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PMI-002 Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)
Introduction to Project Management (6%)
Understand the five project management process groups and the processes within each group
Recognize the relationships among project, program, portfolio, and operational management
Define a typical project lifecycle
Understand the function and importance of tailoring for different projects
Project Environment (6%)
Identify the factors and assets that may impact the outcome of a project
Distinguish between organizational systems
Understand the purpose and activities of a Project Management Office
Recognize the hierarchy of projects, programs and portfolios
Role of the Project Manager (7%)
State the primary functions of a project manager
Understand a project managers sphere of influence
Identify the major elements included in the PMI triangle
Recognize the difference between leadership and management
Project Integration Management (9%)
Understand the seven project management processes in the project integration management knowledge area
Identify the input, tools, techniques and outputs defined in the seven processes in project integration management
Understand the purpose of project integration management and the project managers role within it
Identify concepts and procedures related to project change management
Identify tailoring consideration in project integration management and recognize key documents
Identify methods for project integration and knowledge management
Project Scope Management (9%)
Understand the six project management processes in the project scope management knowledge area
Identify the Input, tools, techniques and outputs defined in the six processes in project scope management
Identify key concepts and tailoring consideration for project scope management, and key roles in scope management
Identify the purpose and elements of a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) for both Product and Project scope
Understand project scope management for agile/adaptive projects, including the use of prototypes
Project Schedule Management (9%)
Define the six project management processes in the project schedule management knowledge area
Identify the Input, tools, techniques and outputs defined in the six processes in project schedule management
Solve simple network diagrams problems and perform basic scheduling calculations
Identify considerations for agile/adaptive environments in project schedule management
Project Cost Management (8%)
Understand the four project management processes in the project cost management knowledge area
Identify the Input, tools, techniques and outputs defined in the four processes in project cost management
Identify key concepts in project cost management, including tailoring and special considerations for agile/adaptive environments
Understand and apply basic forecasting and earned value methods for project cost management
Project Quality Management (7%)
Understand the three project management processes in the project quality management knowledge area
Identify the Input, tools, techniques and outputs defined in the three quality management processes
Understand the reasons for and approaches to adapting quality management in different project environments
Identify quality tools and approaches for continuous improvement
Project Resource Management (8%)
Define the six project management processes in the project resource management knowledge area
Identify the Input, tools, techniques and outputs defined in the six processes in project resource management
Identify key concepts and trends in project resource management, including tailoring and special considerations for agile/adaptive environments
Identify techniques for developing a team, managing conflict, and resolving resource-related problems
Understand the components of a resource management plan and data representation techniques for managing project resources
Project Communication Management (10%)
Understand the three project management processes in the project communication management knowledge area
Identify the Input, tools, techniques and outputs defined in the three project communication management processes
Identify key concepts and approaches in project communication management, including tailoring and special considerations for agile/adaptive environments
Recognize the dimensions of communication and components of a communications management plan
Identify communications skills and methods for project communication management
Project Risk Management (8%)
Understand the seven project management processes in the project risk management knowledge area
Identify the Input, tools, techniques and outputs defined in project risk management
Identify the key documents in project risk management
Perform simple risk calculations
Recognize when and how to adjust risk based on the project environment
Project Procurement Management (4%)
Understand the three processes in the project procurement management knowledge area
Identify the Input, tools, techniques and outputs defined in the three project procurement processes
Identify key concepts and tailoring considerations for project procurement management, including trends and emerging practices
Identify various types of contracts, agreements, and source selection methods
Project Stakeholder Management (9%)
Understand the four project management processes in the project stakeholder management knowledge area
Identify the Input, tools, techniques and outputs defined in the four project stakeholder management processes
Recognize key stakeholders roles and needs
Identify the key concepts and benefits of stakeholder management
Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) PMI Management information source
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PMI-002
Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)
https://killexams.com/pass4sure/exam-detail/PMI-002 Question: 334
What techniques are used to control the project schedule?
