benefits of project management essay

Project Bliss

15 powerful benefits of project management.

Many organizations don’t fully understand the benefits of project management. Here’s how your skills and expertise help organizations deliver greater value for their efforts.

This article was originally published on September 30, 2016, and has been updated.

Can you easily explain the value you provide to an organization as a project manager?

You don’t make sales, write code, or provide customer service. Can you explain how you help your organization provide more value?

Unexpectedly, I found myself in that very position.

When I was a newer project manager working at a startup company, the president asked me to come into his office and explain what I did. I was one of two project managers. I had little interaction with the company president. His focus was growth and profit. Therefore, he may have seen me as an unnecessary expense.

So there I am in his office, uncertain of why he’s called me there.

“What do you do?” he asked.

Yikes. That was such a broad question.

Since it was a start-up, besides managing implementations for new customers, I worked on many types of activities.  I loved identifying a need and jumping in to address it. For example, I created processes for security and onboarding new customers, as well as standardizing documentation.

But the question at hand was so big and completely unexpected.

“What do you do?”

So here was my chance to describe the value I brought to the company as a project manager and the benefits of project management.

And I choked.

I showed him my documents and process flows.

He seemed unimpressed.

I believed the company hired me because they already understood the value that project management provided. Maybe not.

They laid me off shortly after.

When given the chance to talk about my value to the company as a project manager, I couldn’t clearly explain it.

Luckily, it turned out well in the end…

Even though upper management didn’t understand the value of project management, my coworkers seemed to find value in my work. They shared they relied on me for scheduling, coordinating, and ensuring that everything came together successfully.

Overall, it all turned out well for me. I was seven months pregnant, so I prepared for the baby. Soon after, I managed a team of project managers in a Project Management Office.

But this experience taught me a great lesson: be able to explain the value you bring to the organization.

You must understand your value to the organization in order to deliver the most value and grow in your career.

With that in mind, I want to layout multiple benefits of project management, and how you bring value to the organization in that role. From project planning all the way through to solution delivery, project managers provide the expertise to ensure successful delivery and happy customers.

Benefits of Project Management: Improving Organizational Performance

Project management helps organizations get the most value from their efforts, no matter what industry they’re in.

Benefits of project management include delivering solutions on time and on budget, saving money, and increasing customer satisfaction.

Below you’ll find a long list of the ways project management helps businesses consistently deliver value.

The Benefits of Project Management

1. Clear Ownership for Project Success

Projects rely on many people working towards a common goal. But the project and team needs a leader to drive the project forward and take a broad view.

Team members look at their individual responsibilities from a narrow perspective. But the project manager takes ownership of the overall project. She works across teams to address issues, track milestones, and keep the project on track.

2. Organization and Planning  

The project manager works with the team to create schedules, budgets, and other components of the Project Plan. This gives the team clear direction and sets expectations for management and customers regarding each project deliverable.

3. Team Accountability  

The project manager holds team members accountable to honor their commitments. This helps the project stay on track and avoid schedule slippage and missed dependencies.

4. Clearly Defined Scope  

The project manager works with the customers and team to ensure that the scope is well-defined from the outset. This enables the team to write clear requirements, and everyone has the same understanding of what to deliver at the end of the project.

5. Budget and Cost Management 

The project manager gathers information on the project cost and creates the project budget during project planning. Going forward, she also manages project spending through the course of the project and ensures the project stays on budget with no surprises.

Resource: How to create an IT Project Budget [template included]

6. Schedule Management / Meeting Customer Commitments and Deadlines

The project manager helps the team stay on track. She works with the team to build the project schedule and identify milestones and deliverables.

She identifies and works with stakeholders to remedy or remove roadblocks and ensure ongoing coordination and progress.

The PM also manages interdependencies across teams so all project pieces come together as needed.

She also keeps the team focused on meeting key dates and milestones.

This single point of contact for the team removes confusion regarding who’s coordinating and leading the effort. This ensures more successful project delivery.

7. Project Scope Management 

While having a clearly defined project scope is important at the beginning of the project, it is just as important to manage scope creep as the project progresses .

Customers often ask for scope changes.

The PM can help show how this affects the project. If scope changes are indeed needed, the project manager can manage the impacts to the project schedule and budget.

8. Risk Management  

Risk management includes identifying risks early in the process and addressing them before they cause problems. It also involves managing change throughout the project by tracking changes and communicating them effectively.

The project manager identifies potential risks at the beginning of the project. She works with the team to actively manage risk throughout the life of the project .

As a result, this keeps the project moving forward even if there are threats to the project plan.

Resource: How to create a Project Management Risk Matrix (with template)

9. Solution Quality

The project manager works with the team to build quality into the project from the beginning.

The PM ensures the team follows appropriate processes, such as gathering requirements and testing where appropriate. The team may need to follow compliance guidelines or contract considerations. Throughout the life of the project, the PM coordinates multiple activities to address quality.

10. Record Keeping and Administrative Responsibilities  

It doesn’t take a project manager to create documentation and plan meetings.

But the project manager understands the project at a higher level and knows when to schedule a meeting and who to bring to the table. He anticipates the need for important project discussions and drives these activities to keep the project moving forward and on track. He ensures necessary documents are created and stored for compliance and historical purposes.

11. Visibility to Project Health 

The project manager gives visibility to project progress and status. Because she’s responsible for the success of the project, the PM brings all the information together and provides visibility to project health.

Project management software allows teams to provide information and provide real-time project health. Team members and stakeholders can get faster updates on status and metrics. The team can proceed or adjust as needed based on this information. This saves the organization time and money in the long term. 

12. Organizations can take on more complex projects  

More complex projects have a higher need for overall guidance and management. Having a project manager allows for the successful execution of more complex projects with many interdependencies and more risk.

13. Team Building  

Because project success depends on many different team members, you need to bring that project team together to focus on the common goal. If there are conflicts, personal agendas, or conflicting desires, the project could stall or churn. A good project manager knows how to bring the team together to work toward common success.

14. Communications 

The project manager communicates with stakeholders and the team throughout the project. She uses effective communication methods like email, phone calls, and face-to-face meetings to get the message across.

For complex projects, communication plans layout who manages different types of communications throughout the project.

The project manager serves as the primary point of contact for project communications with various audiences:

• Team Member Communication  – The PM coordinates discussions on team issues and needs, and facilitates communication across departments. There are many topics to address through the life of a project, such as compliance, risk, and interdependencies.
• Stakeholder Communication – keeping stakeholders updated in various ways, such as status updates, high-level views and information, or more project detail when needed. Project managers communicate with both internal and external stakeholders.
• Customer Communication  – rather than the development team talking directly with the customer, the PM manages these communications. The project manager answers questions and translates requirements and technical details into terms that non-technical users can understand. The PM also manages customer expectations throughout the course of the project and coordinates change management activities.

15. Change Management

The project manager works with the organization to ensure that not only does the project work get done, but that the customers are ready to adopt. The project manager plans for changes needed for a smooth transition to the new solution. Some ways the project manager does this:

• Communications on timing and delivery.
• Training for new solutions or processes.
• Getting ongoing support in place.

This provides a better customer experience from beginning to end.

Project management provides benefits to organizations that need to deliver solutions.

This value carries through from the team level all the way to stakeholders and executives. Project managers use project management software, other project management tools, and project management skills to ensure successful project delivery.

And you, as the project manager, drive and lead and ensure the organization gets the benefits of all you do. This makes you immensely valuable to any organization you work with. From the team level to the boardroom, where they’re looking at results and the bottom line. Be proud of yourself. You’re a project manager.

If you want to keep this list handy (it will help when preparing for performance reviews and executive discussions) download it here:

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Leigh Espy is a project manager and coach with experience working in startups, government, and the corporate world. She works with project managers who want to improve their skills and grow in their career, and entrepreneurs and small businesses to help them get more done. She also remembers her early career days and loves working with new project managers and those who want to make a career move into project management.

I have the opposite problem of a single PM who believes they are 50% of profit company wide!

Excellent List….Thank you

Excellent article,

Will be sharing with senior management and PMO.

Thank you !!

Bobby – Please do! And thank you for the kind words!

Great list, Thank You

Thanks, Kieran!

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Awesome content that I will be sharing with my manager and co-workers as we work to refine and standardize the role that project management plays in our organization. Thanks!

Wonderful, Eric! I’m glad you found this helpful. I hope it helps other PMs also understand the value their work brings to organizations. Thank you for sharing!

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• Project management |
• What is project management and its bene ...

What is project management and its benefits?

Not every company or team has a formal project management process. Whether you work at a large organization or a fast-growing startup, formal project management may not be something your team has prioritized yet. But now, you’re finding it increasingly difficult to stay organized and collaborate with teammates. You might be wondering if you need project management—except, that’s just a thing for teams with dedicated project managers, right?

What is project management?

Project management helps teams organize, track, and execute work within a project. Think of a project as a collection of tasks to accomplish a specific goal. Project management can help your team plan, manage, and execute your work in order to meet your project’s requirements on time. With a  project management tool , your team can organize all of the details of your work in one place, share feedback and progress, and, ultimately, collaborate more effectively.

Nucleus Research: Cut project time in half with Asana

In this independent study, learn how Asana can reduce the time it takes to complete a project by 50%, minimize project errors by up to 90%, and more.

Instead of shuffling between spreadsheets, email, and other tools to juggle all of your work, a project management tool helps your team:

Coordinate cross-functional work

Centralize project plans, details, files , and feedback

Share status updates with all stakeholders

Improve team collaboration

The history of project management

Project management  developed  from the convergence of several different types of engineering in the early 1900s, but the tools and techniques that define modern project management didn’t begin emerging until the 1950s. At that point, project management started becoming a distinct, recognizable methodology—most frequently applied towards engineering projects. In 1969, the  Project Management Institute  (PMI) was officially formed, and the organization played a large role in defining and solidifying project management over the next several decades. In addition to offering certifications for project managers, the PMI published the first ever  Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge  (the  PMBOK guide ) in 1996, which they update regularly.

Historically, the project manager was a dedicated employee—frequently trained in project management methodologies and toolsets, and often certified by organizations like the PMI. To run a project management process, you needed a project manager—because project management tools were difficult to set up and use, and often required unique expertise.

Modern project management is different. Instead of complex certifications and hard-to-understand jargon, today, anyone can be a project manager . In fact, at Asana, we think if you manage a project—any project—you’re a project manager. The flexibility and democratization of project management is due in large part to improved, modern  project management software . Instead of clunky, hard-to-navigate tools, modern project management is flexible, visual, and made for you—instead of the other way around.

The A-B-Cs of modern project management

There are a lot of project management terms and jargon, but it isn’t as complicated as it might first seem. If you’re just getting started, or if you want to know what your coworker means when they call something an Agile methodology or talk about a project’s scope, here’s a breakdown of the types, components, processes, and team roles within project management.

Types of project management

Project management is a way to help your team track all of the work being done in order to meet a project’s requirements on time. But within the broad category of project management, there are additional types, methodologies, and approaches, including:

Agile project management. Agile is a type of lean project management that’s popular with product, engineering, and software development teams. With Agile, teams believe in continuous improvement, flexible reactions to change, iterative processes, and incremental evolution. Some popular Agile frameworks include Scrum and Kanban .

Waterfall model. In the waterfall model, tasks cascade down in a linear approach: once one task is completed, the next is ready, and so on. The waterfall model includes six phases: requirements, analysis, design, coding, testing, and operations. This model is best suited for projects where the deliverables and scope are fixed, since the waterfall method can be less flexible in-the-moment than some other project management methodologies.

PRINCE2 methodology. PRINCE2 stands for PRojects IN Controlled Environments. In the PRINCE2 project management methodology , projects are broken into seven processes: Directing a Project, Starting up a Project, Initiating a Project, Managing Stage Boundaries, Controlling a Stage, Managing Product Delivery, and Closing a Project.

Critical path method (CPM) and program evaluation and review technique (PERT) . CPM and PERT were the original project management methodologies, developed in the 1950s. CPM provides an algorithm to map the critical path between complex, connected tasks with defined time frames. With CPM, teams can identify the longest stretch of dependent activities. PERT , on the other hand, helps teams identify the critical path when the timeline and time frame are unknown. In PERT, project managers identify all of the tasks that need to be completed (not just the critical path) in order to determine the minimum time to complete the total project.

Core components and key terms

There isn’t one defined checklist of every component within project management. Mostly, that’s because there are different types of project management—each with their own components, processes, and formats. But in general, whatever project management methodology or tool you use will include:

Most projects will have a budget that will restrict and define what you can accomplish during your project.

Deliverables

The deliverables are the assets, files, or products you will have finished at the end of your project timeline.  Deliverables  can include ads for a brand campaign or new features for a product launch.

Dependencies

Your project may also have dependencies, which happen when one task can’t begin until another task is completed. If your project has a lot of dependencies, you might benefit from a  Gantt chart-style view  so you can visualize your work in a timeline.

Milestones  are checkpoints that signify when a group of work is completed or a new bucket of work is launched. Unlike deliverables, which represent a product or result, a milestone is a moment in time.

Progress and status updates

As you manage your project, you’ll need to send progress reports and  status updates  to project stakeholders. Good reporting can increase cross-functional visibility and collaboration.

Project plan

A  project plan  is a blueprint of the key elements your team needs to accomplish in order to successfully achieve your project goals.

Project risk

Project risks are anything that might go wrong in your project—like going over budget or missing your due date.  Project risk management  is the practice of identifying risks before getting started on a project, so you can best prevent them. This entails creating a risk register .

Project scope

During the planning process, you’ll also define your  project scope —which is the size, limitations, budget, and goals of your project. Knowing your project scope can prevent  scope creep , which occurs when your project deliverables and work exceeds your project scope.

Resource management plan

A  resource management plan  is a plan for how you’re going to allocate your team’s resources—whether that’s employee bandwidth, technical tools, or budget. Creating a resource management plan for your project can help you best manage and schedule your team resources, so you can maximize resource availability.

Smart goals

Every project should have a defined goal or objective. As you outline your project goals, use the  SMART goal framework  to ensure you have clear metrics and criteria so you can accurately measure project success.

Stakeholders

Project stakeholders  are anyone involved in your project. This can be cross-functional team members or executive leadership.

Most projects will have a  timeline —a start date, when work is kicked off, and an end date, when work is completed.

