Project Management Software

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…

If you’re looking to start or grow a business (or just keep a business profitable), you need a business plan. But not all plans are the same. If you need to define your business and its objectives, you need to use organizational planning. That planning provides a clear path forward. When you organize the various departments of your business, everyone knows what their function is—and the tasks and processes necessary to achieve your business goals. What Is Organizational Planning? Organizational planning is how business owners organize the day-to-day operations of a business. This can range from simple things, like the companies’ reason for existence, to more complex con…

All projects are embedded with the potential for problems or opportunities. This is called risk, and project management has created risk management tools to address these uncertainties. One technique is bowtie analysis. We’ll break down the bowtie model and explain when to do a bowtie risk assessment, including a bowtie diagram in an example to make the concept fully understandable. We’ll also include a free template to download so you can try it on your own. What Is a Bowtie Analysis? The bowtie method is a risk management technique used to visualize and analyze the potential risks and their controls within a system or process. It’s called “bowtie” because the resultin…

Risk is always present in construction projects. By definition, construction risk feels unpredictable and damaging, but you can identify and manage them. You may feel you can control risk in your organization and construction management team—but what happens when you’re working with independent contractors? Suddenly, the success of the construction project rests on the shoulders of those who are less accountable to you. However, you can minimize and mitigate contractor risks through a process known as contractor risk management. Just as contract administration, contractor risk is important to understand. It requires screening and protecting yourself from issues that mig…

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 …

All businesses want to improve, or at least they should do so constantly to be competitive. Complacency might feel good in the moment, but that moment quickly passes, especially in the business world. Don’t be left behind. The question is how can one improvethe operations of a business to make it more efficient and profitable? There are many answers, from educational and physical fitness to spirituality. But is there a unifying theory of process improvement, and if so, can it be sustained? Have you heard of the kaizen method? It’s a set of principles and techniques for continuous improvement that helps organizations across industries be more productive. But before we div…

It seems that people have been spelling team with an “i” for a long time. We live in a culture that promotes the roughed individual, the self-made person, the entrepreneur and often overlooks teamwork examples. They did it all themselves, or so they say. But even the most charismatic and self-reliant people are not working in a vacuum. Team management is always instrumental in any major project. The truth is that teamwork is the shoulder on which all major successes rest. Whether that be the building of the pyramids in Egypt or the dominance of Apple in the marketplace. But don’t take our word for it. There are many teamwork examples throughout history. We cherry-picked…

Projects that employ contractors or work with suppliers and service providers need to manage their procurement process. This is usually started by an invitation to tender that the organization initiating the project will send out. Why do they send an invitation to tender, what is it and who uses it? We will answer those questions below. We’ll also outline what goes into a thorough invitation to tender and then illustrate the process with an example to make it clear. What Is an Invitation to Tender? Let’s start with a definition. An invitation to tender is a formal document issued by a company or organization to invite suppliers, contractors or service providers to submi…

Creating a project baseline is critical in effective project management, as it sets the original plan against which progress and performance are measured. It includes key components like scope, schedule and cost, forming a fixed reference point that guides decision-making throughout the project lifecycle. We’ll begin by defining a baseline in project management, its components and how to create one. This is important, as establishing a baseline helps teams stay aligned, manage expectations and quickly identify when things are veering off track, making it an essential tool for maintaining control and ensuring successful delivery. What Is a Project Baseline? A project bas…

The project management industry, and our concept of what a project constitutes, is always changing. Nowadays, even non-PMP-certified workers are taking on work that closely resembles traditional projects, and the desire to manage them better is growing every year. One way to keep up with the latest project management trends is to attend a project management conference. It’s a great way to further your education and learn about new project management software tools that are on the market. For that reason, we’ve gathered information about the major project management conferences that are scheduled for 2025, 2026 and 2027. PMI Global Summit /wp-content/uploads/2022/01/imag…

Stakeholders are the people, groups or organizations that have a key interest in the outcome of a project. They can include department heads, investors, manufacturers, board members or simply team members. They are typically involved in the approval process and can either make a project difficult or extremely easy—depending on how well they’re managed via a stakeholder management plan. In fact, certain stakeholders decide if there should be a project at all, and whether or not the project was a success. They have that much power. Given their influence, it’d be unwise to neglect your stakeholder management plan. But first, let’s review the aspects of good stakeholder mana…

Throughout the life of a project, project managers check in on progress and compare it to the project plan—comparing their predictions to reality. If they don’t do this regularly, odds are the budget will suffer and their project will fail. Luckily, these deviances from the plan, such as cost variance, don’t have to sink a project. In fact, they can strengthen it. The key is spotting them and making adjustments to stay on the right path. One of the best ways to avoid cost overrun is by calculating cost variance. /wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Cost-Benefit-Analysis-Template.png Get your free Cost Benefit Analysis Template Use this free Cost Benefit Analysis Template…