A. Pareto diagram
B. Performance measurement
C. Parametric modeling
D. Statistical sampling Answer: B Question: 335
The MOST important selection criterion to select a project manager for a large project
in a technical industry is:
A. Communication and Integration skills.
B. Specific technical specialization.
C. Financial management experience.
D. Industry and business experience. Answer: A Question: 336
Which of the following describes tool/ technique where expenditure of funds is
reconciled with the funding limits imposed by the performing organization?
A. Forecasting
B. Cost reconciliation
C. Funding limit reconciliation
D. Reserve reconciliation Answer: C Question: 337
18 You are the project manager of a software company. As software development can
be very chaotic, your company has decided to follow a more rigorous approach to
software development. Specifically your company has chosen to adopt the extreme
programming XP methodology for your current software project. The XP
methodology is highly iterative, and produces numerous deliverables include UML
diagrams, architecture diagrams, prototypes and test-cases. Assume you are in the
Sequence Activities phase of the project. Which of the following sequencing methods
should you use to identify the logical relationships between tasks, so that the activities
can be sequenced correctly?
A. ADM
B. PDM
C. GEPT
D. A0A Answer: C Question: 338
You are the project manager and have just completed the Collect Requirements and
Define Scope process. What should you do next?
A. Create WBS
B. Verify Scope
C. Value analysis
D. Control Scope Answer: A Question: 339
A project is considered successful when:
A. The project meets or exceeds the expectations of the stakeholders.
B. The product of the project has been manufactured.
C. The project sponsor announces the completion of the project.
D. None of the above Answer: A Question: 340
The level of authority a project manager has is __________.
A. based on the organizational structure
B. based on the amount of authority the manager of the project manager possesses
C. based on the key stakeholder's influence on the project
D. based on the project managers communication skills Answer: A Question: 341
With respect to earned value analysis, which of the following is the value of work
actually completed?
A. actual Cost (AC)
B. planed Value (PV)
C. Cost Variance (CV)
D. Earned Value (EV) Answer: D Question: 342
As a project manager, you know that the most important activity to ensure customer
and stakeholder satisfaction is:
A. Documenting and meeting the requirements
B. Reporting project status regularly and in a timely manner
C. Documenting and meeting the performance measurements
D. Reporting changes and updating the project plan and other project documents
where appropriate Answer: A Question: 343
During ___________ project management process, stakeholder's ability to influence
project results is high?
A. Initiating
B. Planning
C. Monitoring and Controlling
D. Executing Answer: A Question: 344
Which process involves coordinating people and other resources to carry out a plan?
A. Executing processes
B. Planning processes
C. Controlling Processes
D. Closing processes Answer: A Question: 345
Which of the following are not indirect costs?
A. Payroll tax cost.
B. Subcontract costs.
C. Insurance costs.
D. Accounting support costs. Answer: B Question: 346
Which of the following is true about a project charter?
A. A project charter should be published under the name of a manager external to the
project.
B. A project charter should be published under the project sponsor's name.
C. A project charter should be published under the name of the project manager.
D. A project charter should be published under the name of the project champion. Answer: A Question: 347
As a project manager, you know that the most important activity to ensure customer
and stakeholder satisfaction is which of the following?
A. Documenting and meeting the requirements
B. Reporting project status regularly and in a timely manner
C. Documenting and meeting the performance measurements
D. Reporting changes and updating the project plan and other project documents
where appropriate Answer: A Question: 348
23 Reverse analysis is a tool or technique in all of the following processes EXCEPT:
A. Monitor and Control Risks
B. Activity resource estimation
C. Cost estimation
D. Determine Budget Answer: B Question: 349
The quality management plan includes all of the following EXCEPT quality:
A. Planning
B. Definitions
C. Assurance
D. Control Answer: B Question: 350
You are project manager and the monthly report to the client showed zero schedule
variance. However, member of the team know that a milestone has been missed which
will cause an overall delay to the project. Which one of the following is being
inadequately reported?