Project management process

Every project will vary slightly, depending on what you’re working on, what team you’re on, and how your team members like to collaborate. But in general, there are five main project phases that occur during the project management process:

Project initiation. During the initiation phase, you’ll assemble your project team and identify your project scope. Depending on the complexity and scale of your project, you may also want to create a project roadmap .

Project planning. Project planning is when you outline your project requirements and define what “project success” will look like. This project phase is critical to successful project management—and hitting your project goals. During the planning stage, you’ll create your project plan, identify key milestones, and align on project costs and timeline.

Project execution. The bulk of your project will be the executing phase—this is the time you and your team will be working towards your project deliverables. During the executing phase, you’ll want to practice workload management ,  time management , and  task management to make sure your team is aligned, on track, and not overwhelmed.

Project performance. Reporting happens during and after the executing phase. During the project, reporting will help you course correct, collaborate, and increase cross-functional visibility into your work. Then, once your project is complete, you can report on how you did, and brainstorm ideas with project stakeholders on how to improve during future projects.

Project closure. Once the project is done, take some time to debrief with project stakeholders in order to capture lessons learned . Depending on your team, you might do this as a project retrospective meeting , a project post mortem , or a project debrief.

FAQ: What about projects that are ongoing?

The best way to manage an ongoing process, like a bug tracking or creative request project, is with work management. Project management is actually a part of  work management —but while project management can help you coordinate individual projects, work management software is built to help teams manage both discrete projects and processes that have no beginning or end date.

5 benefits of project management

If you’re still on the fence about whether or not you need project management, read on to discover the benefits of project management, along with a few simple ways to bring these ideas to your team’s way of working—no fancy degree or certification course required.

1. Clear, organized plans improve team collaboration

If you’ve ever leapt into a project without a plan, you know how messy things can get right from the start. You might end up skipping essential steps in your project schedule, scrambling to complete a forgotten task at the last minute, or answering the same logistical questions over and over again: “When’s this due? What are we doing next?” Worse, the quality of your work might suffer as you rush to push your project across the finish line.

Instead of writing the plan as you go, map out everything that needs to get done, along with task owners, deliverables, and due dates, before starting your project. Then,  visualize your project to-dos  in a timeline or categorized list to clearly outline who’s doing what by when. For example, if you’re planning an event, you might list each individual step leading up to the main event, who’s responsible for each step, and how far in advance you need to complete the steps. Then, schedule them on a shared project calendar. This way, you’ll avoid rushing to order last-minute invites or having two teammates book two separate caterers (whoops!).

By outlining a clear plan with all of your project to-dos, then adding deadlines, task owners, and other essential details, you’ll turn what would have otherwise been a chaotic and wasteful execution process into an efficient one. You’ll have a clear idea of the scope and timing of your work, and can spot potential conflicts before you’ve even started. With just a bit of forethought and planning, you’ll be able to waste less time and resources—and who doesn’t want that?

Tips for planning projects

List everything you need to do before getting started.  Then, add details like due dates, task owners, status, or links to relevant files. If this is a new kind of project for your team, add in a little buffer time for any unplanned for steps or glitches.

Organize everything in a shareable plan.  Whether you use a simple list or calendar, or something more visual like a timeline or   Kanban boards , you’ll want to organize your plan so it’s easy for anyone to see who’s doing what by when. Then, circulate it among your stakeholders to get everyone on the same page.

Turn repeatable projects into a template. If this is a project you’ll run over and over, create a template that you can iterate on to save time in the planning phase next time around.

To successfully manage a project, you need to prioritize. You’ll never have as much time and resources as we’d all hope for, so to do it all you need to focus on the items that will have the most impact. Then make sure these priorities are clear to stakeholders so you can set expectations and to your team so they focus on the right work.”

2. Defining everyone’s role eliminates confusion

Once the prep work is done, it’s on to the actual management part of project management. However, without a clear project owner to help your team across the finish line, it’s all too easy for teammates to drop tasks, forget details, or not know who to go to with questions.

While companies with a formal project management function will have a Project Manager to make sure project plans are going according to, well, plan, those without one often let these responsibilities fall on the person leading or initiating the project. For example, if you’re an editor publishing a new series of articles, a developer orchestrating a website migration, or an account manager updating their client reporting systems, you’re also likely the one coordinating all the moving pieces of your project.

Fortunately, you don’t have to take on a second job to manage your project effectively—a little communication and  collaboration  can go a long way. By making it clear to others that you’re the point person for your project, everyone else involved will know who to go to with questions and to look to for updates. And by outlining everyone else’s role in the project, you’ll eliminate confusion on how you want your teammates to be involved.

Tips for managing projects

Clearly communicate your role (and everyone else’s). Whether it’s in the planning phase or at the outset of your project, make sure everyone knows who the project lead is (you!) as well as the responsibilities of others involved.

Check in with and answer questions for task owners. Since you’ve created a clear plan, stakeholders already know what they’re responsible for. Now, help them stay on track by checking in on how their work is progressing or helping them get access to anything they need to unblock work.

Regularly share status updates. Keep the momentum going by sharing updates with your team on project progress . Not only will this keep everyone up to date and reduce status update questions, but it will encourage and motivate your stakeholders.

With Asana, we’ve become more collaborative overall. There’s one project and everybody’s on it. It’s not like Dalton has his own project for the same thing. It feels like all of us own this one thing together.”

3. Well-defined goals improve team effectiveness

Projects aren’t successful when teams don’t know what their project goals are. Without clear goals, teams not only lack intrinsic motivation —they also run the risk of working towards the wrong objective or toiling away at low-impact work.

With a project management tool, you define your project goals up front. That way, everyone working on the project is aligned on the project goals—and can optimize for the steps they need to take to get there. For example, if your project is to launch a new product, you might set a goal to “Drive a 20% increase in upgrades.” This goal would in turn influence your launch decisions as you go. It would also serve as a metric to measure success after the launch.

The individuals on your project team will benefit too. By ensuring you’ve really thought through the problem you’re trying to solve and giving your team a “north star” to align on, you’ll keep your team focused on tasks that will make an impact on these goals—rather than getting lost on unnecessary work.

Tips for setting project goals

Assess why you’re launching this project. Ask: Why does this need to be done? Who will this impact? How does this project fit in with your organization’s larger goals? Does it fit in with work other teammates might already be doing? What results do we think we’ll see from this initiative?

Share your goals with all of your stakeholders. Before planning your project , share your goals with everyone who needs to be involved. Depending on how your team works, you could either do this with a kickoff meeting, by circulating a document, or by sharing it in a project management tool—just so long as everyone understands the goals (and non-goals) of your initiative.

Set up a process for monitoring and reporting on goals. Don’t just set ‘em and forget ‘em. Make sure you have a plan for regularly checking in and reporting on your goals. This way, you can easily see if you’re at risk of missing your goal and adjust your plans to hit them.

Asana allowed us to see the overall amount of work that we were actually doing, and then it allowed us to be able to reprioritize and re-strategize the types of work that we were doing.”

4. Defining a communication plan keeps your team aligned and focused

The term may be project “management,” but managing a project is only one piece of the puzzle. Before you even get started on work, you should align on a communication plan. Your team likely has an email management tool, an instant messaging tool, and a project management tool, among others. A communication plan establishes when each tool should be used. For example, at Asana, we use  email  for external communication,  Slack  for quick internal messages, and  Asana  for all of our actionable work.

The average employee switches between  10 tools per day . When you don’t have an established plan for which tool should be used when, switching between those tools can vary from confusing to completely overwhelming. A communication plan reduces decision fatigue and makes sure every team member is on the same page.

Tips for creating a communication plan

Establish communication conventions. At the most basic level, your communication plan should define the tools and frequency of communication between your team.

Provide opportunities for feedback to be shared. Your communication plan has to work for everyone on your team, so make sure all stakeholders are aligned. Offer opportunities for feedback and workshopping, until the communication plan feels doable for all involved.

Clarify project stakeholders and their roles. When should stakeholders be looped in? Are there any project approvers that should always be notified before anything goes live? Document project stakeholders and their roles as part of your communication plan.

Align on the frequency and style of status updates. One of the most important elements of your communication plan is how you’ll share project progress . Ideally, all of your actionable work will be stored in your project management tool, so you can easily compile and share status updates.

By getting requests out of email and using Asana to collaborate more effectively, we’re able to save 60 hours a month and now spend that time on strategy instead of managing all the disparate pieces.”

5. Project management tools help increase efficiency

To put these tips into action, consider using a project management tool to help your team better collaborate and stay on track.

While there are literally dozens of tools you could choose from, you’ll want to avoid looking at more traditional project management tools since most of these tools are built for more traditional processes and can take a lot of time to set up and onboard. Instead, look for something that’s easy to adopt, flexible, and customizable. Bonus points if you’re able to  connect work across projects  (which can be hard to do in email and spreadsheets) and communicate with teammates where the work is happening.

Obviously, we think  Asana  fits the bill and is a great option for companies who want to get a jump start on better project management with a tool that’s both easy to adopt and has the features your team needs to be successful.

Tips for using a project management tool

Get everyone on board with one central tool. Instead of letting every team or team member use a different tool to manage projects, agree on one tool everyone will use. This way, you can better encourage collaboration and reduce confusion on where to find essential information.

Set conventions on how to use it. Help everyone feel confident they’re using their new tool right with some simple guidelines. For example, you might say “always add a due date to tasks” or “make sure to add ‘marketing’ in all marketing project titles” or “if you have an actionable request for someone, create a task in our project management tool instead of emailing them.”

Share out status updates and reports. The fastest way for your teammates to see value from a tool is giving them more visibility into project statuses and progress . By sharing out status updates and showing project progress in your new tool, you can help teammates better understand where work stands and encourage them to use the tool for their own work as well.

My number one project management tip is to always reflect after a project. Then you can take everything you learned and create a playbook so you’re ready the next time you need to plan and manage a similar project.”

I want to become a project manager, now what?

Congrats—you’re a project manager! No really, that’s all it takes. When project management first emerged, there were strict training and certifications you needed in order to be considered a “project management professional.” But that has changed over the past several decades, due in large part to the democratization and expansion of current team roles. Originally, you needed a project manager to “run” your projects—but as more team leads began running their own projects, project management has transitioned from a profession to a skill.

Modern  project management tools  are made with this shift in mind. At Asana, we believe that anyone can be a project manager. If you work on a team, and your team works on projects, you can be a project manager—without having to learn the ins and outs of a new tool. You just need a tool that’s built for you—not the other way around.

Project management tools

Project management tools are a visual way to gain clarity and connect with your team. Think about how your team currently manages work. If you don’t share a project management tool, your team’s projects, tasks, files, and communication are likely scattered across tools, which reduces team visibility and alignment.

Without a central source of truth, team members don’t have clarity on what their priorities are, and they likely spend a lot of time searching for answers. In fact, according to the Anatomy of Work Index, we spend  60% of our time  every day on work about work—things like searching for documents, chasing approvals, and attending meetings—instead of skilled or strategic work.

With an online project management tool, you have a better way for communicating priorities and aligning on who’s doing what by when. To help teams provide clarity, project management tools offer several different ways to visualize your project work in real time.

Kanban boards

Kanban boards are a visual way to plot out your project progress. In a Kanban board, progress is represented by vertical columns, and tasks move through each stage until they’re complete. A typical Kanban board might have columns for New, In progress, and Completed work.

Gantt charts

Gantt charts are horizontal bar charts used to visualize a project’s timeline. In a Gantt chart, tasks are represented as horizontal bars, where the length of the bar represents how long the task is going to take.

Project calendars are a great way to make your tasks come to life and clearly visualize your upcoming week or month’s tasks. Project calendars are popular views for projects that have many different tasks with unique due dates, like editorial calendars or social media content calendars.

Spreadsheet-style lists

In a spreadsheet-style view, you can gain clear, at-a-glance insight into who’s doing what by when. In this type of visual project management, you can clearly view your project workflow in a linear, grid-like view.

What about work management tools?

We mentioned  work management software  earlier, because work management is the umbrella under which project management falls. With project management, you have great tools to organize, plan, and deliver your projects. But work management doesn’t just help you with a single project process—instead, it helps your team get a holistic view of how all of your projects and initiatives connect. There are two main work management tools that do that, in addition to the four common project management views we listed above.

Project portfolio management

Project portfolio management is the secret to monitoring all of your initiatives in one place. Portfolios provide a bird’s-eye view into all of your work, so you can keep your team on track across projects. They allow you to connect everyday business with corporate strategy.

Workload management

With workload management, you can get a clear picture of your team’s work and capacity to ensure no one is burning out or getting bored. That way, you can spot potential overwork and adjust tasks if needed.

Experience the benefits for yourself

No matter what company or industry you work in, your team will benefit from adopting a few project and work management basics. Even a few simple changes to how you plan, manage, and report on your work can make your team more efficient, accountable to their work, and confident that they’re tackling the things that matters most.

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The Benefits of Studying Project Management

No matter your field or career trajectory, this toolkit will make you shine.

You wouldn’t think it, but even a trip to the grocery store is a project. This is instructor Anthony Minstein’s take on it:

“Almost everything we do in business—and personal life—is a project. Something as simple as going to the grocery store is a ‘project,’” he explains, breaking it down as such:

Planning: What meals need to be prepared? Analysis: What groceries are needed? Scheduling: When can we go? Execution: Going to the store, filling our cart and paying. Project close: Oh, no—we forgot to get mustard!

“We may not create formal project management deliverables, other than a shopping list,” Anthony continues, “but we follow the definition of a project : a specific start and end culminating with a unique product or service.”

You may not realize it, but you’re flexing project-management skills every day—both at work and in your personal life.

Getting a new product to market? Check! Project management.

Planning a family vacation? Check! Project management.

So why take a project management course if you’re already doing this?

Check Out the Top 5 Reasons

I asked five of our esteemed project management instructors this very question and their answers jibe along the same line: The hard and soft skills you learn in our project management courses can take you from great to stellar!

Let’s Meet Our Project Management Panelists

Fabio De Martino , PMP, Global Head Quality Strategy and Operations, Kite Pharma

His main responsibilities are identifying, leading and delivering key company projects and programs, and driving organizational effectiveness.

Helena Weiss-Duman , PMP, Deputy Director of External Relations and Marketing Communications at UC Berkeley

Helena has lectured at UC Berkeley Extension since 2007 and was named an Honored Instructor .

