Nov 19, 2020
If you are not a project manager, you may feel the whole process
of project management with all its methodologies, techniques,
meetings, reports and other assorted documentation is just a thorn
in your side. You may even feel you would be better off without it
- but I suggest you read these 10 benefits of project management
and they may just change your opinion.
Project Management is simply a series of strategies that help to
turn an idea into reality and get you from the ideas stage to a
finished product or process as efficiently as possible and with
least risk of failure. It's a process that can be used on any type
of project in any industry. From major infrastructure projects,
construction and healthcare through to IT, web development, digital
marketing and search engine
optimisation projects.
If you are the client you know that the budget will be
well-controlled and that the final product will meet your
requirements and expectations. But it is only by applying formal
techniques and using the skills and knowledge of the project
manager that this will be the likely outcome.
So here's my 10 benefits of project management:
- Meeting Requirements: By clearly defining the
business requirements at the outset and staying focussed on those
requirements even when changes occur and risks arise, the end
result will meet the client's needs.
- Client Satisfaction: Project management
provides the tools and techniques to help deliver projects that not
only meet the client's needs but are on time and on budget which
naturally leads to client satisfaction.
- Flexibility: By incorporating change
management processes into the running of the project and
anticipating the need for changes, there can be the opportunity for
flexibility in the client's requirements without risk to the
project's success.
- Minimising Risks: Risk Management is an
integral part of project management and, as such, risks can be
anticipated and dealt with easily as they are not unexpected.
- Schedule: The detailed plans and schedules
that are part of all good projects enable you to pre-empt
scheduling conflicts and over-runs and deal with them by either
modifying the project tasks or agreeing a revised schedule with the
stakeholders.
- Controlled Costs: Perhaps one of the greatest
benefits of controlled and organised project management is that you
can spot problems with escalating costs before they become a major
issue. You can then deal with them relatively easily because you
have the detailed information to do so.
- Efficiency: Well trained project managers have
learnt from the accumulated knowledge of projects that have gone
before as well as those they have personally been involved in. They
know what works well and what does not.
- Quality: Efficient projects that treat quality
control and quality management as an inherent part of the project
process result in higher quality end products.
- Communication: Everyone involved in the
project, from team members, right through to the client will be
kept well-informed of progress, change and risks. Good
communication is a vital for a successful project.
- Team Motivation: When everyone involved in a
project can see (from the plans, schedule and reports) what has
been achieved, and by whom, then this will motivate all members of
the team. They will get the recognition they deserve for a job well
done.
So next time you are thinking about taking (or sending someone
on) one of the many project
management courses available and what you might learn, think
about these benefits. They are all essential
project management skills that will help your project be a
success and that is good news for your company and good news for
your career.