A. Communication plan variance
B. Resource management plan
C. Critical path status
D. Risk analysis Answer: C
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https://killexams.com/exam_list/PMIPipedrive vs. Trello: Differences, pros and cons in 2023
For managers and team leaders, Pipedrive and Trello are two powerful tools that you might be considering. “If you find your team struggling to keep track of tasks, deadlines and project progress, investing in project management software could significantly Boost your efficiency and collaboration,” said Jon Morgan, CEO of Venture Smarter, a consulting firm for startups and small businesses.
While both of these software options can support both small and large organizations, they do so in different ways. Learning about the differences between Pipedrive’s and Trello’s features, integrations and pricing can help you choose the best program to meet your needs.
Pipedrive vs. Trello: Quick overview
Pipedrive and Trello can both help companies stay organized and on top of their projects. However, the specific needs of a business coupled with each platform’s varying features, integrations and pricing options may make one platform a better fit over the other.
Pricing and value
Verdict: Trello
Pipedrive pricing and value
Pipedrive offers five plan tiers, but there is no free plan available. However, customers can sign up for a 14-day free trial for any of the tiers, with no credit card required. The Essential plan is the least expensive option, costing $21.90 per user per month (or $14.90 per user per month with annual billing). This plan is designed for beginners and small businesses and includes capabilities such as managing a pipeline and importing data from other customer relationship management (CRM) solutions.
The Advanced plan, which costs $37.90 per user per month (or $27.90 per user per month with annual billing), adds features. It allows users to sync the Outlook, Gmail or company domain email account with the platform, offers automation options, makes it possible to share availability and schedule meetings with customers and implement automations.
Pipedrive labels the Professional plan as the most popular customer choice. It costs $59.90 per user per month (or $49.90 per user per month with annual billing). The plan is designed for smaller businesses with well-established sales teams. It allows for the creation of rules to automatically assign leads to team members and the ability to create and manage team goals, send contracts and proposals to clients and customize permissions and access.
Larger teams may find that the Power plan, which costs $74.90 per user per month or $64.90 per month with annual billing, is the right fit for their organization. The kanban board view enables members to sketch out and manage up to 200,000 deals, easily handle more complex projects and organize to-do lists. This plan is scalable and allows managers to provide visibility and permissions to members for different boards and teams.
The Enterprise plan does not put any limits on deals, reports, teams and other features, making it a good fit for large organizations managing lots of projects. This plan, which costs $119 per user per month or $99 per month with annual billing, also allows for more advanced account protections, including two-factor authentication, time- and IP-based restriction and more. Users can also receive alerts for any potentially suspicious activity.
Trello pricing and value
Trello customers can choose from four different plan options. The first tier, which is free, offers features designed to help individuals or teams keep their projects organized. It includes a maximum of 10 boards on each Workspace with unlimited cards. This plan also provides for unlimited integrations and plug-ins, unlimited storage (for files up to 10 MB each) and the ability to create due dates for cards.
The Standard plan builds on the features included in the free plan. It costs $6 per user per month (or $5 per user per month with annual billing). Some of the added features with this option include unlimited boards, more advanced checklists and unlimited storage (for files up to 250MB each). Users can also run up to 1,000 workspace commands each month and can create custom fields for their cards.
For $12.50 per user per month (or $10 per user per month with annual billing), businesses can sign up for Trello’s Premium plan. In addition to everything included in the Standard plan, this option adds additional views, such as calendars, maps and timelines. It also provides unlimited workspace command runs and special workspace templates. Teams also have access to security features that are not included with the lower-tier options.
The Enterprise plan is designed for larger organizations with multiple teams to manage. This option offers greater control to managers, allowing them to set attachment permissions and manage organization-visible boards. It also allows for multi-board guests, unlimited workspaces and management of public boards.
Key features
Verdict: Tie
Pipedrive and Trello are designed with different goals in mind. While Pipedrive is a customer relationship management (CRM) solution that supports building sales revenue and closing deals, Trello is more of a project management tool.
