Project management tools — a guide to getting things done
Many individuals and organisations struggle with keeping track of their projects, timelines and tasks. Chaos has a sneaky way of showing up at all the wrong moments. Fortunately, project management tools can help. They’re essential in today's business world where projects have become more complex and multifaceted.
In this post, we will provide a project management tools definition and then discuss what project management tools are, their features and how they can help you to get things done efficiently. Whether you're a project manager or a team member, you’ll come away with a better idea of how to use project management tools to your advantage.
This post explores:
- What are project management tools?
- What are the features of a project management tool?
- Where you can learn more about project management tools
What are project management tools?
Project management tools are software applications that help project managers and their teams organise, track and execute projects expediently and effectively. They are designed to assist with the planning, scheduling, managing and reporting of project activities. They make communication easier and ensure project delivery within scope, timeline and budget.
Project management tools come in various forms, from simple to complex. Some examples include Gantt charts, task lists and calendars. More advanced tools incorporate methodologies such as Agile and Waterfall, which offer flexible and iterative approaches to project management.
What are the features of a project management tool?
Project management tools come with various features that help you to stay on top of project details and progress. Some of the key features of project management tools include:
- Scheduling. Plan out the schedule and scope of the project, including timelines, milestones and dependencies.
- Tracking. Keep track of the state of deliverables and how much time tasks are taking, identify bottlenecks and monitor progress against project goals.
- Documentation. Store relevant documents, including project plans, project status reports and other key project information, for the team to easily access.
- Task management. Assign, edit and track relevant tasks and the employees working on them.
- Sharing and collaboration. Share calendars, respond to feedback and work together with coworkers inside the tool to help streamline communication.
- Reporting and analytics. Generate reports and analytics on the project's progress, identifying areas for improvement.
Where can you learn more about project management tools?
As hybrid work environments quickly gain traction, organisations around the world are investing in solutions to help bring teams together. Project management tools help project managers and their teams stay organised, communicate effectively and execute projects within scope, timeline and budget from wherever they work. By understanding their benefits and features, you can select the right tools to meet your project management needs and in turn, optimise your team's efficiency and productivity.
If you're interested in learning more about project management software, Gantt charts, Kanban and other tools that can help to improve your project management skills, check out more posts here on our Adobe Experience Cloud Blog. Here are a few recommendations to get you started:
- How to Choose the Best Project Management Software for You
- What is a Gantt Chart? Benefits, How to Use Them and More
- Kanban - a Complete Beginner’s Guide
Also, you can consider trying Adobe Workfront to see how it can help you streamline your project management processes and improve team collaboration.
Take a free product tour of Workfront or watch the overview video.