Advantages of project management

What is project management? Developing a proper project management strategy may seem difficult if you're not used to it. However, in view of the benefits it can bring you, it makes sense to choose this option rather than carrying out your project unprepared and hoping that it will run smoothly on its own. Here are some of the advantages of implementing a good project management strategy in your company.

Being able to assess whether the project is viable

It sounds obvious, but it isn't! How many entrepreneurs launch their business without having assessed the degree of possible success and feasibility of their project? If you don't have the budget, the right human resources or enough time, your project will often fail.

Better anticipation of events

Project management allows you to take a global view, as well as a longer-term one. Rather than waiting for problems to arise, you know what they are in advance and can therefore manage them better. With better planning, the work of the teams is better organised and you can estimate the material and human requirements. Malfunctions are corrected more quickly. If you manage to manage 80% of your project, you are almost certain to bring your business to a successful conclusion. And to be able to manage your project properly, you need to be aware of any problems that may arise, such as the unavailability of certain machines or the absence of certain staff. Free or paid product management software can give you real visibility.

Reduce effort and costs

By managing your project, you can hope to reduce the time you spend on a task. By preparing a job, you often spend less time on it than planned. What's more, it's also good for your budget, as certain tasks can be carried out in parallel. Preparing a project well is a guarantee of success.

Propose a realistic schedule

There's no point embarking on untenable deadlines and telling your customer or your team that you'll finish the project before you've even started!

With a planning tool, you have a realistic estimate of delivery times and can then reach an agreement between the members of your team and the potential customer. Everyone will be involved in the deadline proposal and will strive to meet the dates. What's more, with a project tracking tool, each participant will be able to consult the Gantt chart indicating the delivery dates and the critical threshold not to be exceeded.

Solve problems more quickly

If you know what the problems are, you can often solve them more easily and quickly. Try to list any obstacles at the start of your project so that you are aware of what could go wrong. It's always easier to deal with a problem when you know it could happen. Manage risks before they arise, such as a shortage of equipment, a budget that's too small or a member of staff on holiday.

Manage your budget better

As you develop your project, you'll need to budget and imagine the financial requirements if you are to succeed in seeing it through to the end. With project management, you can regularly check changes to the budget and adjust it according to future income and expenditure. Estimates will be more accurate and control will be easier.

Avoid poor-quality products or services

With a project management tool, you can use a problem tracking system. Problems are recorded and indicated on the software. All the parties involved receive a notification and a discussion can take place to find a solution before delivery. Making changes to a product after it has been delivered to the customer costs more than making changes before delivery. Refine your product or service before approving delivery and offer your customer a higher level of quality.

Communicate quickly

By promoting a clear understanding of information, project management brings a real plus to exchanges between employees. They have the same level of information and can also take advantage of the collaborative project messaging available in project management software to discuss matters live. Exchanges are quicker and clearer, and problems are solved more quickly. It's always better to favour proactive communication rather than waiting for problems to be explained to you. Ask questions, take an interest in your staff's work and how they feel about it.

Don't lose motivation

During a tedious project or one that extends over a long period, you may feel discouraged. Project management allows you to work collaboratively, but also to be aware of the progress of your project. You won't get lost in the maze of information, and all the data will be centralised so you can find it more efficiently. What's more, the methodology used for your first project management project can be re-used for a future project. You'll waste less time because the tools are already familiar to you.