Evelyn Launius , M.B.A., Ph.D., PMP

Evelyn has more than 25 years of project management expertise leading strategic initiatives for both public and private sectors. In her role as a global project manager, she has utilized project methodologies that include Waterfall and Agile to support implementation of technology and business solutions in industries such as health care, government and energy.

Catherine Pinkas , PMP

Catherine has been a project management professional for more than 20 years, managing projects in a variety of industries, including finance, construction, information technology, hospital management, business development and events management in the public and private sectors.

Anthony Minstein , PMP, SSMBB

Anthony is Solutions Delivery Principal for Technology Advance Partners. He has more than 40 years as program and project manager for IT and commercial software companies. Anthony began instructing with us in 1994, and has held instructional positions at University of San Francisco and Cal State Dominguez Hills.

There is not a business today that cannot use some aspect of project management in a very fluid way. It becomes part of your leadership and management skill set. —Catherine Pinkas

What is the value of having project management skills on your résumé no matter the industry or position?

Evelyn: I relate to this question because I was that student—albeit it many years ago. Throughout my career, I randomly took project management classes to further skills in planning and executing work . I soon recognized improvements in my interpersonal skills, such as listening, flexing, motivating and patience. Decades later, I became motivated to attain PMI Ⓡ certifications . Having project-management skills enables individuals to improve their personal and/or professional effectiveness.

Catherine: I believe that project management is integrated into all business processes. I learned very early on in my business career—moving through different industries—that I had to be extremely well organized in terms of what I was trying to accomplish in order to be productive in an organization. A great deal of my work has been based on my ability to structure what I was doing to make sure that I had the resources, the money and the time frame to be able to complete the work. A systematic way of being able to track a project to success was also very important. Even today, up to 70 percent of projects fail because they did not meet their goals. Learning project management gives you the language, tools and techniques to be able to plan and successfully recognize obstacles when they appear and then successfully work through them. It doesn't matter whether it's a large or a small project—the same mindset applies to what needs to be done. There is not a business today that cannot use some aspect of project management in a very fluid way. It becomes part of your leadership and management skill set.

Fabio: Maybe 20 years ago, it was a nice-to-have skill set. But today, as a hiring manager, if I see that there is this type of skill set or even a certification on a résumé, it is going to jump to the top of the stack. Having the certificate or even a single course gives a common vocabulary that somebody can utilize right away in the workplace. No matter the level at an organization—entry-level, seasoned  executive—everybody is going to talk about a project start and end date. Do we have a project charter—a common understanding of what we are working on? Do we have a timeline? Where do we see risk? This is what students realize during the Project Management course : “I always faced this problem with scheduling. And I see that there’s another course about scheduling .” I see students get excited about the next course to go deeper into a certain area. When they talk with their employer, or whomever approves their budget , about taking other courses, they say, “Hey, this is a great value-add for the company.” And I think this is great to match to employer’s eagerness to develop their people and our eagerness to share best practices in each course.

Helena: In any business, there will be stretch assignments that will need project-management skills. By learning these tools, you will have the confidence and ability to take on those projects, which can make you more valuable to your team. Simple things like learning how to do a scope statement keeps you organized. For a project, if you don’t know where to start, putting it into a framework such as a scope statement can bring order to chaos and allow everyone to move forward together more quickly.

Project management incorporates both hard and soft skills. How would someone finishing the introductory Project Management course apply both sets of skills to their work?

Fabio: We are living in a world where the two are blending together and becoming core skills. You need to be a people person but also negotiate time and resources through a timeline. Merging the two and working together to help you achieve your goals—that makes the team successful .

Catherine: A project manager is just the hub of the wheel. You’re working with people who need a system to communicate what they need in order to be effective. If a scope has to change, if scheduling is a problem, if it looks like something is going to cost more or you don't have enough resources, people on the team have to be able to recognize that. And the job of the project manager is to make sure that all of those requirements are available. So it's not the project manager really doing everything, but it's a project manager working with a high-performing team; when they see an obstacle, they bring it to the table and we all work together on whatever is needed. Learning the skills to always communicate with the sponsor of the work, with your team, support staff, customers and suppliers who may be involved, as well as stakeholders—people who are not necessarily very friendly to a project or who will be impacted negatively if the project doesn't go well. Project management helps you identify those groups so that you don't miss people. And then you develop a communication plan and a strategy to be able to inform them about what is going on and what needs to be done. That collaboration makes for better quality. As instructors, we bring examples to the fore. When we introduce the idea of scope—identifying what work needs to be done—that's universally applicable. The Project Management class starts to identify the key elements to success.

Helena: For example, stakeholder analysis is the practice of understanding the project from multiple perspectives, which is a great soft skill. Project management is 90-percent communication so it’s always great to obtain more comms skills, meeting management and follow-up, and keeping people accountable in an empathetic way. People will be so happy because they know that you won’t let things fall through the cracks. I love coworking with a good project manager because I can relax and know that someone else is going to keep us on track. Someone’s got your back, holding the center.

Not only is the workforce global, but so are projects. Employers now embrace and seek candidates having project-management skills. —Evelyn Launius

Are we living and working in a project economy ?

Evelyn: Absolutely! When I began my career, project managers were viewed as expendable—a cost-overhead position that was often cut during budget review. Fast-forward to the present. Not only is the workforce global, but so are projects. Employers now embrace and seek candidates having project-management skills. Review job postings, and you’ll find job descriptions seeking candidates with project-management skills.

Fabio: Definitely. What’s interesting, in the Project Management introductory course , people started to realize that there are some aspects of project management that can be applied to operations. I always provide this example of a grocery story—because I love to go to the grocery store! [Laughs] Opening a new store is a project: You need to do the construction, hire and train people, buy inventory and so on. That's a project that has a start and end date. And the end date is when you cut the ribbon and you're open. At that point, it becomes operations—the day-to-day maintenance. In BUS ADM X470 , students start to realize the differentiation, but also that some tools—like risk management and scheduling—may also be applicable for operations. So we are living in a project-oriented world, where everything becomes a project and then shifts to become operations.

Catherine: The reason why I really love the way our certificate program is set up is because somebody may come out of the basic course, and say, “I'm working in pharma and we've got quality problems.” They can go right into the quality class . The classes are structured to choose the tools and techniques that they can learn more in depth for their profession and will be fabulously helpful to them in the future.

From student feedback, after they completed the intro course, the project that they were planning to kick off was much better than the previous one because they took that simple step in having a project charter and leveraging some of the templates. —Fabio De Martino

So working in a project-driven world, how would students take project-management skills to increase their own productivity?

Catherine: They can take all of those project constraints and then identify all the things that they need to meet them, which will make them more productive. They will also have less risk involved because they'll be able to see what actually needs to get done and provide that information in order to get the resources needed. So people who take BUS ADM X470 often say—and we have a lot of people who say this—“I’ve been working on projects for 10 to 15 years. This class just brings together all of what I've lived through, but by making mistakes!” I almost never see someone stop at that course. They realize how this depth of knowledge can support them.

Fabio: Having and sharing in advance an agenda for your meetings—simple as that. Students are starting to implement that right away. Also, operationally speaking, when people are in meetings and they need to evaluate some risk, some of the things that we talk about is the risk register. We provide our students with templates that they can utilize right away at their work. From student feedback, after they completed the intro course, the project that they were planning to kick off was much better than the previous one because they took that simple step in having a project charter and leveraging some of the templates.

Anthony: Project management skills aren’t just about creating schedules. The foundation of project management is approaching an objective in a logical way. For instance, what is a checklist and when and how should it be used? What resources (people and machinery) are needed to execute a work plan and deliver a solution? Who is affected by an assigned task and how should we best communicate with them? How do we ensure we have management support for our defined approach? How do we avoid getting torpedoed by “political infighting” above our heads? Simple activities require simple solutions. Complex activities demand more sophisticated solutions and management oversight. Our productivity is highly dependent on our recognizing the difference.

Helena: Scope statement, schedule, risk register, budget, roles and responsibilities matrix—these give you clarity of thought and the vocabulary to have nuanced approaches to the work. When you have these frameworks, you can more easily bring focus to move you forward more efficiently.

Employers appreciate and weigh more heavily toward applicants who have an orderly, methodical approach to executing their work. —Anthony Minstein

How could someone advance their career because they have project-management skills?

Catherine: Those management skills lead all the way to leadership. I always tell my students that these are life skills. Whatever your job—if you need to have better control of financial systems, physical systems, human resources, customer relationships—that is all part of the knowledge base that you take with you. If you can do something on time, on budget and with the resources allocated, you will show up as a star. I've seen many people move into management because they’ve been highlighted as someone who is effective.

Fabio: It's never too late or too early to get those skills. If you're a seasoned and experienced executive, it helps to drive the dialogue. And because people follow the leader, if a leader starts to speak about a project charter, agenda, risk mitigation, people will also start to do so. I see project management becoming very strong in 2022. From a career perspective, if somebody is at a certain level or talking seriously about salary , having a project-management certification can definitely have a positive impact on the conversation with your manager. I recommend—no matter what stage of your career— take the Project Management intro course because you can see the lay of the land, and then you can pick and choose what subjects you are interested in, what you need to develop based on strengths and weaknesses.

Anthony: The elements of project management may be specific to delivering a unique solution; however, those elements are part of the overall management canon. Planning, budgeting, staffing, directing, leading, monitoring, communicating, assessing what is working and what isn’t, and taking appropriate corrective action are the actions of an effective project manager. They are also the actions required of the successful manager. Advancement may be based on many factors, but the foundational skills are those that we learn and apply within the project context.

Evelyn: Begin with the project-management basics: organization, planning and communication. Having these three skills provides an immediate return on investment. I believe that project-management knowledge is integrated internally into professional identity, thought and behavior. While you may opt to not be a career project manager, the skills will always be of use irrespective of job role. Soft skills enable you to be effective when working with people. Organization and planning skills support execution of work. Embedded in execution are the elements of accountability and delivery.

Helena: Project management gives you leadership and organizational skills so that you can articulate with others the direction in which to go. People will then follow you with confidence as you take on important initiatives. Compared to other team members, having these project-management skills will give you confidence in how to effectively move forward.

From the employer side, what’s the value in having employees who can flex project-management skills?

Anthony: In business, employers appreciate and weigh more heavily toward applicants who have an orderly, methodical approach to executing their work. Even within a strictly operational space, projects arise and employers are more apt to engage employees who are capable of flexible work assignments. In project management, we learn about organizing work activities, planning the resources necessary to execute those work activities, and the varied techniques to oversee and execute those work activities, regardless of industry or discipline.

Fabio: We're living in interesting times because, at least in the biotech field, it's a tough job market. The project-management skills will help to enhance the current staff. I had a discussion with my manager, and he said, “We need to educate our staff across the board and across the region about basic project-management skills.” For example, let's say somebody sets up a meeting for 10 people and this meeting is not set up properly—doesn't drive any action or things like that. And those 10 people are working at, let’s say, $50 an hour, we are wasting $500 of our company’s money. Multiply this across big companies; it definitely has an impact on the company. In terms of employee development, having staff with project-management skills helps the company improve or upskill their employees. The employees feel appreciated and will definitely help them retain talent.

Evelyn: PMI published a white paper on this topic: PMI: Value of Project Management . Organizations use project-management methodology to address organizational initiatives and challenges. Employees having project-management skills may find themselves assigned to a valued team that is tasked with supporting a project that is tied to organizational strategy.

Helena: When you use a project management approach—clarity on scope and knowing how to involve the important stakeholders at the beginning—you are on the right track, faster. You avoid confusion and rework because you’ve done the upfront work of getting everyone on the same page before investing time and resources on the wrong thing.

Compared to other team members, having these project-management skills will give you confidence in how to effectively move forward. —Helena Weiss-Duman

What about applying project-management skills to personal lives?

Catherine: Oh, you can ask my children about that! [Laughs] From day one, I would say to them, “You have a science project, so let's write down the things you need to do and then let's write down how much time you think it will take you to do each one” so that we aren’t doing it the night before the science project is due. I used risk management when teaching them how to buy a car. If we buy this kind of car, what is its safety record? What are the issues that are related to this car? Is there a maintenance issue? And then compare the cars and evaluate what is the best one for the money we have. Project management is just the system to get where we want to go by making these assessments.

Evelyn: Again, the top-three basic project-management skills surface: planning, organization and communication. Irrespective of the home project, having these skills contribute to a successful outcome. Examples include planning a purchase, painting, remodeling, gardening and life decisions to name a few.

Fabio: Have you ever organized a birthday party, a wedding or a vacation? Well, that's a project and you may not realize that. You do stakeholder analysis, budgeting, scoping and risk mitigation. Everybody is a project manager without even knowing it! However, only those who want to improve their project management skills will be able to go from amateur to pro.

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Table of Contents

What is project management, benefits of project management, choose the right program, want to maintain your pmp certification and earn 60 pdus, what are the benefits of project management.

By no means is project management a new phenomenon. In some form or another, the concept of project management can be traced as far back as the construction of the Giza Pyramids , constructed over 4,500 years ago. The Egyptians used the same project management principles and tools to manage a large team to erect what we now recognize as one of the original seven wonders of the world. 

While the discipline has developed exponentially, thanks largely to advancing technology, the results are just as grand as the pyramids.

The potential of project management within a company is virtually limitless. At its foundation, the basic principles of project management can assist an organization in planning, organizing, managing, and leading teams and resources to achieve a desired goal or objective. 

But the reality is that effective project management improves business operations from the inside out. This is why it should come as no surprise that some of the most successful companies around the world rely on project management to improve output and grow their bottom line. 

Let’s take a closer look at the role of project management within an organization and the many benefits of project management a company can obtain from their team.

Become a Project Management Professional

• 6% Growth In Jobs Of Project Management Profiles By 2024
• 22 Million Jobs Estimated For Project Management Professionals By 2027

PMP® Certification Training

• Access to Digital Materials from PMI
• 12 Full-Length Simulation Test Papers (180 Questions Each)

Post Graduate Program in Project Management

• Receive Post Graduate Program Certificate and Alumni Association Membership from UMass Amherst
• 8X higher live interaction in live online classes by industry experts

Here's what learners are saying regarding our programs:

Katrina Tanchoco

Shell - manila ,.

The interactive sessions make a huge difference as I'm able to ask for further clarifications. The training sessions are more engaging than the self-paced modules, it's easier now that i first decided to take up the online classroom training, and then followed it up with the self-paced learning (online and readings).

