Which Project Management Tools Help Communication and Collaboration?
From the Communication Excellence in Project Management Blog
by Bill Brantley
Although Project Managers spend 90% of their time communicating, communication in project management is the most underdeveloped skill for project managers. This blog will help Project Managers become better communicators and thus, better Project Managers.
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ProjectManager.com has just released a study on how project managers view project management tools. Five-hundred and seventeen professionals in the LinkedIn group took the survey. According to the group's demographics, 67% of the LinkedIn members are project managers with 44% of the group members in IT.
I wasn't able to download the full report, so I am reporting off the summary. Even so, the summary has four interesting findings:
- 56% of project managers are unhappy with current tools.
- 48% of project managers say that lack of integration is their number one complaint.
- Only 26% of project managers use the collaborative features in their tools.
- There is a growing demand for simpler tools.
I think this is a very revealing quote from the report: "Of those who participated in the survey 33% said their tool takes too much time to use, 26% said their team won’t use it, 13% said their tool was too complicated and 12% said the tool required too much training."
In my opinion and in my experience working with a number of project management tools, the biggest impediment to their use is that enhance the flow of communication and collaboration. I often talk about how the tool forces the project team to meet the needs of the tool rather than vice-versa. I remember the early days of using Microsoft Project and how much information I had to put in at first just to even build a decent network diagram.
My favorite project management tools are a whiteboard, dry-erase markers, stack of Post-It notes, and a blank wall. Think of how these simple tools enhance communication and collaboration by recording what the project team members decide in their conversations while not hindering the conversations. An online tool that I like to use is Padlet because it captures the simplicity and the flexibility of a white board, blank wall, and Post-It notes.
What are your favorite project management tools and why? How do they help you and your team communicate and collaborate?
Posted on: January 18, 2016 03:04 PM |
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Comments (3)
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Tim PM
Project Manager| NHS
Yes, United Kingdom
To me, choice is essential. For some projects a white board and post-its are good, while for a complex rollout you really need a detailed tracking and resource solution like MS Project.
However, the integration issue above is paramount, and something that all PM tools fail in as far as I know.
PANKAJ KUMAR JOSHI
General Manager| Transrail Lighting Limited
Nainital, Uttrakhand, India
A communication or time management tool should be a software for proper data base management. You can use white board or post its for beginning and discussions with expert.
Luis Branco
CEO| Business Insight, Consultores de Gestão, Ldª
Carcavelos, Lisboa, Portugal
Dear Bill
Interesting this reflection on the theme: "Which Project Management Tools Help Communication and Collaboration?"
Thanks for sharing
Important point to remember: Use simple tools that facilitate communication and collaboration
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