Pipedrive features
Pipedrive’s features are designed to support businesses with marketing their products, generating and following up with leads and closing deals. Some of the sales software features include:
Customizable pipelines based on the specific operations of the company.
Automation of processes and lead distribution.
Customizable sales reports.
Centralized communication across the operation.
Pipedrive can also support a company’s email marketing campaigns through the use of the included templates and a drag-and-drop email builder, real-time sales reports and automated customer relationship sequences. There are also some project management features included with Pipedrive, such as the ability to automate lead qualification flows and some of the more mundane processes involved in executing a sales process.
Trello features
Trello offers several features designed to help users and businesses get the most out of the platform. Trello views include:
Board
Timeline
Table
Dashboard
Map
Workspace
Calendar
These enable users to monitor the varying aspects of each project to better track its progress and see it through to completion.
With Trello, users can automate many processes, reducing your and your team’s workload. For example, Butler makes it possible to set rules and develop commands that will automatically move cards to the next step. Users can also design triggers that will alert team members to important steps they need to take.
Trello offers several power-ups designed to further enhance user experience by, for example, replicating cards, implementing voting and creating calendars. There are also a variety of templates to choose from to customize the look of each board, including options related to marketing, productivity, sales, team management and education.
Software integrations
Verdict: Pipedrive
Pipedrive and Trello both offer several software integration options that allow businesses to connect the various tools needed to run their companies. However, since Pipedrive offers about double the number of integrations as Trello, it wins in this category.
Pipedrive software integrations
Pipedrive offers more than 400 integrations with different marketing, lead generation, email and customer support tools. Subscribers can browse through the available apps in the Marketplace or search for the specific ones their company already relies on. A few of the integrations that are available include:
Microsoft Teams
Zapier
Google Meet
DocuSign
QuickBooks
Asana
Trello software integrations
Trello users can integrate the software with around 200 different apps. The integrations section of the website houses all the different options, which can be filtered by categories, such as analytics and reporting, file management, developer tools, product and design and sales and support. Some of the available integrations include:
Telegram.
Twitter.
Tick Time Tracking.
Mailchimp.
Evernote.
Customer Support
Verdict: Pipedrive
Pipedrive and Trello offer similar customer support structures. However, we’d supply the edge to Pipedrive. Subscribers to all plans have access to 24/7 email and chat support, while Trello only offers 24/7 support for Premium and Enterprise plan holders.
Pipedrive Customer Support
Pipedrive offers 24/7 live chat and email support in English and Portuguese for all plan holders. Live chat support is also available for Spanish, French or German speakers, but on a more limited basis. To access the live chat feature, you must be logged into your account.
The option to receive phone support is only available for Enterprise and Power plan subscribers. Phone support is also only available Mondays through Fridays. Support is only offered in English (6 a.m. to 10 p.m. UTC) and Portuguese (9 a.m. to 10 p.m. UTC).
Trello Customer Support
Trello’s customer support features and capabilities look different depending on which plan they choose. Free plan subscribers do not have the option to connect with a representative. Instead, they can browse through the Trello section of the Atlassian community page to post questions, read through the featured articles or view discussions from other users.
All paid plan subscribers are able to connect with the support team, though the availability and response time vary between plans. For example, Standard plan subscribers can only reach a member of the team during local business hours, while Premium and Enterprise subscribers receive 24/7 support with faster response times for high-impact issues. Enterprise subscribers also have access to phone support.
User reviews
Verdict: Trello
User reviews for Pipedrive and Trello are comparable, with both companies receiving between 3.8 and 4.5 stars across various reputable sources, including G2, Trustpilot, Google Play and the Apple Store. However, reviews for Trello trend on the higher end of this range, with only one site displaying an average score below four.
Pipedrive user reviews
Reviews from Pipedrive users range from 3.8 to 4.5 stars across Trustpilot (4.5 stars with over 1,500 reviews), G2 (4.2 stars with nearly 1,700 reviews), Google Play (3.9 stars with over 3,100 reviews) and the Apple App Store (3.8 stars with around 500 reviews).