PHC Business Manager , Midlands and Lancashire Commissioning Support Unit

I wanted to transition into the Project Management field and wanted the right opportunity to do so. Thus, I took that leap forward and enrolled in this course. My learning experience was fantastic. It suited my learning style.

There are so many elements and variables that must be considered when embarking on a new project, and this is where project management comes into play. 

The goal of a project manager includes the following:

• Defining project goals or objectives
• Planning project components
• Issuing quality control metrics to ensure a high standard outcome is achieved

By applying the right methods, skills, and experience through project management, a team can achieve a completed project that meets an agreed upon timeframe, budget, and desired quality.

Though often associated with architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industries, the benefits of project management can be leveraged by just about any organization. In fact, according to PMI, by 2027 the demand is expected to skyrocket to an astounding 87.7 million project managers . Simply put, project management is critical to every organization.

When it comes to delivering a successful project outcome that meets or exceeds the expectations of your stakeholders, the benefits of project management will not go unnoticed. 

Here are six key benefits of project management for your organization.

1. Manage Budgets and Timelines

Strict budgets and timelines make it increasingly difficult for organizations to complete a successful project. Interconnected at their core, if any small element threatens one, the other is consequently affected. 

With a devoted project management team , organizations gain the tools and experience needed to create a budget and timeline strategy that supports project priorities. Juggling resources and supplies with effective employee management helps project management teams manage hard budgets and tight timelines.

2. Improve Productivity and Overall Quality of Work

Project managers work diligently to better define goals and optimize workflows to improve productivity and project quality. With a clear roadmap in hand, teams can better navigate the project and perform the required tasks, ultimately improving the overall quality of work and producing a high-quality product.

3. Mitigate Project Risks 

All projects pose a variety of risks that range from costs to schedules to performance. Analyzing, communicating, and prioritizing project risks are all areas in which project managers excel and support their organization. With a dedicated project management team, you can mitigate risks before they cause lasting damaging effects to the project (or worse, to the company).

4. Improve Relationships With Stakeholders

Working with a variety of stakeholders, from investors and executives to suppliers and vendors, can often feel like there are too many cooks in the kitchen. 

Creating a core project management team can improve the flow of communication to all involved parties, manage mutual risks, and improve an organization’s relationship with all stakeholders. A project manager must acknowledge the needs and interests of each stakeholder to ensure the project outcome is an accurate reflection of the goals.

5. Increase Customer Satisfaction

Every project is completed to suit the needs of the consumer. A project management team that keeps a project on task and develops a high-quality product or service will go miles to increase your overall satisfaction of your customers.

6. Gain a Competitive Advantage

Chances are your organization is in a competitive marketplace, which means there’s often little to no room for error. Leveraging the benefits of project management can help give you an edge over the competition, improving your product and relationship with customers and stakeholders alike.

Enroll in our  PMP Certification Training Course  today and develop a strong foundation in the principles of project management.

Level up your project management skills with Simplilearn's comprehensive courses. Gain practical knowledge, industry insights, and globally recognized certifications. Take charge of your career and achieve project success with Simplilearn!

Program Name PMP® Certification Training Course PMP Plus Post Graduate Program In Project Management Geo All Geos All Geos All Geos University PMI Simplilearn University of Massachusetts Amherst Course Duration 90 Days of Flexible Access to Online Classes 36 Months 6 Months Coding experience reqd No No No Skills you wll learn 8+ PM skills including Work Breakdown Structure, Gantt Charts, Resource Allocation, Leadership and more. 6 courses including Project Management, Agile Scrum Master, Implementing a PMO, and More 9+ skills including Project Management, Quality Management, Agile Management, Design Thinking and More. Additional Benefits -Experiential learning through case studies -Global Teaching Assistance -35PDUs -Learn by working on real-world problems -24x7 Learning support from mentors -Earn 60+ PDU’s -3 year course access Cost $$ $$$$ $$$$ Explore Program Explore Program Explore Program

Simplilearn’s PMP Plus bundle helps you earn 60+ PDUs to keep your PMI certification active. It also helps in developing the key skills necessary for becoming a project manager, along with enhancing your knowledge in various domains. You have the option of taking your pick from six courses: 

Project Management

• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt
• Microsoft Project
• Agile Scrum Master

Regardless of the task at hand, deploying a project management team can help ensure success for your next venture. As the demand for project management continues to grow, so does the continuous need to upskill your project management workforce. Find the resources and courses your team needs to stay ahead of the curve and reap the benefits of project management.

Our Project Management Courses Duration And Fees

Project Management Courses typically range from a few weeks to several months, with fees varying based on program and institution.

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Recommended Reads

An Introduction to Project Management: A Beginner’s Guide

How to Get Project Management Experience for PMP Certification

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Project Management Interview Guide

Benefits of PMP Certification

What Is Project Management?

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• PMP, PMI, PMBOK, CAPM, PgMP, PfMP, ACP, PBA, RMP, SP, and OPM3 are registered marks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.

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Project Management Essay Writing Complete Guide: Free Topics and Sample

When writing a project management essay, it is important to first understand what the assignment is asking for. What are the specific requirements?

Is it necessary to include a certain number of sources, or must the essay be a certain length? Once you understand the expectations for the assignment, you can begin planning and drafting your essay.

The number of projects being undertaken in universities has increased over the past decade, which means that students are more likely than ever before to be assigned a project management essay. It is important to complete such an assignment properly and it is important to know the best ways of going about writing such an essay .

Project Management Assignment Help

If you are looking for assignment help with your project management assignments, then you have come to the right place.

Our team of experienced writers can provide you with a range of services including assignment writing, proofreading, editing, and formatting. We have a wide range of experience in project management and can help you with any type of assignment.

Why is Project Management Important?

Project management is important because it helps to ensure that projects are completed on time, within budget, and to the required standard. It also helps to improve communication and coordination between all parties involved in a project.

What Are the Benefits of Project Management?

There are many benefits of project management, including:

• Improved communication and coordination between all parties involved in a project;
• Better clarity of project objectives;
• Improved project planning and execution;
• Reduced risks of projects being delayed or over budget; and
• Improved customer satisfaction.

These are just some of the benefits of project management. If you are struggling with your project management assignments, then our team can help you. We have a wide range of experience in project management and can provide you with a range of services including assignment writing, proofreading, editing, and formatting.

What is Project Management?

Project management is the process of planning, organizing, motivating, and controlling resources to achieve specific goals. It is a critical process for all types of organizations, from small businesses to multinational corporations. In order to get the most out of project management, it’s important to understand the key principles that distinguish different methodologies.

How to write a project Management Essay

When writing a project management essay, it is important to remember that the goal is to demonstrate your understanding of the concepts covered in the course and to provide insights on how you would approach managing a project. In this section, our essay writing website provides some tips for ensuring that your essay is well-written and effectively communicates your ideas:

• Start by introducing the topic of the essay and providing a brief overview of what will be covered.
• Discuss the key concepts related to project management and explain how they are relevant to the essay topic.
• Offer your insights on how you would approach managing the project and support your arguments with evidence from the course material.
• When it comes to writing the conclusion, summarize your main points and highlight the key takeaways from the essay.
• Follow any instructions provided by your instructor to make sure that your essay is on topic and meets the requirements of the assignment.
• If you get stuck, consider asking a friend or classmate to read over your essay and provide feedback before turning it in. Revising the draft based on their comments can help ensure that you receive the highest grade possible for this project management task.

Writing Tips for Project Management Essay

There are several key things that you need to do if you want your project management essay to be successful:

Conduct Additional Research

Many people think that all they need in order to write a good project management essay is their own life experiences and what they have learned from them; however this will not suffice when writing at university level . You must conduct additional research in order for your paper to become more informative and better written.

Be Specific

When writing a project management essay, it is important to be specific as opposed to general. Make sure that all of your points are well thought out and supported by concrete examples wherever possible.

Make an Outline

One of the best ways to ensure that your project management essay flows well and makes sense is to make an outline before you actually begin writing it. This will help you to stay on track and not ramble off topic.

Common Project Management Essay topics

• Why I want to be a project manager essay
• Why study project management essay
• Why do you want to be a project manager essay?
• Why project management is important essay
• Discuss at least three key principles that distinguish Agile from Waterfall methodologies.
• Compare and contrast the benefits and drawbacks of using a Gantt chart versus a Critical Path Method (CPM) schedule.
• What are the three most important factors to consider when choosing a project management software package?
• How do you determine whether a project is feasible? What are some common indicators that a project may be in trouble?
• What are the steps involved in initiating a project?
• What are the steps involved in closing a project?
• How does risk management differ between waterfall and agile projects?
• What is the value of a PMP certification?
• Discuss the pros and cons of using contracted resources for project work.
• What are some of the challenges that face project managers when working with virtual teams?
• What are some of the challenges that face project managers when working with stakeholders who have competing interests?
• Is it always necessary to have a Project Manager assigned to a project? Why or why not?
• What are some of the most common causes of project failure?
• What are some of the most common reasons for schedule delays and cost overruns?
• How can a Project Manager mitigate the impact of these factors?
• What is the role of a Project Sponsor? What are the responsibilities of a Project Sponsor?
• Can projects be successfully completed without any formal documentation? Why or why not?
• What are some common methods for tracking progress on a project?
• What are some common methods for measuring project performance?
• When is it appropriate to use earned value analysis to assess project performance?
• How can a PM use change management principles to respond to changes that occur during course of a project?
• Identify at least three project management issues that might affect the success of a software product.
• Describe at least three potential problems with using function point analysis as an estimation technique.
• Compare and contrast the different phases of the software development cycle.
• Why is project documentation considered to be so important? Discuss its main purposes and explain how this information can be used during project execution, control, and closing phases.
• Differentiate between system developments life cycle (SDLC) models and explain how each phase impacts another one within an SDLC model.
• How would you deal with multiple projects that are coordinated by the same team members? Give examples to support your answer. What rules should be followed in order not to lose control over these projects?
• What is the goal of project time management?
• When should a change request be submitted to the project manager? Give at least three reasons for submitting or not submitting change requests.
• There are several different types of risk analysis, including qualitative and quantitative analyses. Discuss each type and explain how it’s used in practice.
• Discuss the advantages of using earned value management (EVM) over traditional cost/schedule variances (CV). Describe EVM calculations and list the main components that make up an indicator.
• Compare and contrast product scope, quality, schedule, budget, resource, and customer satisfaction constraints on projects.
• Describe five types of project stakeholders. What makes these people important to a project manager? How can managers identify their stakeholders and assess their needs?
• What is the main purpose of a risk management plan? What are the steps involved in creating a risk management plan?
• Discuss how to prioritize risks. How is this done and what factors are considered?
• What is the goal of quality assurance during project execution? How is this accomplished and who is responsible for it?
• How does change management work within a project environment? When can changes be requested and by whom? How are changes assessed and approved/disapproved? What are the consequences of making or not making changes?
• How do team member roles and responsibilities impact the success of a project manager? What should project managers do to ensure that all team members understand their roles and responsibilities?
• What conflict resolution techniques can be used to resolve disputes between project team members?
• What is the main purpose of procurement management? What are the steps involved in the procurement process?
• How does contract management work within a project environment? What are the steps involved in contract management and what are the consequences of not following them?
• Discuss how earned value management (EVM) can be used to measure project performance. How EVM calculated and what is are the main components that make up an indicator?
• What are some of the benefits and drawbacks of using software tools for project management purposes?
• What is a Gantt chart and how is it used in practice? What are some of the benefits and drawbacks of using a Gantt chart ?
• What are some common causes of project failure, and how can they be avoided or mitigated?
• How do risk management techniques differ in waterfall and agile project management?
• What factors should be considered when choosing between using fixed-price and time & materials contracts for a project?
• What is the role of the Project Manager in an agile environment? How does that role differ from a Project Manager in a waterfall setting?
• How does change management work in an agile environment? What are some of the challenges that can arise when changes are made to a project midstream?
• What are some common tools and techniques used in agile project management?
• How does the use of a scrum board help to manage projects in an agile environment?
• What are some benefits and drawbacks of using iterative and incremental development methods in software development?
• How can Prince2 be used to manage projects?
• What is the role of the sponsor in a project? How does that role differ from the role of a stakeholder?
• Can you describe the concept of earned value analysis and how it can be used to track a project’s progress and budget status?
• Can you explain how Monte Carlo simulation can be used to model risk in a project?
• What are some common techniques for dealing with change requests in a project?
• If you have any other project management essay topics that you would like to suggest, please post them in the comments section below. We would love to hear from you!
• Discuss at least two challenges when implementing ITIL processes in an organization.
• What are the risks of applying Six Sigma in projects? Discuss at least two specific examples.
• Discuss at least three reasons why many consider Agile to be better than Waterfall methodologies.
• Which Agile methodology is more suitable for small scaled projects? Why?
• What are the 7 principles of Software Engineering by Robert Martin (Uncle Bob)? How would you apply these principles during software development, testing and maintenance?
• How can project managers motivate their teams to improve performance through goal setting? Support your answer with at least one personal experience related to your job.
• Choose any software development process model or framework and discuss its key advantages and disadvantages. Do you think it’s universal enough to fit all types of software products/projects?

Project Management Essay Sample

Sample 1: construction project management essay.

“ There are a few key steps in successfully completing a construction project. The first step is to develop a project plan. This document will outline the goals of the project, as well as the steps needed to achieve them. It is important to make sure that all stakeholders are on board with the plan, and that everyone understands their role in achieving it.

Once the plan is in place, the next step is to assemble the team. This includes not only the contractors and workers who will be involved in the project, but also any consultants who may be needed. It is important to make sure that everyone is on the same page, and that there is a clear line of communication between all parties.

The third step is to manage the budget and schedule. This includes ensuring that costs are kept under control, and that deadlines are met. It is important to have a realistic understanding of what can be accomplished within the given timeframe and budget.

Finally, it is important to monitor and adjust as needed. Things can always change during a construction project, so it is important to be flexible and ready to make changes as needed. By following these steps, you can ensure a successful construction project .”

“ Construction project managers must have extensive knowledge of all aspects of building construction. They need to know the proper materials for each part of the structure, how long it takes to build different parts and what safety precautions should be taken. Because they are in charge, construction project managers must also plan out every step of their teams’ work so that by the time they ask team members to carry out work steps, those steps will actually fit together. Construction project managers also need excellent communication skills so that workers on site can understand directions and follow them precisely.

