Three Vital Things to Look for in a Project Management Application
What makes for a good project management application? This is an important question to ask, since the market for these "apps" is starting to grow.
Now that smartphones are ubiquitous in business as well as personal use, it makes sense for everyone in your team to be connected using appropriate project leadership software.
However, you want to go into the decision-making process knowing all you can about the features you need.
This will help you be sure you are using the best project strategy for your organization.
What should you look for when choosing and configuring that ideal piece of software? 1) Cross-Platform Availability The information technology landscape has irrevocably changed over the last several years.
Your colleagues are using smartphones, tablets, desktops, and laptops, and they're doing it all over the world.
Your app needs to be able to contend with this wide variety of different platforms and still deliver the performance you want.
2) Speed Considering that you'll be using this software in a wide variety of situations and settings, it's a very good idea to make sure it's fast.
It should not only load quickly, but also give you the chance to access and enter data very quickly.
Some apps are bogged down with a large number of menus that you have to navigate for seemingly simple tasks.
3) Notifications and Project Awareness One of the most important things that any app can do for you is help tie your team together in an effective way.
This means knowing what milestones are being worked on now and when they are completed.
Notifications of important events, communications, and changes should be a central part of the application you choose.
Organization is the key when you are looking at automating your project tasks.
The right app can give you a high-level view that was formerly only available by combing through emails, calling meetings, or even setting up teleconferences with stakeholders who might be half a world away.
As a final thought, don't forget that your new technology can very effectively mimic the tools of the past.
For example, every project leader who has ever worked in the technology field knows how useful a Gantt chart can be for organizing a project.
There's no reason why your chosen project management application shouldn't follow familiar forms and allow you to look at project data in ways that are comfortable to you.
However, it should be a fusion of old and new that allows you to maximize technology.
Now that smartphones are ubiquitous in business as well as personal use, it makes sense for everyone in your team to be connected using appropriate project leadership software.
However, you want to go into the decision-making process knowing all you can about the features you need.
This will help you be sure you are using the best project strategy for your organization.
What should you look for when choosing and configuring that ideal piece of software? 1) Cross-Platform Availability The information technology landscape has irrevocably changed over the last several years.
Your colleagues are using smartphones, tablets, desktops, and laptops, and they're doing it all over the world.
Your app needs to be able to contend with this wide variety of different platforms and still deliver the performance you want.
2) Speed Considering that you'll be using this software in a wide variety of situations and settings, it's a very good idea to make sure it's fast.
It should not only load quickly, but also give you the chance to access and enter data very quickly.
Some apps are bogged down with a large number of menus that you have to navigate for seemingly simple tasks.
3) Notifications and Project Awareness One of the most important things that any app can do for you is help tie your team together in an effective way.
This means knowing what milestones are being worked on now and when they are completed.
Notifications of important events, communications, and changes should be a central part of the application you choose.
Organization is the key when you are looking at automating your project tasks.
The right app can give you a high-level view that was formerly only available by combing through emails, calling meetings, or even setting up teleconferences with stakeholders who might be half a world away.
As a final thought, don't forget that your new technology can very effectively mimic the tools of the past.
For example, every project leader who has ever worked in the technology field knows how useful a Gantt chart can be for organizing a project.
There's no reason why your chosen project management application shouldn't follow familiar forms and allow you to look at project data in ways that are comfortable to you.
However, it should be a fusion of old and new that allows you to maximize technology.