufacturing, construction, professional services, IT or any industry. Power BI is a tool that delivers that information. What is Power BI? We’ll explain that first and go into the various features this technology-driven business intelligence tool has and what they can be used for. Then we’ll show the steps to use Power BI and integrations that can supersize Power BI. What Is Power BI? Microsoft Power BI is a tool businesses use to analyze and visualize raw data to discern actions that can be taken from the information collecte…

Microsoft Teams strives to improve the heart of every successful project: good communication and team collaboration. Stakeholders, managers and teams must set expectations, deliver directions and collaborate for greater productivity. Whether people are under one roof or distributed across the globe, a shared platform like Microsoft Teams with an open channel for communicating is the glue that holds projects together. The market is saturated with team collaboration apps that promise the moon, but often deliver far less. Microsoft Teams is a dominant player in the field and with good reason. Microsoft offers a suite of products that are designed to keep businesses working …

The popularity of applications to help teams organize their tasks, resources and more has reached a point where every major software company has a list-making product. So it’s no surprise that there’s a Microsoft Lists, but is MS Lists the best list-making app on the market? To find out, let’s define what Microsoft Lists is, look at its features and explore how to use MS Lists. We’ll also get into details about pricing and plans, pros and cons and how Microsoft Lists compares to other products by Microsoft. What Is Microsoft Lists? MS Lists grew out of SharePoint lists and facilitates tracking and organizing tasks. Project teams use it both personally and professionally…

Managing deadlines is one of the hardest parts of running projects, especially when teams are spread across multiple tasks and locations. Project time tracking gives managers visibility into where hours are going and helps teams stay focused on priority work. When every minute matters, the right project time tracking software keeps schedules realistic, resources balanced and projects moving toward completion without unnecessary delays. Beyond keeping teams on track, project time tracking also supports accurate billing and better forecasting. It helps managers spot bottlenecks early and shift workloads to avoid burnout or wasted time. The best project management time trac…

Microsoft Project Online will not be available to new users after October 1, 2025 and will be officially retired for legacy users on September 30, 2026. If you need to collaborate on MPP files in the cloud, sign up for ProjectManager to flawlessly import and export these files in an online platform. We have nearly all of the features that Microsoft Project does with none of the hassle, confusing plans or expensive price tag. If you want to stay in the Microsoft universe, you can explore their other available tools, including Microsoft Planner, Project Standard and Project Professional. /wp-content/uploads/2024/05/ms-project-pm-integration-1600x627.pngTry it free If you’v…

Creating a construction company organizational chart is one of the most effective ways to visualize how your business operates. Whether you run a small local contractor or a large general construction firm, having a clear picture of the roles and reporting structure keeps everyone aligned. An organizational chart for construction company use helps clarify who is responsible for what and how information flows across departments. This makes collaboration smoother and reduces confusion on job sites. A construction company organizational chart also supports better planning and growth. As your business takes on larger or more complex projects, your construction company organi…

The Gantt chart is one of the most important tools in a project manager’s toolbox. One side is a spreadsheet that collects important project data and the other is a visual timeline that shows the entire project from start to finish. The Microsoft Project Gantt chart is typically seen as the centerpiece of that project management software. However, some never get the chance to use Gantt charts for Microsoft Project because of the steep price and learning curve. Let’s look at Microsoft Project’s Gantt chart and see what is worthwhile and what is lacking in the essential project management tool. We’ll highlight key features, show you how to build a Microsoft Project Gantt c…

Microsoft Project has its critics. The project management software is expensive, complicated and not collaborative. No wonder project teams look for open-source Microsoft Project alternatives. For one thing, it’s (mostly) free. But these products also give Microsoft products a run for their money in terms of features. Let’s look at several open-source Microsoft Project alternatives and see what they have to offer, where they succeed as project management software and where they fall short. Sometimes a consumer gets what they paid for, which is why we’ll also review a commercial Microsoft Project alternative and see how it stands up against Microsoft Project open source a…

Running a successful construction project takes many moving parts working together. From scheduling crews and managing budgets to coordinating with stakeholders and ensuring quality standards, leadership plays a central role in keeping everything on track. Two of the most important roles on a job site are construction managers and project managers, each bringing a different focus and skill set to the table. Understanding how these roles differ helps owners, contractors, and teams set the right expectations and build stronger collaboration. Knowing where responsibilities overlap and where they diverge can prevent confusion, improve communication, and keep projects moving …