Construction project managers should possess great leadership qualities because managing people is one of their most important duties. It requires excellent leadership skills to direct other employees without making them feel like they are being bossed around. They must be able to give clear instructions and ensure that every team member knows their role and is working together as a team. Construction project managers need to inspire trust and respect.

Construction project managers must also be excellent problem solvers because they are likely to encounter many problems on the job site. They must be able to find creative solutions for any issues that occur with materials or other aspects of construction. Construction project managers might even need to hire outside companies or individuals since there is typically not enough manpower on site for every part of construction work. ”

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The Principles of Operation Management

Review of the role of the project managers, access control system: work breakdown structure, the laboratory information management system, project risk management practices in the construction industry, netsuit project management- the best erp solution , review on management theories, future virtual project management, marvin's organization, importance of selecting the right projects, the importance of project management in achieving the goal of any organization, management information systems, large-scale building integrated wind turbines in the bahrain world trade center, google case study: organization culture and project management, the challenges of managing work, health, and safety, life-cycle phases in epm system, store management at big bazaar, project management models: spiral model, brooks sports clinic, work breakdown structure(wbs), relevant topics.

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Free Project Management Essay Examples & Topics

Writing a project management essay can be a daunting task if you do not understand what to write about and what topic to choose. But it won’t be a problem for you! Our team has prepared this article to see this process clearly. First of all, let us figure out what project management is as a discipline.

Project management is the use of specific tools, methods, skills to complete a project. In its foundation are the efforts to create value through the final result. A project usually has a team, a schedule, a budget, and set goals and expectations. It is a temporary and progressive attempt to reach a specific objective.

On this page, you will also find project management essay examples on specific topics. These samples will reveal critical terminology for completing this assignment. Plus, you’ll see the author’s reflection on the issue. Additionally, our experts have gathered topics and prompts that can give you a direction for a good start.

Project management essays are mainly about planning, management, and organizing. To not miss anything out, start working on your paper with a detailed action plan or outline.

Your structure should include the following aspects:

• Introduction. Your project management essay should begin with an overview of the project. In your introduction, identify the main goals and finish it with the thesis statement.
• Thesis . This one sentence should express the main idea of the essay, its message. It also helps to control the pictures in the paper. Our thesis generator can create one for you.
• Paragraph 1 . Your first body paragraph should relate to the thesis statement the closest. Be mindful that every section should introduce one argument and distinctive thought.
• Paragraph 2. Your second paragraph should include your strongest argument. Start it by telling your reader what will be inside the section. Provide supportive evidence with quotes. Try a plagiarism checker to see whether you’ve cited correctly.
• Paragraph 3 . The last section of the body should contain the weakest argument and example. It can also be a natural follow-up to the second paragraph or a counterargument.
• Conclusion . This last conclusive paragraph should demonstrate your findings. Here, you restate your thesis and include the ideas for further dialogue.

17 Project Management Essay Topics

Still not sure how to start your paper? In this section, you will find ideas to use in your assignment and practice. You can also use our topic generator for this purpose.

Students can use the following topics for this task:

• The importance of project management software for successful project completion.
• Organizational culture and effective conflict management.
• An analysis of project delays in the construction industry.
• Introduction to agile-scrum in project management theory.
• Understanding the role of soft skills in project management.
• Employment background and its correlation with project management success rates.
• Social media and project management risk.
• Contemporary approaches to project and chain management.
• Define possible difficulties and constraints with project scheduling and control during pandemics.
• How can project management be done sustainably?
• Critical path method application to project scope.
• Application of the goal-setting theories in improving the outcomes of the project.
• An impact of culture on managing expectations for the project.
• Cross-cultural communication and work ethos in multinational project management.
• Project management triangle and its variations.
• How is a project management plan used in the marketing industry?
• Project lifecycle in project management.

5 Project Management Essay Questions

If you still have difficulties starting your essay, we have a solution for you! These prompts can guide your process. You’ll get the needed motivation and direction for your project management essay.

These questions will provide you with the arguments and essay ideas:

• What is the relationship between project management and the overall performance of a company ? Project management and overall company performance got to hand in hand. To succeed in today’s world, a company needs to implement proper techniques and tools.
• What is p roject management in regards to a legal project? In this essay, apply the academic knowledge you’ve acquired to the legal profession and project. Try to ask yourself what methods and tools can be best utilized when handling a legal project.
• What is the importance of project management organizational structures? In this essay, include all four traditional types of project organizational structures. Give a brief analysis of each one of them. You can also describe how the digital age disrupted old conventional models and systems.
• How can project management planning help improve a company’s organizational structure? Business owners and project managers cannot overlook the importance of project management. It can help every part of a business to run successfully. In this essay, focus on how it can improve the success of your organization.
• What are the processes in project management human resource training? Human resources concern project team recruitment, training, and management. It also involves team building and motivation. In your essay, give particular examples of project human resource management in a specific organization.

Thank you for paying attention and staying with us till the end. Now you can read project management paper examples down below.

563 Best Essay Examples on Project Management

A tree planting project management report.

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Operations Management: Process Types

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Car Parking Project Planning

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Caribana Parade Project of the Toronto Sun

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The Plan for Hotel Building: Project Management

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Launching a New Car: Project Presentation

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Furniture Manufacturing in UAE: Project Plan

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Harvard Business: Digital Project Simulations

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The Millennium Dome: Project Management Principles and Strategies

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Villa Construction Project Management

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Project Charter for Construction of Football Pitch at Coventry University

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The Project Evaluation Methods

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Reflection of Consultancy Project

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Computerized Accounting System Project

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Project Management: Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), Its Accomplishments, Constraints, and Current Reform in Relation to Project Management in the Nigerian Power Sector

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The Importance of Managing the Project Lifecycle to Achieve Successful Project Outputs

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Quality Improvement Project Management Approaches

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Construction of the Empire State Building

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GPS Chipset Manufacturing: Project Management

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Socio-Technical Approach to Project Management

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Burj Khalifa Construction and Operation Cycle

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Melbourne Royal Show: Project and Event Management

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Coca Cola Bottling Co: Project Management

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Workplace Energy Conservation Project Management

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Project Management Methodology

Social and organisational issues in project management.

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Project Management: Project Life Cycle

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The rooftop garden project

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The London Ambulance Services as a Failed IT Project

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Agile Auditing: Benefits and Drawbacks

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Effective Project Management

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Workflow Management Systems: Contemporary Application

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Project Management Software: Uses, Advantages and Limitations

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A Food Truck Business: Project Summary

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Human Resource Motivation in Projects Management

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The Implementation Process and Design

Hershey corporation project management.

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Project Management: Sydney Water Company

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MTC IT Project Management: The Triple Constraints

Project management development: importance in practice.

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Learning Curves in Project Management

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Project Simulation and Management

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The Parking Garage Project Risks

Sydney opera house project management, project management: a critical evaluation.

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Al Wahda Master Development Project Management

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Apollo Program and Project Management

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Project Management: Building ICT Center

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Eurotunnel Project in Contractual Terms

Emirates nbd’s information technology project.

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The Oil and Gas Industry: Project Management

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University of Bedfordshire STEPS Project Plan

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Systemic vs. Traditional Project Management

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Barbata Electronics – the Knock Your Socks Off project

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Project Planning Tools Comparison

Waterloo regional police’s centralised information system.

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The Long Beach HOPE Project: Outcomes and Evaluation

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Project Management, Leadership and Skills: Planning and Control

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Monitoring and Evaluations in Development

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Objectives of Project Management

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Channel Tunnel between England and France

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Heathrow Terminal 5 Project: Cultural Awareness

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T-Shirts Project’s Quality Management Initiatives

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Auto Restoration Services Project: “OLD & NEW”

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The Shore & More Bicycles Firm’s Information Technology Gap

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Evaluation of Telecommunications Regulatory Practice in the Kingdom of Bahrain

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Apple’s Organizational Structure: Recommendations

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• Words: 2146

Designing a Network for a 100-User Firm

Project management: problems and solutions, i.t. management and company overview project summary, literature review of complex and virtual project management.

• Words: 1240

Monitoring Compliance in Project Management

Navigating the construction of a 100-bed special hospital.

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Project Management: The Ethical Standards

Western sydney airport and navi mumbai international airport.

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Project Management Questions: Evaluation of Project

Project monitoring and control, culture, communication, and leadership for projects in dynamic environments, heathrow and los angeles airports’ improvement.

• Words: 2587

Rehabilitation Centre Expansion Project Management

Project management: the interview, project management software as a learning tool, project management of federal aviation administration, delays in delivery of new aircrafts.

• Words: 2817

Project Management Implementation

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Prioritizing Sustainability Improvement Programs

Project management: the earned value, the maven project of the department of defense, fashtec technology company’s design thinking.

• Words: 1065

Reducing Project Time and Its Key Advantages

The electronic food processor project management.

• Words: 2410

What Are the Benefits of Project Management to Your Organization?

Your organization is constantly working on projects , whether you know it or not.

However, you may not think of project management as a specific discipline.

Sometimes it only manifests as your top management saying: “We need to get this done by the end of the quarter. You’re in charge.”

Now, everything you do after receiving a complex task to complete is effectively project management. Especially if you’re working with a team under you and organizing work.

And even if you haven’t received professional training, you can still experience all the benefits of good project management .

Let’s take a look!

Importance of Project Management

Today, if you’re a manager or a team lead, you’re a project manager. However, the difference between approaching every project with basic planning, and approaching it with proper project management processes is huge.

If you know project management basics, you’ll be able to create reliable processes.

Let’s say you’re meeting with a new client. If you don’t have an established process, you’ll have to remember everything you need to define:

• Stakeholder expectations
• Deliverables
• Project scope.

You’ll jot that information down in an informal document and forget about it until problems occur. And if you haven’t thought of covering change policies with your new client, you won’t be able to say no to them. Cue stress and going over budget.

The majority of organizations struggle with their project management processes .

We’ve all been pushed into working more and taking on more responsibility without the proper training for it. Organizations think of project management as just that – managing projects – and not a complementary discipline with plenty of tricks up its sleeve.

In the 21st century, project management belongs to everyone. Not just dedicated project managers .

And that’s exactly why project management can help you, your team, and your organization complete projects in time and without a nasty headache for everyone involved.

But the benefits of project management don’t end there.

Simple Project Management For Every Team

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5 Benefits of Project Planning and Management

Having structure around project management and knowing how to use the techniques to finish your projects in time comes with innumerable benefits.

However, there are five immediate benefits of good project management:

1. Project Management Improves Productivity and Reduces Costs and Workload

The ultimate goal of project management and planning is efficiency. You want to do as much as possible in as little time as possible.

Project management helps you create an optimized methodology .

Once you create processes, templates, and procedures , you’ll be able to reuse them with every project and know exactly what you can count on.

This will automatically mitigate risks and improve your efficiency.

How to Improve Efficiency with Project Management

• Create a project plan that contains : information you received from clients and other stakeholders, resources, a work breakdown structure , and a timeline with milestones.
• Break down the project into tasks and clearly define  task owners, task dependencies, due dates, and resources.
• Use Gantt charts to monitor individual team members’ workloads and ensure no one is biting off more than they can chew.
• Keep your clients and top management in the loop , and agree on check-in points where you’ll update them on the progress.
• Create a change policy before starting the project. If the project grows in scope or clients want to make changes, make sure you reference the policy to assess if it’s viable and if you’re risking going over budget or being late.
• Try Kanban or Scrum project methodologies for project tracking.
• Get your team’s feedback on your project and task plans . Make sure they can always access the project plan, as well as update it. Consider using a project management tool like Project Central to improve transparency. Try it for free .

2. Project Management Improves Collaboration

If everything related to your project is structured and team members know exactly what they need to be doing at any given time, it’ll be much easier to manage them.

Plus, everyone will do their best work.

How to Improve Collaboration with Project Management

• Use PM tools to keep everyone on the same page . For example, you can use a Microsoft 365 project management tool. Everyone will have immediate access to tasks and task details, and they won’t have to waste time looking for information.
• Define your own and everyone else’s roles clearly and accurately . When you delegate tasks, make sure the task owners understand their responsibilities. Periodically check in with them to offer help or feedback, and make sure they’re staying on track.
• Understand your stakeholders and create communication plans . Firstly, you have to understand your team and what drives them. Then, don’t forget to analyze clients and top management. Create a communication plan for every stakeholder group so no one’s left in the dark.

Project Central for Microsoft 365

Project Central helps teams to plan, manage, and collaborate on any project with Microsoft 365.

3. Project Management Improves Customer Satisfaction

Let’s be real: you are the project manager. You are the one responsible for keeping everyone happy.

Now, this can be a tricky thing to do.

But with a little project management magic added to the mix, you’ll see how easy it can be to meet customers’ expectations.

How to Improve Customer Satisfaction with Project Management

• Understand customers’ expectations and communicate clearly . In the initiation phase, make sure clients are clear about project objectives and their own expectations. What are they hoping to accomplish? Once you understand their expectations, structure clear deliverables and get their approval.
• Prepare the necessary documentatio n: Project Initiation Document / Project Business Case, Project Charter , and Change Policy are some of the most important documents.
• Monitor risks and prepare a plan for mitigating them . Assess your project clearly after creating a work breakdown structure. Are you likely to go over budget? Do you think you’ll have to make changes to the scope? Understand the risks instead of ignoring them.

4. Project Management Helps You Improve Your Performance

When you have an organized way of tracking your performance and results from project to project , you’ll be able to understand it.

And if you can measure it, you can improve it .

Without a structured process, it’s anyone’s guess why a project failed.

But if you stick to outlined processes, you’ll easily notice bottlenecks and understand the variables putting your projects in jeopardy.

How to Improve Your Performance with Project Management

• Use a central tool for project and task management, tracking, and reporting . Make sure all of your data is in a central location where you can access and analyze it.
• Create post-completion processes . Get your stakeholders together and ask for their feedback. Did they notice any problems, were there areas or things they struggled with?
• Create a document with all the lessons you’ve learned (both from data and hands-on experience).
• Implement changes . Once you understand problematic areas, make an improvement plan.

5. Project Management Helps with Problem Resolution

Finally, there are always problems in projects. After all, there are a lot of moving parts involved.

However, when you’re using a PM methodology, you know exactly how to approach a problem.

A structured way of organizing work can even help you nip problems in the bud or notice them before they wreak havoc on your project.

How to Resolve Problems with Project Management

• Establish risk management processes .
• Note every change and problem in your change/issue log .
• Create communication plans for every stakeholder group, and stick to them.
• Update your project and task plans with every new accepted change to understand how they’ll reflect on the entirety of the project.

