To any project manager, team member, sponsor, supplier, and stakeholder, it might seem trivial to say that “effective project management is more important than ever before.” However, in 2024, that would likely be an understatement. According to Smartsheet’s Future of Work Management Report 2023, 91% of employees say their company is facing project management challenges, 85% of which say they feel overwhelmed by project pace and deadlines.
If your organization doesn’t already have a certified project manager, which 82% of people believe is critical to project success, here are 5 tips that could positively impact your project management experience in 2024:
#1 – Track your Projects Effectively using Task Management Software
Staying on top of your tasks using software sounds rather obvious, however, Project.co’s State of Project Management 2021 Report says that “Only 35% of employees use task management software to manage their to-do lists.” In fact, 44% resort to using pen and paper to track their projects. Software like Monday.com, Asana, and Wrike allow teams to sort, manage, and track every project they work on. The same study states that “80% of those who don’t create a task list feel that doing so would make it easier for them to plan out their work”, ultimately leading to increased productivity and output.
#2 – Utilize Agile Project Management for Complex Projects
Depending on the size and complexity of your project, you may want to take advantage of different management styles. In simple terms, Agile project management is an incremental approach that prioritizes flexibility and working in increments rather than in strict phases. State of the Project Management Office (PMO) 2022 report states that over 65% of organizations use Agile methodologies, and 52% of teams utilize it to get products to market faster, according to the 16th Annual State of Agile Report.
#3 – Communication is Critical
No matter the size of your team, communication between members needs to be accessible with as few roadblocks as possible. A whopping 94% of employees feel that “cross-team visibility improves productivity”, which is stated in the Project.co report. This is further supported by the fact that 68% of project professionals see communication as the “most critical skill to develop”, which is stated by the Project Management Institute.
#4 – Stay on Top of AI and other Management Related Trends
Companies are always going to lean toward efficiency, and AI tools like ChatGPT have a reputation for increasing the speed of certain processes. Even if you don’t plan on using AI for projects soon, you can still be well researched and informed about what tools are available. According to Gartner, 80% of today’s project management tasks will be eliminated by AI by 2030. If that’s true, you’ll want to be aware of emerging technologies even before they are released.
#5 – Become a Certified Project Management Professional (PMP)
As an individual, obtaining PMP Certification can not only increase your ability to manage projects and teams, but can also lead to higher earnings. The Project Management Institute claims that “The median salary for PMP holders is 16% higher globally than those without certification.” There is an exam that you must prepare and apply for, and New Jersey Innovation Institute (NJII) offers a PMP training course through NJIT.
Conclusion
These tips should give you a head start on having success with project management for this year and years to come. Both NJII and NJIT see effective project management as a way to stand out amongst your competitors and create a more efficient workflow and team-oriented management style. You can learn more about what we offer at njii.com.