Positive reviews mention the tool’s ease of using and creating sales pipelines and the different options for customizing them to a business’s specific needs.
However, not all customers are happy with Pipedrive’s performance and some feel that it isn’t the right fit for their needs. Several mentioned its lack of marketing features in their review of the company. Others expressed dissatisfaction with the company’s billing practices and felt that they were unjustly charged for canceled accounts.
Trello user reviews
Customer reviews for Trello are slightly more favorable than those for Pipedrive. Ratings range from 3.7 stars on Trustpilot to 4.4 stars on G2, with Google Play and the Apple App Store landing in the middle with 4.4 stars on both.
Positive reviews for Trello highlight the platform’s ease of use. Customers like that they can drag and drop cards from one category to the next. Several reviewers shared that the way Trello is set up gives all team members a clear view of projects’ statuses and who is assigned to which tasks.
However, some users shared that the platform was not as intuitive as others they have used. Other users felt that Trello is not sufficient for managing more complex projects and that it may be better suited for smaller teams.
Final verdict
Winner: Tie
As Venture Smarter CEO Jon Morgan says, “Comparing Pipedrive and Trello is like comparing apples and oranges.”
While both of these programs offer a lot of great features to help businesses, they are designed with different goals in mind. The right one for you will depend on the specific needs of your business, or you may benefit from what they both have to offer.
Who is Pipedrive best for?
If your goal is to increase company sales and Boost follow-up with leads, then Pipedrive may be the best program for you. This CRM tool is “designed to help businesses manage their sales pipelines and customer interactions. It’s fantastic for tracking leads, automating sales processes and improving conversions,” Morgan said.
Who is Trello best for?
While Pipedrive’s focus is more on sales pipelines, Trello is a project management tool designed to help teams collaborate and track the status of different tasks. Morgan said that “it’s excellent for visual thinkers and teams that need a flexible and intuitive way to manage projects.” Choose Trello if you want to streamline your workflow and processes.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Pipedrive and Trello are both very different programs. While Pipedrive is a CRM designed to help teams set up and manage sales pipelines to ensure adequate follow-up and lead closing, Trello is more of a project management tool that allows organizations to create and track tasks assignments and progress.
The specific features and functions that your company or business is looking for can help you decide which option is best for you.
While investing in project management software isn’t a requirement, you might find that it helps your company better monitor the status of various projects and identify priorities. The best project management software options will also make it easier for different team members to communicate and collaborate to Boost efficiency and results.
When choosing project management software, it is important to keep the specific needs of your business or organization in mind. Edlyn Collanto, a SEO research associate withUpCity, shares that “the key is finding a solution that provides the necessary features to plan and coordinate tasks, resources, timelines and budgets without overly complicating workflows.”
Collanto adds that business owners should “consider ease of use, flexibility, integration capabilities and pricing” as they compare the various project management software options. She also said that “the right software should seamlessly facilitate coordination while providing the controls and visibility needed at all levels to execute projects successfully.”
The cost to purchase project management software varies widely based on the product, plan level and the number of users in the organization. Many software companies offer free plan options that are typically best suited for individuals or smaller teams that only require basic features.
Paid plan options start around $5 per user per month and may cost upwards of $100 per user per month for more advanced features. If you have a large number of employees, many software programs offer enterprise-level pricing, but you may have to contact the company for a custom rate for your business.
Thu, 16 Nov 2023 07:52:00 -0600en-UStext/htmlhttps://www.usatoday.com/money/blueprint/business/project-management/pipedrive-vs-trello/10 Best Project Management Software Of 2023
To choose a project management software, consider each provider’s cost and added fees, overall features and functionality offerings, reporting, integration capabilities, necessary features vs. feature overload, customer reviews and customer support. In this section, we walk you through how to approach this assessment.