And there you have it!

It’s time to stop worrying and embrace the relief project management brings to your organization.

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Why is Project Management Important? The Significance of Effective Project Management

Alexandra Bower - Guest Contributor

What is project management? 

Why is project management important, benefits of project management, what kind of business should consider project management, prepare your business for project management, find success with effective project management , maximizing efficiency and success: effective project management's vital role..

As businesses grapple with technological advancements and ever-evolving objectives, a well-structured approach to managing projects becomes increasingly critical. A project manager serves as a central point of contact, guiding and coordinating the various moving parts of a project to ensure its success.

However, Capterra research suggests that nearly half of small and midsize businesses (SMBs) did not have a project manager lead their latest change effort, potentially hindering business growth. Further insights discuss the importance of project management, its purpose, and the advantages it can bring to your organization.

Project managers are responsible for planning, organizing, and managing the completion of a project. [ 1 ] You can think of project management as the art of applying specific knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to meet project objectives on time and within budget. 

The primary challenge of project management is to achieve all project goals while considering the project’s constraints, including scope, time, quality, and budget.

Project management is an essential tool for businesses of all sizes because it helps them effectively manage change, which in turn enhances efficiency and increases profitability. [ 2 ]

Essentially, the purpose of project management is to bring clarity to the chaos of project activities. Every project has multiple moving parts, and a project manager acts as a point of contact to guide and synchronize team efforts, and maintain control over the project’s scope, budget, and timeline. Without a project manager, teams often find themselves working in silos, leading to miscommunications, scope creep, missed deadlines, and, ultimately, a lower-quality output.

Capterra research revealed 96% of surveyed SMBs reported success in their last major change project led by a project manager, with over half seeing an increase in revenue post-completion. This clearly indicates the potential impact effective project management can have on a business.

Did you know that projects are 2.5 times more successful when project managers are involved? [ 3 ] This highlights the significant impact effective project management can have on the outcome of a project. Some top project management benefits include:

Effective resource allocation

Working with a skilled project manager will help enhance the effectiveness of your overall project, beginning with resource allocation. That involves assigning the right resources (people, equipment, budget) to the right tasks at the right time.

When resources are properly managed, teams can operate more efficiently, and the chances of project success significantly increase.

Clear project scope and objectives

Without a clearly defined focus and goals, it's easy for projects to stray off course, resulting in missed deadlines, budget overruns, and, potentially, failure.

In fact, research has concluded that 37% of all projects fail because of a lack of clear project goals.

Project management ensures that every project has clear scope and objectives set out from the very beginning. A recent survey revealed 59% of project managers say they could've been more effective in their last major change project had they been involved earlier in the process. This underscores the importance of including the project manager in discussions and decisions from the get-go.

Ensure timely project delivery

When starting a new project, a significant chunk of the planning stage involves establishing a timeline, complete with deadlines for each task and phase of the project.

Project managers meticulously plan out this timeline, accounting for the time necessary for each task while also factoring in a buffer for unexpected delays or changes. They're also responsible for tracking the progress of the project against this timeline, making adjustments as necessary to keep everything on track.

Without effective project management, teams can easily become overwhelmed or lose focus, leading to missed deadlines and late deliveries. On the other hand, a well-managed project stays on course and is able to keep up the pace that's needed to meet all deadlines—and customer expectations.

Efficient communication and collaboration

In any project, numerous stakeholders are involved, including project team members, other departments in the organization, and external entities like clients or vendors. It's paramount that all parties possess a clear understanding of the project goals, individual responsibilities, and the status of the project at any given time. In fact, 41% of survey respondents felt their last major change project could have been more successful with greater stakeholder trust.

Project managers serve as the communication hub, distributing relevant information to all stakeholders and ensuring collective understanding. They conduct regular meetings to update the team on the project’s progress, resolve any concerns, and discuss upcoming tasks.

Project managers serve a crucial role in fostering this trust and understanding. As the communication hub, they distribute relevant information to all stakeholders, ensuring that everyone is on the same page. They also conduct regular meetings to update the team on the project’s progress, resolve any concerns, and discuss upcoming tasks. 

This open and organized communication also fosters a culture of collaboration, promoting a unified approach to achieving the project’s objectives.

What are the key features of project management?

When you partner with a project manager, you can expect them to take care of the following tasks:

Project planning

Task management

Resource allocation

Time tracking

Collaboration tools

Risk management

Reporting and analytics

Budget management

Project management isn't exclusive to any specific industry or business size. Any business that needs to manage tasks, resources, time, and costs in a structured and organized way can greatly benefit from project management. Some examples of businesses that commonly rely on and benefit from project management include:

Construction companies: Construction projects often involve numerous contractors and stakeholders, complex tasks, and stringent regulations. A project management approach ensures these projects stay on track.

Consulting firms: Consulting projects require clear communication, precise scheduling, and careful resource management. Project management practices can greatly enhance these aspects.

Event planning agencies: Organizing events involves coordinating various aspects like venue selection, vendor management, guest invitations, and more. Project management can help streamline these tasks.

Manufacturing companies: Whether it’s launching a new product or improving manufacturing processes, project management can help these companies manage their projects more efficiently.

Research institutions: Such entities often work on large, complex research projects. Project management can assist in planning, coordinating, and managing these projects effectively.

Educational institutions: Schools, colleges, and universities often undertake various projects like curriculum development, campus improvements, or events. Project management can help these institutions manage these projects more effectively.

Here are five key strategies to equip your business for project management:

Choose the right people: To manage a project effectively, you will need a team with the right skills and experience. You should choose a project manager who has experience managing similar projects, strong communication capabilities, and proven leadership skills.

Set clear goals: Start by outlining your specific aspirations. Whether you aim to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, or improve resource management, defining clear objectives provides a standard for measuring progress and success.

Invest in education: Integrating project management into your business requires a cultural and operational shift. Offer training to your team members to familiarize them with project management principles and highlight the ensuing benefits.

Choose the right tools: There are a number of project management tools, including software , available on the market today. Each caters to different business sizes and requirements. Your chosen tool should align with your business needs and be intuitive to use, facilitating seamless adoption.

As you scale your business, it’s crucial to have the right approach and tools to navigate the unique challenges and growing pains that may arise. By partnering with the right project manager, you can effectively address these challenges and ensure long-term success.

Is Project Management the Right Career for You , Harvard Business Review

Project Management Statistics: Trends and Common Mistakes in 2023 , TeamStage

What Happens When the Project Goal Isn’t Clear , Orangescrum

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About the author.

Alexandra Bower is a freelance writer with a background in TV news as a reporter and anchor. Alexandra covers industries, including, but not limited to, health and wellness, beauty, law, and politics.

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Why Is Project Management Important for Your Business Success?

More and more companies are starting to recognize the potential of project management and understand the advantages of an organized project approach. 

This is not surprising, given the fact that organizations undervaluing project management face a 50% project failure rate. 

Project management is important because it helps create a streamlined system for managing projects in an efficient and rational way. 

When done properly, project management reduces risks, cuts costs, and improves project success rate. It fosters better collaboration and holds all the elements of a project together. 

• Saving time and money is the result of a firm project plan. By having a specified timeline and realistically allocated resources, chances are the project will stay within budget and time scope.
• Good project collaboration and communication are what leads the project. Not only do they enable the project progress, but they also help connect remote team members and keep them on the same page.
• Accountability is essential in project management. Regular status updates add to greater individual accountability.
• Project management encourages capturing lessons learned, and this way, it prevents repeating the same mistakes in future projects.
• Using project management software helps project managers keep track of project processes, and as a result, enables better risk management and quality control.

Table of Contents

The benefits of project management

So, why is project management that important? 

Navigating projects without project managers’ expertise, you risk missing deadlines, going over budget, and experiencing the worst-case scenario — project failure.

With many project methodologies at their disposal, project managers can craft a great project plan, secure funding, and allocate resources — lay out a path toward success. 

We reached out to Sergei Brovkin , a certified PMP with more than 20 years of experience in the field and organizational productivity and transformation expert, who attributed the growing popularity of project management to its adaptability to different business environments:

“It is worth noting that project management is gaining more attention these days. Specifically, this resurgence in the significance of project management is due to the rapid and dynamic nature of the business environment. This environment necessitates constant change and adaptation, essentially transforming numerous businesses into a series of one-off startups that succeed when overseen and managed as individual projects.”

So, to illustrate the importance of project management , it’s best we walk you through the 11 most prominent benefits of the field:

Benefit #1: It saves money and time

The PMI’s Pulse of the Profession report states that only 58% of organizations understand how valuable project management is for their work. 

In addition, it is reported that 9.9% of every dollar is wasted as a result of poor project management. This means that $99 million dollars are lost for every $1 billion invested in projects.

Throwing money away is hardly a desirable outcome for businesses. Therefore, appointing a project manager is the right option. This way, you get a proper project plan, tasks are done in due time, and projects stay within budget. 

Also, since the whole project progress is transparent, it is easier to spot potential bottlenecks, and, more importantly, allocate project resources appropriately. Consequently, you prevent delays and going over budget.

Speaking of time-saving, project managers determine the time necessary to complete tasks. They define a project schedule and specify the start and end date for all tasks. Careful monitoring allows project managers to make adjustments in case they notice any impediments on the way.

Benefit #2: It enables realistic project planning 

If done properly, project management provides the entire team with a clear picture of who does what, how, and when. 

Project managers define a project management plan , which serves as a guide to the team and other parties involved.

The plan contains information on all project elements such as project scope , timeline, and budget. It results from the project manager’s full understanding of the project, potential risks, and project requirements.

When they create project plans, project managers tend to negotiate and set achievable project deadlines and project milestones . Plus, they predict pitfalls, provide solutions to them, and keep the project on track.

Benefit #3: It facilitates remote work

Project management is indispensable for remote work since it finds ways to set up communication channels, allocate tasks, and manage remote workers no matter their time zone. 

The importance of project management in remote work organizations is supported by Alexis Nicole White — a certified organizational transformational leader, PMP and SMC — who explains that key project management elements translate perfectly to a remote work environment and help it flourish:

“ Key components of project management that help manage workers remotely are clear communication, goal alignment, accountability with task tracking, resource management, collaboration, documentation, with measurable performance metrics that can validate success. ”

Nicole White also proposes ways to assess remote workers:

“Remote workers can have their performance evaluated through Objectives and Key Results ( OKRs ) and Key Performance Indicators ( KPIs ). By regularly assessing individual and team performance, project managers can provide feedback, recognize achievements, and identify areas for improvement.”

Project managers are able to build a remote work culture that helps teams stay connected and pursue the same goals.  

Benefit #4: It ensures accountability

Having a single leader with the necessary project management skills helps in many ways — but, most importantly, it establishes clear accountability.

Accountability is one of the power skills that help project managers handle projects from inception to completion and accomplish organizational objectives.

Although the entire project team should have a strong sense of accountability, the project manager is the one usually “held accountable” if the project goes off the rails or its quality is poor.

Accountability is based on regular progress tracking, and it helps project managers identify potential issues. Here is what Alexis Nicole White told us about the value of accountability:

“Established within most project management methodologies, accountability is presented by tracking the progress of a specific task assigned to a particular resource. Accountability is most helpful with remote workers as it monitors performance, identifies any potential impediments that can develop a bottleneck or hinder delivery altogether. It also keeps individuals on task since there are usually pre-determined check-ins and status updates.”

Therefore, to strengthen accountability, project managers should make sure all actions are transparent and everyone is on the same page knowing what to do and how. On the other hand, all team members should take ownership of their responsibilities in order to deliver better results.

Benefit #5: It improves resource management

One of the main concerns project managers have is the allocation of project resources . Resources are what project managers can count on when they start a project — materials, people, finances, and time.  

The truth is, projects have many interlinked variables, and there are many factors that influence them. With project management, you can calculate a realistic quality output based on available resources to complete the project on time, on budget, and at the desired level of quality. 

The triple-constraint theory of project management states that scope, cost, and time are intrinsically linked. Changing one necessitates a proportional change in the other two, or the overall quality of the project suffers. 

In addition, project managers know what skills and level of expertise their team members have and where they can contribute best. 

💡 Plaky Pro Tip

To learn more about the triple constraints, as well as go beyond them and find out about more constraints in project management, check out this guide:

• What are constraints in project management?

Benefit #6: It enables better risk management

Projects rarely go to plan, and risk management often has a decisive role in project success.

As per KPMG’s report Five pillars of major project success , 53% of organizations have faced one or more failed projects. This figure goes up to 71% in companies dealing with natural resources.

Using proper project management — mandatory and adequate risk management included — greatly increases your chances of a positive project outcome.

There’s a large pool of risk categories that might impact projects such as cost risks, market risks, and schedule risks. 

By using risk analysis, project managers know what to expect and how to handle most of the issues projects are expected to encounter. Also, by recognizing the direction from which risks can emerge, managers are able to prevent risks from becoming serious issues.

Sergei Brovkin explains the need for good project management when dealing with unexpected challenges:

“When a project deviates from the established plan or misses deadlines, a good project manager’s instincts for identifying potential issues early on, coupled with their detailed planning abilities, ensure that corrective actions can be taken promptly.”

According to the McKinsey report on risk management , 73% of managers recognize the strengthening of risk culture as the best action to improve resilience within their organizations.

An unexpected outbreak of a global pandemic or a sudden financial market crash can still throw projects into disarray — but these are the expectations, not the rule.

If you are interested in the reasons why projects fail, check out the following article:

• 8 Reasons for Project Failure (& Solutions)

Benefit #7: It encourages learning from mistakes

Project managers and their teams hold retrospective meetings upon project completion to reflect on project performance — both the positive and the negative. 

Teams discuss what went well and what didn’t go so well to prevent repeating the same mistakes or build on the positives. The results they come up with are known as lessons learned .

Lessons learned should be captured and documented throughout the entire project lifecycle and this is something project managers should encourage from the start. 

There are several ways to capture lessons learned, such as through post-project meetings, surveys, or one-on-one meetings. Project managers decide on the best option based on their team size, available time, and the preferences of team members. 

Learning from mistakes enables continuous improvement of future projects and helps teams grow by capitalizing on good practices and avoiding known missteps. 

Benefit #8: It improves collaboration and communication

Project managers need to encourage project collaboration by uniting their teams around mutual goals and objectives. 

