06 Feb A Software Story: How REAL project management tools add value

Project management tools aren’t a new concept, but project clarity is. The fact is that you can better manage projects just by actually knowing what is going on. But when it all seems so simply, why do 60% of companies lose control in the execution phase?

As a manager, it is almost impossible to keep track of resources and make sure they are utilized, while understanding which projects in the portfolio are inter-dependent, while ensuring connectivity within your team, while creating transparency through the chain of command…

You get the point. But this is only impossible if you do not have tools. Tools that don’t cause cluster and confusion. Tools that don’t keep you at the office longer because they are too complicated or don’t work correctly. When you have the this kind of information at your fingertips when you need it, that’s when you have clarity. Clarity = Better projects.

Top-line

This part is simply. Capacity is related to productivity. The more efficient you are, the more capacity you can handle. If you have a grasp on your resources, everyone’s time is put to better use. Increased connectivity within the team means problems are solved quickly and strategically resulting in fewer delays. If you manage resources more efficiently you can take on more project. If projects are chosen well, sales will increase. Value is streamlined through the company in the form of knowledge exchange, idea generation, and faster innovation…all the way to the top-line.

Bottom-line

“It is demonstrated how the use of a PPM platform can drive 1.5M$ of efficiency annually and reduce a project’s duration by 15%” – Agora Consulting partners INC July 2010

Let’s make it look like a P&L.

Project Revenue (+): Woohoo. We have a lot of these.

      (-)Resources: Minimize this by knowing who and what can best get a task done.

      (-)Time: Knowledge management reduces duplication and efforts to   “reinvent the wheel”

      (-)Inevitable kinks: a transparent, connected team works out the kinks quickly. Meaning you spend less time              fiddling, and get on with the work.

EBITDA (+): When you subtract less, there’s more left over.

Problem

The common problem that prevents the bright scenario above is that “planning” and “delivery” are usually performed separately. Each phase is performed by different groups of people and results in at least two different systems being used. Often, each business unit has their own system for planning, which means it’s likely that projects will begin in more than one place.

Since separate systems are used for planning and delivery, the handoff from one to the other requires that the project be setup twice. The issues with this are many:

• Extra labor to re-key data
• Mistakes made in data transfer
• Different terminology for information between systems
• Project traceability issues with the possibility of different project numbers or names between systems
• Delay in project start-up due to waiting for project delivery setup
• On-going alignment of project information during execution requires additional labor

Use it or lose it

The success of any platform depends on its adoption. If employees don’t use it, then it is useless (and costing the business money on top of the tool fees). That’s why tools should be simple and easy to implement, bringing clear benefits to end users that you don’t have to go hunting through a users manual to find.

Have you ever wondered how a tool like this could impact your business?

You’re done! But why stop now?

Find out more info about Treeveo. Or schedule a free consultation to find out how we can help you.

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Image: Daniel