Choosing the Most Effective Project Management Services Software

Software and the internet has made lot of things easier for us including work. The life of a project manager is a difficult one considering he has to shoulder so many responsibilities at a time. This difficult situation can be made easy by a useful and effective project management software. Majority of the project management services are software oriented nowadays which has reduced the pressure from managers by offering easy solutions in terms of scheduling and a lot of other aspects. In fact, some of it can also be managed on the smartphone. How can you expect it to be easier than this?!

Choosing the Correct Project Management Software

Your productivity and efficiency depends upon the software you have chosen to work with for your project. How to know whether it is the correct one or not? Follow these steps:

• Ask Questions- There are some important questions to be asked to find out whether it is necessary. Questions relating to inadequate tools, controls, time management, client dispute, points regarding stakeholders should be asked before deciding to work with a particular software.

• Associated Cost & Time- There will be additional cost and time allocated for the introduction of construction management software. Research, negotiation, selection and implementation of and about the software takes lot of time.

• Change in Technique- The software not only consumes time but it also changes the process in which teams function within the organization for a specific project. To make this process easier for all, assessing certain key points like goals, gathering information, shortlisting the points and ranking options become important.

• Evaluating the Software Features- Evaluating the different features of the software before use will also tell you a lot about the usefulness of the software. In fact, there are features that can be useless now and can become useful at a alater date; you must retain them.

• Bigger Questions- The bigger questions must be addressed before deciding on the software. Questions like whether you require cloud-based platform or a conventional one; the easy access of the software and also whether it will be used on cross-platform, all such questions must be asked before choosing a software. The pricing model, its integration as well as the quality of the supplier are all important points to be addressed.

• Scheduling Options- Scheduling is extremely important in a project and the software used in the project should take care of this aspect. You must be able to see the schedule of the day, week and month properly. In fact, Gantt chart view should also be offered by the software. There are different types of scheduling and your software should be able to address all like graphical Path Method Scheduling, Critical Path Method, PERT Charts and Linear scheduling.

• Additional Tools- After you have addressed the bigger questions, it is time to address the additional ones. Additional features like tools for RFIs, BIM, accounting, project dashboard and reporting, time tracking, punch list and transmittals should also be considered.

All these features should be used to assess the software you are thinking of using for managing the project. If the software is answering all your questions regarding these factors, then it is fit to be used for your purpose otherwise not. Be careful and select the software so that it makes work easier for you.

Distressed Project Management Consultants Bring Projects Back from Grave

The number of distressed projects have increased over the years particularly in the corporate sector. In fact, recovery request comes frequently from this sector and that too on an urgent basis. There are various causes for project recovery ranging from financial to emotional and situational. It is important to analyze the project rising beyond the chaos without bias so that it can be recovered. The best approach to recover a distressed project is by using a life-cycle approach. This deals with recovering the original project expectations and objectives as far as possible. Distressed project management in Sydney uses this approach for distressed projects in any industry.

What is Distress in Terms of Project Management?

Every project has to meet certain standards and goals. A distressed project generally deviates from its path in respect to deadlines, milestones, cost and scheduled targets as far as 20% or more at times. To recover majority of its original expectations early identification is necessary. In most cases, recovering starts even beyond the beginning phase and additional budget is also allowed. For particular projects distressed project management consultants in Sydney decrease the scope to reduce the cost. Project management is a difficult area in itself and recovering without cost and time support can be a tall task.

Fundamental Life-Cycle

Distressed projects have unique problems but a life-cycle approach mostly covers all those issues thus providing most efficient recovery options. There are 4 basic steps to this approach which has been developed with practical implementation over time. It constitutes of ways to solve problems fast and accurately to get the project back on track. The 4 steps are:

• Entering- This stage includes scope of work while scheduling initial interviews and collecting data

• Analysis & Assessment- The second stage constitutes of the first stages along with documenting data review, evaluation and subsequent interviews. Developing conclusions based on solution and gaining consensus on approval are also done here.

• Execution Control- This stage involves executing the plans, rules and responsibilities. Budget and schedule development along with project controls, strategies deliverable execution and validation of all these is also done during this stage.

• Closing- This is the last stage where transfer, handoff, implementation plans solidify. Implementing executive phase, project signoffs and final audits are done in the final stage. Lessons are also learned at this stage after completion of everything.

In this post, the first phase that is the ‘entering’ phase will be discussed.

Entering Phase

This is the ‘entering’ and not the initiation phase because the project has already started but has faced some deviations at various stages due to which it has strayed. The project is failing and adequate professionalism, insight, patience, critical thinking and tact is required to get it back on track.

Scope Re-Development

Whether outsourced consultants or in-house resources, the scope of the ongoing project must be redesigned to bail out the project from a troubled state. Achieving clarity is required on the following grounds:

• Initial expectations from the projects

• Current evaluation of the project

• Expectations from the recovering agent

• Review of scope of authority

• Primary resources and internal contacts

• Agreement on the path resorted to

Proper project assessment is done at this stage. In order to do it, interviewing a motley group of professionals involved in the project is required. Here is a list of those people that you should interview to get the project back on track.

• Project manager

• Project financier

• project customer

• Important Functional Managers

• team Leads/SMEs

• PMO, controls resources and schedulers

• Project Team

Each will have their own version for the failure. However, the key is to not get swayed by them and analyze it clearly. The consultant must learn to get passed the emotions to have a clear and objective view of the distress. This is generally a challenge and to overcome this, you must not become subjective and nod to what others say. Calling a spade a spade should also be avoided because no one likes to listen to direct criticism. Also this helps the project team to come across unguarded providing better factual information which will help to find out the relevant solution.