Essential Project Management Software Features
Project management software has basic features that most projects need to be successful. However, extra or unique features make some software options better for certain teams or businesses. It’s important to do your research to understand what unique features might make your project more successful based on your team approach, type of business or type of project. Some highly utilized project management tools and features include:
Budget planning tools: Budget planning tools allow you to upload your set budget, then track expenses and invoices to compare project costs to the planned budget. By tracking this variance, you can determine if you are running into a budgeting problem. Financial forecasting tools further help you to ensure you don’t run over budget or, worse, have to stop the project because of lack of funds.
Resource management tools: Resource utilization tools allow you to plan, track and record where resources—such as your talent—are used in the project’s execution. In doing so, it helps to reveal gaps in availability or when certain team members are overused (risking burnout), then adjust resource allocation to prevent problems.
Task management features: Task management features include automations (that eliminate redundant tasks from to-do lists). Examples include automating invoicing, the identification of critical project changes and managing project workflows. Other task management tools include boards (to visualize moving tasks through their stages to completion), calendars, timeline views, scheduling, task tracking and task prioritization.
Risk management features: Common project risks include finishing over budget, with a lower-quality outcome than expected or not finishing on time. Many tools within a project management software can help you balance competing demands to finish the project as intended, including critical path charts, checklists, scheduling tools, cost breakdowns, cost variance reports and timelines.
Reports and charts: Project management software offers digital charts for planning, tracking and readjusting your projects’ timelines, budget and quality as needed. For example, Kanban charts show tasks on a timeline board and their status. Gantt charts also supply an overview of a project’s timeline complete with its phases, tasks and outputs. You can gather or feed data into these charts to update in real time.
Mobile app: Mobile apps help teams easily track, manage and deliver project deliverables from anywhere, helping to ensure all members are always in the know no matter where they are. Real-time knowledge can help them make smart decisions that keep projects progressing as planned. Apps also offer personalized content so team members know the tasks, activities and milestones they must complete each day.
Integrations: Integrations help to boost a project management software’s performance and cater it to your needs. Slack and Google Drive integrations, for example, allow team members to collaborate within the software on project deliverables. Stripe also allows your team to invoice clients for deliverables. Many project management software offer hundreds or even thousands of integration options.
Client management tools: Many project management software offer various features for including your clients in the project’s execution, keeping them up to date on the project’s status and maintaining a professional relationship. Such tools include video-conferencing tools, invoicing and the ability to add clients as users to the project management software while maintaining control over what they can and cannot see.
Collaboration tools: Many project management platforms offer tools to help project execution team members work together seamlessly, even across locations. Some come in the form of integrations, such as Slack. Others, however, are built in. Such built-in tools often include shared calendars, group chats, document sharing, chat forums and team email.
Demos and team feedback: Project management software may have all the right features but, if your team isn’t comfortable with it, it may underperform in project execution. For this reason, many software programs offer demos your team can use to test them, even allowing you to pilot them in a real project. From there, you can gather team feedback to learn the software’s appropriateness for your team and needs.
Ease of Use
Look for tools and designs that can help your organization use the software easier, despite barriers such as little knowledge of best practices or a cumbersome number of tasks that must be completed on a daily basis. Choosing the right ease-of-use features for your organization depends on many factors, including your company’s tech-savviness and size. However, some ease-of-use features commonly used by small to midsized companies are:
Templates: Project management software templates incorporate project management best practices.
Learning materials and opportunities: Software knowledge bases allow project managers and team members to learn how to expertly implement the software’s features based on layman’s terms definitions, videos and more. Demos are another opportunity to learn via often live interaction with software experts who know how to present its features and answer questions in layman’s terms.
Automations: Automations make complex tasks instant and effortless by taking repetitive and often tedious tasks out of human hands. Less hands-on interaction makes the software’s involvement in project management easier to manage. Preset automation recipes make this ease-of-use feature even more intuitive.
Mobile apps: Logistically, mobile apps make using the software easier by facilitating the gathering and dissemination of necessary information and helping team members complete tasks in a timely manner. Project field practitioners, for example, can update pertinent information on a project’s status without having to hold up the project to go back to the office to input such data.