Creating a clear plan of action is essential for staying organized and meeting deadlines. Whether you’re managing a small team or a complex project, a good plan helps everyone understand their responsibilities and stay on track. Looking at a work plan example can give you ideas for structuring your own process and aligning your team around shared goals. The following work plan examples highlight different ways to organize tasks, timelines and budgets. By studying these examples, you can see what works best for your team and apply similar strategies to your own projects. Each work plan example offers practical takeaways that you can adapt to improve collaboration and prod…

Program implementation is the process of putting a planned initiative into action to achieve desired results. Successful program implementation requires careful planning, coordination of resources and clear communication across teams. Without a structured approach, even well-designed programs can face delays, cost overruns or misalignment with organizational goals. Creating a program implementation plan helps teams stay organized and ensures each step is executed as intended. By following a clear guide, organizations can streamline workflows, assign responsibilities effectively and monitor progress against objectives. Using program implementation tools and templates make…

Managing stakeholders is one of the most important parts of running a successful project. Every initiative involves people with different levels of interest and influence, from clients and executives to suppliers and end users. A stakeholder matrix helps project managers see these relationships clearly so they can focus attention where it matters most. When you can visualize who needs regular updates, who should be kept satisfied and who might block progress, you can make better decisions and avoid costly surprises. Using a stakeholder matrix keeps communication targeted and efficient. Instead of guessing who to involve at different stages, you can prioritize stakeholder…

Understanding stakeholders is critical to the success of any project. A stakeholder map helps project managers visualize who is involved, their influence and their level of interest in the project. By mapping stakeholders effectively, teams can prioritize engagement, anticipate challenges and allocate resources efficiently. Using stakeholder map examples can guide new managers in creating their own maps tailored to their projects. Stakeholder map examples vary depending on project size, industry and complexity. Some maps focus on influence versus interest, while others categorize stakeholders by role, department or communication needs. Examining different examples provid…

Smartsheet is a popular project management tool that describes itself as a “work execution platform.” This web-based application is best known for its unique use of project management spreadsheets. However, spreadsheets might not be the best project management tool to handle time tracking, resource management or task management, which makes project managers look for Smartsheet alternatives. Why People Seek a Smartsheet Alternative There are many project management software tools on the market that offer similar feature sets. If you’re looking for a Smartsheet alternative, look no further. We’ve taken a look at some of the best Smartsheet alternatives for you—but first, l…

Microsoft Project is used by many project managers, especially at large organizations where it’s legacy software. But MS Project can be difficult to use. So, how do you use Microsoft Project? Our guide goes through a step-by-step process to help you maneuver through the byzantine program. See if Microsoft Project is right for you. If not, it might be time to explore a Microsoft Project alternative. ProjectManager, for instance, is a Microsoft Project alternative that offers nearly all the same features as Project in a modern, easy-to-use platform. Collaborate with your team using Gantt charts, kanban boards, dashboards, roadmaps and more. You can even manage and track y…

Running a construction site takes coordination, attention to detail and clear communication between all stakeholders. From the moment equipment arrives on site to the final inspection, every phase needs to be carefully monitored to stay on schedule and within budget. Managing crews, deliveries and safety protocols while keeping the project owner updated requires a structured approach that minimizes downtime and keeps productivity high. Learning how to manage a construction site step by step ensures that no part of the process is overlooked. By breaking work into clear stages, project managers and site supervisors can plan resources, track progress and deal with issues be…

Managing a project is a team effort. Throughout the lifecycle of your project, it’s crucial to maintain communication with team members, executives, clients and other stakeholders. In order to do so, you will no doubt be sharing different types of files that contain data about the project. Depending on the project management tools that you use, you could end up with files of various types—and this can cause compatibility issues. One example of this is an MPP file. Unfortunately, since MPP files were not designed to be shared outside of Microsoft Project, the project management software that they are created in, trying to open an MPP file extension can cause confusion a…

Construction projects can be big, complex and often unruly, with regulatory issues, safety concerns, equipment rentals, multiple teams and more. If you want to keep a construction project on track and meet your deadlines, you want construction scheduling software that’s robust and dynamic. What Is Construction Scheduling Software? The term construction scheduling software describes digital solutions that help you make construction schedules via construction project management tools such as Gantt charts, project calendars, to-do lists and dashboards. Construction scheduling tools should enable you to assign project tasks to your construction site crew, track their work h…