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…

See if RACI Matrix in Agile is useful or not to clarify roles, improve collaboration, and streamline decision-making for better project success. The post Raci Matrix in Agile Project Management appeared first on project-management.com. View the full article

Projectsl businesses and even life itself are defined by a series of decisions. Each decision should, ideally, be the result of thorough research, counseling from the team and historic data. Managers use a decision log to keep stakeholders updated on who authorized a decision and how it came about. A decision log is a critical communication tool that all project managers, business managers, team leaders and decision-makers of any kind need to understand. You can use project management software, templates or simply a notepad to track decisions. But before we get into how to make one, let’s better understand the definition of a decision log. What Is a Decision Log? A deci…

Technology projects move fast and things change on a dime. Having a clear and structured plan is essential to aligning IT initiatives with broader business goals. That’s where an IT roadmap comes in. An IT strategy roadmap is a planning tool that outlines how an organization will evolve its technology over time, covering everything from infrastructure upgrades and software development to cybersecurity improvements and cloud migration strategies. Before we get to all that, though, we’ll define what an IT roadmap is, what should be included in one and how you can create one that supports both long-term vision and short-term execution. To help you get started, we’ve also in…

Creating and maintaining roadmaps is essential for aligning teams, setting strategic direction and communicating priorities across departments. Whether you’re planning IT initiatives, product development or broader business objectives, having the right roadmap template can save time and ensure clarity. In this roundup, we’ve gathered a selection of the best roadmap templates designed to support different functions and project types. These free roadmap templates provide structure while remaining flexible enough to adapt to your unique planning needs, so you can focus more on execution and less on formatting. Why Use a Roadmap Template? Using a roadmap template streamline…

All businesses must make money in order to remain solvent and stay in business. The need for profitability is clear—how you get there is the tricky part. One way is to deliver more value to your customers while creating less waste for the business. This is commonly called lean project management. What Is Lean Project Management? Lean project management is just like traditional project management in that it follows a structured project life cycle, uses formal project management documentation, and aligns with core principles, procedures standards for project initiation, planning, execution, monitoring, and closure. However, what sets it apart is the integration of Lean m…

We tested the best Gantt chart software options out there to help you make the right selection for your projects. But before we get into our list of the best Gantt chart software, we’ll first explain what Gantt chart software is, what the key features are and why it is so beneficial when managing a project. What Is Gantt Chart Software? Gantt chart software is a type of project management software that’s used to schedule projects and track their progress using Gantt charts and other complementary project planning, scheduling, monitoring and reporting features. This software can either be cloud based or stored in your PC. Gantt chart software is commonly used in the proj…

Microsoft Project is one of the most commonly used project management software, but its popularity has decreased over the years due to its many drawbacks such as not working on Mac. Luckily there’s project management software for Mac that offers the same robust task management, resource management and time tracking features Microsoft Project does. Key Features to Look for in Project Management Software for Mac When evaluating project management software for Mac, the most important thing is to choose a solution that helps you manage as many aspects of your project as possible. In other words, you should choose the software that offers the best mix of project planning, sch…

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…

Resource management is all about getting the materials, supplies, equipment and people you need to execute a project. It involves how you plan, schedule, allocate and manage those resources to best serve the project. But what exactly is resource management software? What Is Resource Management Software? Resource management software helps project managers keep track of the human resources, raw materials and equipment needed to complete a project. Before we look at a number of tools that claim to be the best resource management software, let’s define the key features a resource management software should provide. Then we’ll get to the best resource management software rank…

I build content plans for a living, so I know a strong editorial calendar is more than a list of dates. It’s your team’s shared roadmap — bringing structure, visibility, and momentum to every project. From one-off campaigns to full content pipelines, the right template makes that magic happen. These three editorial calendar templates can… The post 3 Editorial Calendar Templates You’ll Actually Use (Picked by a Content Director) appeared first on project-management.com. View the full article

In project management, even the best-laid plans are vulnerable to change. From unexpected delays to unplanned expenses or resource shortages, projects often face disruptions that can derail timelines and budgets. That’s where a contingency reserve comes in. Acting as a buffer against the unknown, contingency resources help project teams stay flexible and responsive when challenges arise. We’ll explore what project risks should be covered, what contingency resources are and why they matter to support stronger, more resilient project planning. What Is a Contingency Reserve? A contingency reserve is a specific allocation of time, money or resources set aside within a proje…

Assign and manage tasks effectively, track progress, and reduce bottlenecks as you prepare your next podcast episode with these podcast planning templates. The post 10 Podcast Planning Templates to Help You Produce Your Next Episode appeared first on project-management.com. View the full article