Reporting and Analytics
Reporting within project management software presents key data in a meaningful way to help you understand the success or needed improvements in your projects. The best project management software offer dashboards that break down data in the form of graphs, tables and the like to make gleaning insights from the data instant and intuitive.
Determine the types of key performance indicators (KPIs) you may need to track and the types of needed reports to help you track them. Then, when evaluating your considered software, explore its reporting and analytics options and dashboards to determine if they have what you need.
Common reports that may be helpful in a project management software include project status, health, team availability, risk, variance and timeline reports. Common KPIs include percentage of tasks completed, return on investment (ROI), schedule variance, planned vs. actual hours and the planned project value.
Next, evaluate whether the software will continue to meet your needs by exploring whether you can customize the reports or dashboards to meet needs as they arise. Customization options may include the ability to add or remove columns or create new reporting views.
Customer Reviews
Customer reviews offer real-world insights into what it is like to use your considered software and do business with its provider. Search your considered software on tech review sites such as Capterra and TrustRadius. Read the reviews of past and current users. As you do, you are likely to learn the glitches the software experiences, hidden costs not highlighted on the provider’s website and how the software compares to competitor solutions.
Customer Support
Access to quality customer support ensures that, should a glitch happen in the software, your entire project isn’t derailed. To learn more about your chosen provider’s customer support, search for it on review sites such as TrustRadius and look at the company’s plans to understand what will be available to you and when. Aim to at least ensure support will be responsive during your normal business hours and via the mediums your team is accustomed to using.
Business Size Considerations
As you look at the feature set, remember that startups have different needs in project management software than do large enterprises. For example, enterprise companies may need to manage projects with execution steps that span the globe, while startup projects are more likely to span one or two locations. Demos can help you determine what tools are useful for your organization’s size and which will unnecessarily create a steeper learning curve.
Though one software plan or tool may be best for your organization at your current size, those needs are likely to change as you grow. For example, as you grow, you may need a software or plan with greater automation capabilities to scale operations or greater file storage capacity. So, while it is important to choose a software without unnecessary features, it is equally important to choose one that will continue meeting your feature needs as they grow.
Sat, 11 Nov 2023 21:43:00 -0600Alana Rudderen-UStext/htmlhttps://www.forbes.com/advisor/business/software/best-project-management-software/Best Brainstorming Tools for Better Collaboration & Ideation in 2023
Here are the top brainstorming tools that can enhance creativity, collaboration, and idea generation for your team. Find the perfect tool for your team.
The human mind is a complex system with billions of neurons that allow it to perform many functions, one of which is to think and generate ideas. Experts estimate that the mind thinks between 60,000 to 80,000 thoughts a day; this practically means that your mind can conceive thousands of ideas per day, but without a proper way to document these ideas, they would be lost to oblivion. That is where brainstorming software comes in.
Brainstorming software, also known as mind mapping tools, is used to develop creative ideas. It lets you document and organize your thoughts, add visuals or notes to them and create connections between them.
We have carefully curated a list of the best brainstorming software for teams of all sizes across various industries with different needs. We analyzed each tool’s features, pricing and their pros and cons to help you determine the best option for your organization.
Jump to:
Top brainstorming tools: Comparison chart
Here is a comparison feature summary of the best brainstorming software.
LucidChart is an easy-to-use and intuitive web-based brainstorming app that enables individuals, small teams and large enterprises to visualize and structure their ideas. It provides a vast library of shapes to simply drag and drop onto your mind map, allowing you to create complex diagrams, flowcharts and organizational charts with ease. To start your idea boards, you can begin building your diagrams by choosing from a template from the library or importing outlined ideas from a spreadsheet.
Figure A
Lucidchart new brainstorm with sticky notes
Pricing
Free: Available at no cost for up to 3 editable Lucidchart documents, 60 shapes per Lucidchart document and 100 templates.
