As the world of work continues to evolve, so does the field of project management. In recent years, we've seen a rise in new trends and approaches to project management, all of which are designed to help businesses achieve their goals in more efficient and effective ways.
Some of the most popular project management trends include Agile methodology, remote work, and the use of artificial intelligence. As we move into the future, we'll likely see even more new and innovative trends in project management.
Project Management Tools
As Project Management develops, so do project management tools. Microsoft has forever dominated the software space but is losing the battle to younger, more innovative companies. Yet Microsoft Project still has a key role in Project Management. So where does Microsoft Project fit into the current mold of a project manager?
There are a variety of project management tools available to help you plan, track, and execute projects. While there is no one-size-fits-all solution, there are a few tools that are widely used and respected by project managers. In this article, we'll take a look at some of the most popular project management tools and their features in comparision to Microsoft Project
Choosing the right Project Management Tool
Choosing the right project management tool can make a big difference in the success of your project. With the right tool, you'll be able to better organize your team, track progress, and communicate with stakeholders. In addition, a project management tool can be used to create project reports and presentations.
Microsoft Project is an advanced project management tool designed to assist project managers. But why is Microsoft Project still relevant in an industry that is expanding with younger, more tech-savvy professionals?
Microsoft Project
There's not doubt Microsoft Project is an advanced project management tool, that when used correctly, is a powerful project management tool. But what exactly are these features?
Planning and Scheduling
Even with the mass adoption of Agile methodologies, planning and scheduling remain a fundamental aspect of project management as even projects that use agile methodologies have to ensure deliverables are delivered within a specific time frame. Although agile offers an innovative way of delivering projects, projects aren't always straightforward. Some projects are multifacet and multidisciplinary and require meticulous planning and scheduling to ensure projects are delivered at a specified time and within a specified budget.
Project Timeline View
Part of scheduling project tasks is to be able to visualize it on a timeline. Visualizing a project helps to reduce project creep and eliminate unforeseen circumstances. The timeline view provides a holistic view of your project from top to bottom ensuring up-to-date schedules. The timeline view is also customizable allowing you to make edits in order to present to stakeholders/members.
Collaboration
Although collaboration is a symptom of changing times, there's something about syncing Microsoft PRoject with teams and collaborating within Teams. This is where the Office 365 suite proves valuable above competitors, offering a once-stop shop for everything you need to collaborate, communicate and manage a project.
Reporting
Data is reigning supreme as more companies evolve from service companies to data companies. Data is the currency of the 21st century. Above all data manipulation and data presentation is what sets you apart from the rest. Presenting data in a meaningful way remains an undervalued skill. Microsoft . Reporting in Microsoft Project is a breeze - if you know how to use the tool.
It's clear that Microsoft Project has a place in Project Management and will have for many years to come. More recently a notable change in a new type of project manager has emerged, the accidental project manager.
The accidental project manager is someone who by profession is not a project manager by profession, but someone who has been trusted with delivering a project. The accidental project manager is often technically skilled in one or more fields but lacks the skills necessary to deliver a successful project. More often than not they lack skills in planning and scheduling, failing to understand that delivering a project on time is just as important as delivering a project.
Accidental Project Managers may often come across Microsoft Projects. Most of the time this is met with a feeling of despair and doubt, as Microsoft Project can make even trained professionals tremble. So how do you learn how to use Micrsoft Project?
Microsft Project Training
In the age of the internet, id is the first to say, google it. The problem with google is that it does not provide you with case examples and it often does not provide you with the experience element - in other words, the knowledge learned by experience.
You could do a Microsoft Project course and there are some good ones like the ones from Linkedin and Coursera , but this too is limited in that the idea is to get as much information in as little time as possible. The result more often than not is the same as just googling it and watching a video on youtube.
So whats the alternative for learning Microsoft Project for anyone finding themselves in a project management role by "accident"
Research has shown that most people learn better when they are surrounded by like-minded individuals. Community-Based Learning provides an opportunity for a community to shape students’ values and to prepare students for engaged citizenship, leadership and community participation after college, all essential things in democratic society.
MPUG , the official Microsoft Project user group is a project management community that provides project management training, course and expert articles by industry-leading project managers. But the biggest draw card is the project management community.
MPUG has a membership fee of $11.99 per month, but for project managers just trying to get a feel for how project managers think, and bounce some ideas or questions of off some experienced minds, access to the groups and forums is free. If you are just starting out with Microsoft Project id suggest signing up for Microsoft Project Do's and Dont's run by Sam Huffman himself.
Personally, i think this is a great way to learn Microsoft Project, a place where you can ask people experienced in the field for free! If you feel you want to get something more concrete, check out their Microsoft Project Course