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October 22, 2007

Project Management: It's NOT Just for Large Businesses

I hope you don't think I'm "silly" when you read this, but for some reason I thought "project management" software was only for very big businesses, with big budgets, big staff and big buildings. I know - I'm wrong.

Project management is for any business that has "projects" and wants to make sure they run right, all the time and any time.

Clarizen is one of many project management providers (including Microsoft Project) that helps keeps companies on track, on time and on budget.

Their spokesperson shared the following with me - it makes a lot of sense (cents):

  • Realize "project management" isn't just for big businesses - You're managing projects all the time. Anything requiring multiple steps, most likely in sequence, is a project. Find a way to do it better.

  • Flatten the antiquated top-down org chart - Empower employees at all levels of a project to have input on milestones, progress, etc. This ensures the people with the right expertise are sharing that knowledge.

  • Projects die without collaboration - Set up and manage the project from a team approach so all members have a stake in the process and therefore the outcome, which increases enthusiasm, participation and motivation.

  • Look beyond Excel - Use the Internet to your advantage. The ever popular, over-used "software-as-a service" actually has a purpose, offering project management options delivered over the Internet, so getting the system up and running is near-instant and as simple as logging in to email. This means no wasted time on training and no expensive, locked in annual licensing contracts.

  • Bring all project partners to one spot - Many projects involve multiple organizations, including third party vendors and/or business partners. Bring them all to one table, where everyone can conveniently collaborate and share information, instead of playing email tag or worse, forwarding documents back and forth.

  • I'm not an expert on projects but have done several projects in my "short" life. I know that it takes a lot of planning, emails, meetings and in our case Google Apps (or now Airest) to keep things on track.

    If you have a process that is repeatable it's much easier to give a template to a new (or old) staff member instead of reinventing things over and over again!

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