Projects are usually complex and carried out across different teams and departments. Without proper collaboration among them, streamlining project activities toward success is impossible.

Efficient project management keeps everyone on the same page by:

• Presenting a clear project plan,
• Establishing communication channels,
• Encouraging consistent and real-time feedback, 
• Insisting on transparency and sharing of information, and 
• Arranging regular meetings.

According to Sergei Brovkin, good communication is a trait of good project managers:

“[Good project managers] effortlessly facilitate communication by ensuring clarity in goals, sharing progress updates, and addressing concerns promptly. When engaging with stakeholders and clients, their natural ability to build relationships and maintain transparency leads to successful project outcomes.”

A communication plan is another project management point that Alexis Nicole White brings to our attention:  

“Typically, a project manager will establish a communication plan to execute. It also helps individuals identify roles and responsibilities for each team member so that everyone is aware of who to speak to and when. When it comes to external clients, each stakeholder will expect an update, address their concerns, and reset expectations.”

On the whole, active project collaboration supported by open communication can boost teamwork and lay a solid foundation for project success.  

Benefit #9: It helps minimize duplicate work

One of the pressing concerns of many organizations is work duplications.

The reasons behind the duplicate work problem are usually poor communication, information gaps, or simply unmonitored tasks. 

Good project management provides a centralized system where all relevant data connected to a project should be kept. Also, project managers should make clear what channels of communication are available for sharing information between team members and departments involved in the project. 

According to a Forbes article on workplace burnout , knowledge workers spend 58% of their workday on duplicated work, unnecessary meetings, and too many apps.

Not only does duplication negatively affect performance, but it also results in a needless waste of resources.

However, with clearly defined processes and better communication, chances are teams will have less duplicate work.

Benefit #10: It facilitates oversight and quality control

Quality control is capital in project management. All the effort is worthless if the final product doesn’t meet the expected quality standards.

Therefore, constant oversight and regular quality checks are another concern of project managers. 

Alexis Nicole White highlights the importance of establishing success criteria for determining what is acceptable and what isn’t:

“When you define what the objectives are, you can establish clear quality standards. Then, define measurable metrics to assess performance against said standards. By regularly monitoring the progress and performance through various methods, such as inspections or audits, one can identify and address any issues promptly and implement corrective actions.”

Benefit #11: It streamlines work through project management software

Project management tools help project managers keep an eye on how tasks are carried out, and they allow for easy and complete oversight of the entire project. 

What’s more, such tools can also more easily alert managers to impending risks and objective off-tracking. 

According to the statistics on project management software , 69% of project managers use collaboration tools to administer their projects.

The PWC’s research on current project management practices has clearly shown there is a strong link between project management software usage and high project performance. 

Project performance metrics in companies that use project management software tower over those of companies that don’t use any. 

With project management software like Plaky , project managers can now effortlessly keep track of the project progress and make informed decisions that will steer the project toward success. 

Plaky is a state-of-the-art project management tool supporting unlimited users and projects in its generous free plan. The platform offers project managers everything they need to reduce risks, cut costs, and improve success rates. 

Conclusion: Project management is the moving force of project success

By this point, you should have a clear understanding of why project management is important for teams working on projects. 

However, the main takeaway of this guide shouldn’t be that project management is beneficial — that much is expected. 

Instead, it’s that project management is necessary for the optimal growth and development of any company. 

Furthermore, if you’re still in doubt about whether to invest in project management software, you can try out Plaky.

📖 Interested in project management? Explore our Project Management Glossary of Terms and learn more about the importance of project management through our vast library of basic and advanced project management terminology.

• Andriole, S. (2020, December 1). Why No One Can Manage Projects, Especially Technology Projects . Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/steveandriole/2020/12/01/why-no-one-can-manage-projects-especially-technology-projects/?sh=13766b782da2
• PMI (2018). Pulse of the Profession 2018: Success in Disruptive Times: Expanding the Value Delivery Landscape to Address the High Cost of Low Performance. Retrieved November 2, 2023, from https://www.pmi.org/-/media/pmi/documents/public/pdf/learning/thought-leadership/pulse/pulse-of-the-profession-2018.pdf
• PMI (2023). Pulse of the Profession 2023: Power Skills, Redefining Project Success , 14th Edition. Retrieved November 1, 2023, from https://www.pmi.org/-/media/pmi/documents/public/pdf/learning/thought-leadership/pmi-pulse-of-the-profession-2023-report.pdf?rev=427949fcdb684485a020cc72ea219f32&sc_lang_temp=en
• KPMG (2020, February). Five Pillars of Major Project Success , Retrieved November 1, 2023 from  https://assets.kpmg.com/content/dam/kpmg/ca/pdf/2023/03/major-project-governance-en-web.pdf
• McKinsey & Company (2022, April). McKinsey on Risk – Institutional resilience starts with understanding risks , Number 12. Retrieved October 31, 2023 from https://www.mckinsey.com/~/media/mckinsey/business%20functions/risk/our%20insights/mckinsey%20on%20risk%20number%2012/mck_risk_12_full_issue_vf.pdf
• PwC. (n.d.). Insights and Trends: Current Programme and Project Management Practices; The second global survey on the current state of project management maturity in organizations across the world , PricewaterhouseCoopers, Retrieved November 3, 2023, from https://www.pwc.com/cl/es/publicaciones/assets/insighttrends.pdf

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Free Essay On The Benefits of Project Management

Type of paper: Essay

Topic: Environment , Products , Exercise , Time Management , Training , Competition , Business , Management

Words: 1000

Published: 01/01/2020

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In recent times, there have been rapid changes in the business environment. Changes in the business environment may either be caused by technological innovation, changes in consumer tastes and preferences or changes in a business’s economical factors. Most businesses are, therefore, forced to come up with strategic measures to ensure that they remain competitive in the market. In some cases, the strategic measures adopted by a business involve the implementation of a business project.

The benefits of Project Management

During the implementation of a project, it is important for proper project management to be carried out to ensure a business’s project is successful. A question, therefore, arises in regards to the benefits of project management in today’s business environment. This paper seeks to analyze some of the factors that make proper project management to be a very important practice for all businesses. The first benefit derived by a business as a result of practicing project management is the fact that it increases its productivity. Project management increases a business’s productivity by ensuring that each business resource has been used in the best way possible. The fact that project management is characterized by timelines and deadlines for the completion different project activities increases the productivity of a business. This is because the use of timelines ensures that all activities of a business are completed efficiently. In recent times, businesses have been forced to increase their productivity by reducing their costs in order to maintain their competitiveness in the market. Project management also helps businesses to implement their projects according to the amount of budgeted resources. In recent times, many businesses have found it difficult to predict their financial and economic future. The inability of businesses to predict the future makes businesses vulnerable to threats such as inflation and economic turmoil. However, the existence of budgets which are an important tool of project management ensures that businesses carry out their project activities in the best way possible using the resources allocated to them in the budget. The third advantage of project management is the fact that improves the efficiency of communication in the business environment. In order for business to complete any project successfully, all its members and other important stakeholders must be able to communicate with each other and all their customers efficiently. Most project management plans contain a communication plan. The existence of a communication plan as a result of project management ensures that a business’s project has been coordinated by all relevant personnel in a manner that meets its desired outcomes despite the complexity of a business’s environment. Project management is also essential to a business since it helps to monitor the progress of a business. In most cases, most of the activities of a project have timelines and standards that have to be met when implementing them. Project management involves the design of a criterion that will be used to gauge the quality of the project’s activities. It is, therefore, useful to practice project management in a business since it helps to control and ensure that all the members of a business’s internal environment maintain high quality standards when completing a project’s activities. This will ensure that the business remains competitive in its operational environment. The assessment of how to manage and reduce the likelihood of the occurrence of a risk is another benefit that accrues to a business that practices project management. As part of the activities done when managing a project, the management of a business usually conducts a risk assessment that is intended to determine whether the implementation of a certain project will have positive or negatives effects on a business. In a business environment, that is tricky and competitive, the practice of project management enables a business’s manager to reduce their probability of initiating a project is likely to have an adverse effect. Project management also enables the management of a business to ensure that their projects are of high quality. This is because project management is characterized elaborate procedures and plans that give comprehensive guidelines. These guidelines explain the process that should be followed when carrying out a project in order to produce high quality results. Today’s business environment has made it compulsory for businesses to practice project management in order to ensure that their projects bring about the effect increasing the quality of their products. The increased quality of products serves a strategy for business to attract consumers to use their products in today’s competitive business environment. A business could also use project management as a method of streamlining its decision making process. The current business environment is characterized with numerous situations where businesses will be required to make important decisions that have a great impact on the future of a business. Project management assists businesses to come up with elaborate decision making processes. This is because it provides ways of analyzing risks and the factors that should be considered when a business is making important decisions. Project management, therefore, plays an important role in ensuring that businesses make good decisions especially during current times when competition between businesses has become very high.

Conclusion:

References: Bowen, R. (2011, June 7). Importance of Project Management. Retrieved from Bright Hub PM: http://www.brighthubpm.com/certification/16490-importance-of-project-management-an-introduction/ Frame, D. J. (2002). The New Project Management: Tools for of an age of rapid complexity and other business realities. San Francisco: Wiley Company. Grisham, T. W. (2011). International Project Management: Leadership in Complex Environments. Canada: John Wiley and Sons. Munaweera, T. (2012, September 5). Project management in today’s Business Environment. Retrieved from Leg That Walked: http://legthatwalked.blogspot.com/ Soriano, J. L. (2011). Maximizing the Benefits of Project Management: From Requirements to Value Delivery. New York: CRC Press. USAID Regional Competitiveness Initiative. (2011). The Importance of Project Management For Contemporary Business. USAID from the American People, 1-4.

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Why Study Project Management? Top 5 Reasons

• Written by Contributing Writer
• Updated on October 6, 2023

Project management forms the lion’s share of what helps modern organizations run like a well-oiled machine. So, if you’re wondering – “why study project management?” The simple answer is that it’s a booming career.

Plus, there are more project management roles to fill than qualified people in the field. This talent gap pushes the demand for skilled professionals even higher.

But that’s not all. There are more reasons to study project management. Whether you’re looking to build a career in this field or want to sharpen your managerial skills, this guide will dive into how studying project management in a project management bootcamp can benefit you.

What is Project Management?

PMI.org defines project management as:

“Project management is the use of specific knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to deliver something of value to people. The development of software for an improved business process, the construction of a building, the relief effort after a natural disaster, the expansion of sales into a new geographic market—these are all examples of projects.”

Project management is the structured approach to completing key project objectives. You can ensure successful outcomes with tactical knowledge, methods, and skills.

When projects have well-defined timelines, sticking to the schedule is necessary. Project Management also involves financial oversight so that the project remains well within the budget constraints.

We can break project management down into five phases:

• Initiation and Discussion
• Reporting and Closing

These phases outline a clear roadmap that people can understand and follow to complete the project on time and successfully.

Also Read: Top Project Manager Interview Questions and Answers

What Do You Study in a Project Management Degree?

Project management is a multi-faceted field. It can be applied to virtually every sector. Every industry finds some application of it. You will find that many different subjects are covered in this course. Here is a rundown of the major topics a good project management program covers.

Decision-making: Project managers must make informed decisions to ensure project success. This involves critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Business analytics: Understanding data and analytics is crucial for optimizing project performance and making data-driven decisions.

Accounting: Financial insight is essential to managing project budgets and allocating resources efficiently.

Data Analytics: Leveraging data analytics tools and techniques to extract valuable insights for project improvement.

Project Management Methodology: Learning established project management frameworks like PMI’s PMBOK or Agile methodologies.

Project Management Processes: Understanding the lifecycle of projects, from initiation to closure, and the processes involved at each stage.

Conflict Resolution: Developing skills to manage conflicts and maintain team cohesion.

Human Resources: Managing project teams, including hiring, training, and performance evaluation.

Risk Management: To ensure project success, identify, assess, and mitigate risks.

Communication: Effective communication is vital for coordinating project activities and keeping stakeholders informed.

Actuarial Science: Understanding actuarial principles may be necessary for risk assessment and forecasting, depending on the industry.

Entrepreneurship: Entrepreneurship concepts can be valuable for those involved in innovative projects.

Information Systems: Utilizing technology and information systems to streamline project processes.

Corporate Social Responsibility: Understanding ethical and social responsibilities in project management.

Organizational Development: Nurturing organizational growth and adaptability through projects.

This is how a project management course equips you with the skills needed to tackle industry issues and challenges.

Why Study Project Management, and What Makes Project Management a Promising Career?

Project management is not simply a necessity of the times. It also offers numerous advantages and opportunities. For example, there has been a six percent increase in project management jobs in just one year – from 2022 to 2023, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics .

In this section, we’ll explore the compelling reasons why choosing a career in project management can be a smart move.

High Demand for Project Managers

The demand for skilled project managers is on the rise globally. Companies across various industries seek professionals who can efficiently transform concepts into tangible outcomes.

Enrolling in a project management course makes you invaluable to organizations, thanks to the skills you get. In today’s job market, top companies whisk competent project managers away. Hence, it is a great time to delve into project management.

Versatile Skill Set Across Industries

Project management expertise is highly versatile. It has so many applications in different industries. A project management certification in your name opens doors to many industries and sectors. This way, you will be more open to pursuing a career aligned with your passion.

Whether in engineering, construction, finance, law, healthcare, or technology, your project management qualification is valuable.

Lucrative Compensation Packages

Earning potential in project management is enticing. Salaries for project managers vary by sector and experience but often reach substantial figures. For instance, project managers in finance have an average salary of about $78,000 per year, according to Payscale .

While this is the median salary, your income can vary based on your sector, specific projects, employer, qualifications, and experience.

Accelerated Career Advancement

A project management qualification isn’t just a ticket to high-paying jobs; it’s also a catalyst for career advancement. Project management encompasses an array of skills, including leadership and teamwork.

You gain proficiency in managerial and leadership roles with a project management certification. Coupled with a track record of successfully executing high-level projects, you can expect rapid career growth. You’ll find yourself moving into more exciting and higher-paying positions at a faster pace.

Enhanced Productivity and Business Acumen

Project management not only gives you professional skills, but it also gives you a personal boost. Even if you don’t aspire to be a top-tier project manager, project management skills can significantly boost your productivity and business acumen at a personal level. These skills enable you to stay focused and efficient at work.

Whether you’re an entrepreneur or part of a larger organization, you can apply the knowledge from a project management course to improve your professional effectiveness.

