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A good way to think about the average workday is to break it down into a series of projects.
Some will be worked on by entire teams and others will be personal endeavors.
Thats why weve put together this guide on how to choose a project management tool.
But if project management is your focus, this article should answer a few questions.
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A guide to choosing the right project management tool
What is project management?
First of all, its important to set out exactly what we mean byproject management.
Project management is the system of methodologies, processes, skills, and software to a particular project .
This project will have clearly defined goals and a set time frame.
This separates it from just management, which is an indefinite, ongoing process.
Crucially, there are a number of software solutions that can help with this.
Weve outlined eight step to ensure you pick the right one.
Step 1: What are your business needs?
Projects can focus on a number of different industries, so you should start by outlining your objectives.
That way, you’re free to confidently say why you need project management software.
Step 2: What is your budget?
This is especially important withcloud computing services, which often involve subscription costs paid out monthly or annually.
These can add up over time and make any solution expensive in the long-term.
Some features may only be available to the higher payment tiers, for example.
Furthermore, dont discount the greatfree project management softwareon the market.
These arent necessarily inferior for being free of charge.
Many solutions, fromTrellotoZoho Projects, wont cost a thing but still provide useful features like scheduling and automation.
Step 3: What are the challenges?
Theres no point in pretending that the adoption of a completely new business tool will be without any issues.
Getting to grips with your new project management solution could be scuppered by any number of roadblocks.
If you make a note of what these might be in advance, youll be better prepared for them.
If not, what sort of investment can you commit to here - in terms of finances and time?
How will your chosen project management tool fit with your existing IT stack?
Its likely that your employees are already used to certain ways of working and particular tools.
Integration is another potential challenge.
Step 4: What features will you need?
Step 5: How will you measure success?
Come up with some metrics to measure how successful your project management implementation is.
The best way of doing this while protecting your finances is to sign up for a free trial.
Ask them to be as candid as possible, outlining the strengths and weaknesses of the tool.
double-check you seek detailed feedback too - not simply whether a solution gets the thumbs up or not.
What doesnt work well?
Have you seen many updates or advancements since you began using the platform?
These are all questions that could help inform your choice of project management solution.
However, the decision you make doesnt need to be a long-term commitment.
The right project management tool may change based on your evolving aims.
Make an informed decision but always leave it up for review.