Also Read: Program Manager vs. Project Manager: Here Are the Differences You Should Know

Types of Project Management Jobs

If you study project management, it opens the doors to a wide array of career opportunities. Let’s take a quick look into various project management roles, what they do, and the average salary of these roles.

Construction Project Manager

Construction project managers oversee building projects from start to finish. As a project manager, you must manage budgets, coordinate with subcontractors, and ensure compliance with regulations and permits. The average salary for this role is around $92,141 per year.

Marketing Project Manager

Marketing project managers specialize in planning, managing, and executing marketing campaigns. They identify necessary skills and resources, ensure projects stay within budget, and supervise campaign teams. They have an average salary of $65,436, according to Indeed .

Architectural Project Manager

The role of an architectural project manager encompasses leading projects from budgeting to implementation. You must visit construction sites, provide recommendations, procure construction bids, and oversee the entire architectural project. You can expect an average annual salary of $87,526 , depending on your experience.

Engineering Project Manager

An engineering project manager must plan, direct, and coordinate the development of new products, designs, and processes. You also lead research and development, create project plans, and manage budgets and staffing. It is a great position with an annual average salary of $101,717.

Systems Project Manager

Systems project managers play a hands-on role in planning, designing, and executing projects, often requiring computer and business operating systems expertise. These roles receive an average annual salary of $99,991 .

Electrical Project Manager

Electrical project managers handle large commercial electrical projects. They manage staff, delegate tasks, and oversee the full scope of electrical construction and maintenance projects. It is a lucrative position with an average salary of $97,949 annually.

IT Project Manager

They are tasked with overseeing a company’s IT department, ensuring the realization of IT strategies and successful project completion. They have salaries of an annual average reaching $99,010

While these are only some major roles, you will find it a much-needed skill in many industries. As you consider your career path, these roles serve as valuable starting points for exploring the possibilities of the world of project management.

Enter the Exciting and Rewarding World of Project Management

In a world heavily reliant on effective business processes, the demand for project management skills won’t decline anytime soon. It’s a great time to obtain these skills through an industry-recognized project management certification .

Delivered by Simplilearn in collaboration with the University of Massachusetts, this expert-led program teaches you the essential frameworks, practical tools, and digital skills to manage complex, transformational projects.

Whether you aspire to lead projects in the digital age or enhance your current project management expertise, this program offers a comprehensive learning experience. While you study project management in this course, get hands-on training and scope to apply your learning to real-world scenarios through capstone projects. As a program graduate, you’ll gain a certificate of completion and official UMass Amherst Alumni Association membership, opening doors to invaluable opportunities.

You might also like to read:

Project Leader: Responsibilities, Job Description, Salary & Everything You Should Know

Is Project Management a Good Career? Here’s What You Need to Know

What is Project Management? Tools, Process & Everything You Should Know

Project Management Qualifications: All You Need to Know

How to Ace the PMP Exam? A Comprehensive Guide

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Project Management Methodologies, Essay Example

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It is important to differentiate between that of a Body of Knowledge (BOK) and a Project Management Methodology.  PMI [1] essentially have a Body of Knowledge that is more concerned with effective governance of Project Management. The Association for Project Management (APM)  endorse PRINCE2 ( Projects in a Controlled Environment) which is a product based PM method focusing on deliverables.  There are also agile project management methods like that of SCRUM. For example “Scrum is an agile method for project management developed by Ken Schwaber. Its goal is to dramatically improve productivity in teams previously paralyzed by heavier, process-laden methodologies” (Alexandrou, 2010).  Another method approach often used in prototyping is that of SPIRAL “The spiral methodology extends the waterfall model by introducing prototyping. It is generally chosen over the waterfall approach for large, expensive, and complicated projects” (Alexandrou, 2010).

Project Management methodologies are used in order to organize Planning, Organization and control into a structured environment. For example PRINCE2 has eight stages in the total project lifecycle delivery process.  Each stage represents a deliverable in the overall incremental delivery process and has Stage Gate Reviews in order to review and sign off the completion of a stage before proceeding to the next.  All projects require some form of Project Management and these are often broken into small, medium and complex projects. This categorization will determine the number of mandatory tasks required within each stage of the project.

Project Management methods provide industry with the assurance that the projects are being delivered in a logical, methodical and structured way as opposed to an ad hoc approach. Methods ensure proper governance over project delivery and quality assurance reviews that ensure better quality projects delivered within optimum timescales.  “By using proven planning and control Project Management methods you can define and achieve agreed goals, and co-ordinate multiple resources within time and cost restraints” (PSA Project, 2005).  “Project management methods help organizational leaders by displaying the information in a way that is easy to see, understand and analyze.” (Jacowski, 2010)

PM Methods help with defining project scope and objectives in two very distinct ways. They provide foundation documents like Project Initiation Documents (PID’s) and Project Management Charters that provide a base terms of reference for the project to be delivered. These translate directly to the Activities, Tasks and Milestones in the Project Plan.  Hence they become the prime change control documents for any subsequent changes that occur during the project implementation lifecycle. “By using proven planning and control Project Management methods you can define and achieve agreed goals, and co-ordinate multiple resources within time and cost restraints.” (PSA Project, 2005)

When selecting methods, tools and techniques for a project it is necessary to determine the type of project you are implementing.  For example if you are going to implement a project that is heavy in prototyping, then SPIRAL might be most appropriate.  If it is a long complex project that requires a high degree of structure in planning, organization and control ( government projects being very typical of this) then you might adopt a method like PRINCE2 and the supporting software assists. Those projects that require a more agile approach and need to be implemented in very short timescales may benefit from a method like SCRUM. “ Agile Project Management methods refer to a set of software development strategies based on iterative development; that is, adapted to current circumstances” (Duggan, 2009)

Works Cited

Alexandrou, M. (2010). Scrum Methodology . Retrieved 11 6, 2010, from Marios Alexandrou: http://www.mariosalexandrou.com/methodologies/scrum.asp

Duggan, T. (2009, 9 15). Agile Project Management Methods . Retrieved 11 6, 2010, from ehow: http://www.ehow.com/way_5418577_agile-project-management-methods.html

Jacowski, T. (2010). The Benefits of Project Management . Retrieved 11 6, 2010, from Ezine: http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Benefits-of-Project-Management&id=5244815

PSA Project. (2005). Benefits of Successful Project Management . Retrieved 11 6, 2010, from PSA Project: http://www.psaproject.com.au/project/project-management-benefits.asp

[1]The Project Management Institute in North America.

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Five Reasons a Master’s in Project Management Is Worth It

Industry Advice Management

Advancing your project management career requires the development of a specialized set of skills. Effective project managers must be able to oversee a diverse team, communicate with executive leadership, and keep project plans on track—and do all of this in a work environment that is becoming increasingly digitized and automated .

For mid-career project management professionals, earning certification from an organization such as the Project Management Institute (PMI) is an important step in demonstrating competency and earning a promotion or raise. In today’s increasingly competitive job market, however, certification alone may not be enough to stand out. That’s why earning a master’s degree in project management is essential for anyone interested in building their skills to get ahead.

Download Our Free Guide to Advancing Your Project Management Career

Learn what you need to know, from in-demand skills to the industry’s growing job opportunities.

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What Are the Responsibilities of a Project Manager?

“A project manager takes a project and drives it through an organization, helping the organization achieve the project goals set forth by executive leadership,” says Christopher Bolick, lead faculty for Northeastern University’s Master of Science in Project Management program .

The main responsibilities of a project manager , he says, focus on oversight of the five stages of the project life cycle, which include:

• Initiating : Define the primary objectives and scope of the project , identify the key stakeholders, discuss overall expectations, and secure the permission to move forward.
• Planning : Create an integrated project plan based on project goals in order to manage elements such as scope, cost, timelines, risk, quality, and communication.
• Executing : Complete the work as scheduled and resolve issues as they arise.
• Monitoring and Controlling : Throughout the project, compare actual performance with planned performance and adjust project plans as necessary.
• Closing : Release resources that are no longer needed, close contracts, pay invoices, archive project files, and lead a post-implementation review.

Why Is a Master’s in Project Management Worth It?

The project management field is expected to see substantial growth over the next decade, making now a great time to upskill and meet demand. According to the PMI, employers will need to fill about 2.2 million project-related jobs each year until 2027. This need comes at a time when many project management professionals are retiring, which will create even more of a demand for early- or mid-career professionals with the right skills and project management experience.

One way to advance your career in this industry is by obtaining PMP certification from the PMI. Certification helps demonstrate your proficiency in managing projects and teams . It also tends to lead to a salary boost; according to the PMI, the median annual salary of a project manager with PMP certification is $111,000, as compared to $91,000 for non-PMP holders.

However, PMP certification alone does not provide you with the wide range of skills necessary to manage complex projects or increasingly diverse teams. Instead, a master’s degree in project management can be the key to advancing your career, as it focuses on building the critical project management skills you need to thrive in this industry. These skills can include developing cultural awareness, managing interpersonal conflict, and leading remote teams, among others. 

“The foundational goal of the Master of Science in Project Management program is to teach students how to efficiently and effectively deliver projects in an ethical manner,” Bolick says.

5 Benefits of an MS in Project Management

A Master of Science in Project Management will help you advance your career in five key ways.

1. You’ll learn project management skills in a real-world setting.

A high-quality master of project management program like Northeastern’s will offer students multiple opportunities for experiential learning —such as co-ops or internships—which allow them to gain real, hands-on experience and put their education to use.

Through these experiences, students acquire knowledge and skills through observation and experimentation in a professional setting. At Northeastern, this is achieved by providing students the chance to support organizations that would otherwise lack the resources to perform critical tasks, including cost estimating , scheduling, and quality assurance.

“We partner with a company that has a project to complete, and develop a project management plan that they will use,” Bolick says. Through this approach, “students see how the processes and tools that they are learning [in the classroom] can be used in the workforce.”

Experiential learning also allows students to build their communication skills, especially with executives and project sponsors who authorize a project to move forward. This alone may make a master’s in project management worth it to some, as a PMP certification will not address the nuances of interpersonal communication in the same way.

2. You’ll identify key project management trends.

Today’s emerging project management trends reflect the changing nature of how organizations define and organize teams. “Teams may no longer be comprised of traditional resources,” Bolick says. “They may not be centrally located. They may be supported by artificial intelligence and machine learning systems.”

This digitization of the workforce requires new competencies among project managers, as well, Bolick adds. As tactical and repeatable processes such as routine cost estimation are automated, these professionals will have to increasingly use their soft skills to facilitate a team’s work. This requires developing a unique range of abilities, including cognitive flexibility, analytical savvy, and managing resource efficiency.

Leading a digitized workforce also requires paying closer attention to cultural dynamics. Project teams, like the companies that employ them, are increasingly global, with employees based in disparate locations and representing a variety of cultural backgrounds. “The cultural awareness factor [in today’s project managers] is important now more than ever,” Bolick says.

3. You’ll be more prepared for a senior project management role.

A master’s degree in project management is not always required for a role as a project manager, but the requirement is becoming increasingly common. According to a recent report from Burning Glass Labor Insight , 34 percent of project management job postings prefer or require a graduate degree in addition to requiring PMP certification.

What’s more, a master’s degree can prepare you to take on additional project management responsibility within your organization and increase your earnings as a project manager . For instance, with a graduate degree, you may get the opportunity to:

• Take a role as a senior project manager. According to a recent PMI survey of project management professionals in the United States, promotion to a more senior project management role is often accompanied by a salary increase of at least 10 percent. For example, moving from a Project Manager II role to a Project Manager III role typically comes with a 13 percent raise.
• Manage a larger team. Project managers’ earnings increase as they take on the added responsibility of managing larger project teams. A project manager who oversees a team of 20 or more people earns about eight percent more than a project manager with a team of 10 to 14 people, according to the PMI.
• Manage a larger project. The overall budget of a project can impact the salary of the project manager overseeing that project. Larger projects tend to have larger teams and tend to be a higher priority for an organization. According to the PMI, a project manager overseeing a project with a budget of more than $10 million can expect to earn about 18 percent more than someone overseeing a project with a budget of less than $1 million, and 40 percent more than someone overseeing a project with a budget of less than $100,000.

4. You can prepare for a project management role in a specific field.

While many of the guiding principles of project management can be applied to a job in any industry, there are certain business processes, regulations, and best practices that apply to specific industries. For example, construction and energy have specific regulations regarding workplace safety, healthcare has strict protections in place for the use of personal health information, and information technology often moves and changes direction at a much faster pace than other industries.

One factor that makes a master’s degree in project management worthwhile is the ability to select a concentration in the field that you currently work in or would like to transition into . In top programs like Northeastern’s, faculty members will have direct experience working in a variety of industries and concentrations, which they will be able to share with students as they embark on this kind of specialized training.

In Northeastern’s masters in project management degree, for example, students are able to choose from a number of concentrations to find the option that best fits their career interests and goals. These include: 

• Agile Project Management
• Construction Management
• Organizational Communication
• Project Business Analysis
• Leading and Managing Technical Projects

5. You’ll learn skills with an impact beyond project management.

Even if your career path eventually takes you in a different direction , the skills that you can learn during the pursuit of a master’s in project management will help you in whatever new role you take . The key characteristics of an effective project manager—which include organization, discipline, time management , and communication—are well-suited for any job in today’s ever-changing world.

How to Choose a Master’s Degree Program That Works for You

If you are considering earning a master’s degree in project management, it is important that you evaluate all of your options in order to find the program that best aligns with your personal and professional goals. When trying to figure out which program is right for you, keep the following points in mind: 

• Does the program offer experiential learning opportunities that will allow you to put your learning into practice?
• Does the program offer a concentration specifically in your desired industry or field so that you can gain the industry-specific knowledge you’ll need for success?
• Have the program’s faculty members actually spent time working in the field as a project manager?
• Does the program have enough flexibility to allow you to continue working while you pursue your degree ?

Each of these criteria is a hallmark of Northeastern’s Master of Science in Project Management program , making it a coveted choice among project managers on the path toward career growth.

For more information about how a master’s degree in project management can help advance your career, download our free guide to breaking into the industry below.

This article was originally published in December 2018. It has since been updated for accuracy and relevance.

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Did you know.

Employers will need to fill 2.2 million new project-oriented roles each year through 2027. (PMI, 2017)

Master of Science in Project Management

Behind every successful project is a leader who forged its path.

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