Individual: . This plan costs$7.95It includes up to 1 GB of storage.
Team: It costs $9 per user.
Enterprise: Custom quote.
Lucid allows you to bundle its Lucidchart and Lucidsparks products offerings as one package.
Free: You can assess Lucidchart and Lucidspark’s basic features for free.
Individual bundle: This plan costs $11.93.
Team Bundle: It costs $13.50 per user.
Enterprise bundle: Quote available upon request.
Features
Support collaborative diagramming with team members.
Drag-and-drop interface.
Extensive shape libraries.
Integration with third-party services like Microsoft Teams, Salesforce, Slack, Trello and Visio.
Pros
Generous free plan.
Real time collaboration.
Offers over 500 mind map templates.
Cons
New users may experience steep learning curves, as the capabilities may take some time to master.
Some users reported that the tool is somewhat pricey for small businesses.
Miro is an online workspace that enables distributed teams to brainstorm ideas and create mind maps and roadmaps on a single, infinite canvas. It provides a digital canvas where users can add sticky notes, drawings, images and various other visual elements to organize and share ideas.
Miro offers over 400 templates across various categories, including:
Meetings and workshops.
Brainstorming and ideation.
Research and design.
Strategy and planning.
Agile workflow.
Mapping and diagramming.
Figure B
Miro ideation and brainstorming sticky note board.
Pricing
Free: Best for individuals and teams exploring Miro. Limited to three editable boards and up to five talktracks.
Starter: Best for teams. It costs $8 per member per month, billed annually or $10 per member per month, billed monthly.
Business: Best for advanced collaborations. It costs $16 per member per month, billed annually or $20 per member per month, billed monthly.
Enterprise: Custom quotes. This plan is ideal for enterprises with complex collaboration workflows. It requires a minimum of 30 members.
Features
Offers 2000+ advanced diagramming shapes from BPMN, UML, AWS, Google, Azure and Cisco.
Interactive presentation mode.
Allow you to recover saved board history automatically.
Versatile export options.
Whiteboarding capabilities.
Pros
Offers an extensive library of templates.
Integrates with 100+ third-party applications, including Zoom, Slack, Google Drive and Sketch.
Interactive presentation mode.
Offers a free forever education plan for staff and students of educational institutions.
Cons
Miro’s advanced features may take time to learn.
Board owners cannot provide editing access.
ClickUp: Best for versatility
Image: ClickUp
ClickUp is an all-in-one productivity software that allows teams of all sizes to manage projects and tasks and collaborate on ideas. Though ClickUp is primarily a project management tool, its advanced mind map and whiteboard features earned it a spot on our list of the best brainstorming software.
After creating your vision on the ClickUp mind map or whiteboards, you can select and convert the shapes to tasks and assign them to team members. This seamless integration between mind mapping and task management makes ClickUp a powerful tool for brainstorming and idea implementation.
Figure C
ClickUp whiteboards showing flowcharts
Pricing
Free Forever: Available for unlimited team members.
Unlimited: $7 per user per month when billed annually or $10 per user per month when billed monthly.
Business: $12 per user per month when billed annually or $19 per user per month when billed monthly.
Enterprise: Custom quote.
Features
There are over 16 ways to visualize your work, including mind map, Gantt, calendar, list, timeline view and whiteboards.
Offers two mind map options, including node-based and task-based mind maps.
Drag-and-drop to connect dependencies.
You can create, edit or delete tasks directly from your Mind Map.
Pros
Offers over 50 native integrations.
Native time tracking.
Generous free plan.
Cons
It is not primarily designed for brainstorming.
ClickUp free and unlimited plans mind map capability have a use limit of 60 and 100, respectively.
Creately is a visual collaboration platform that allows you to create, collaborate and share diagrams, draw flowcharts, UML, mind maps, UI mockups, network diagrams and wireframes. It offers a variety of pre-designed templates and a simple drag-and-drop interface to create professional-looking visuals. Creately can be used by individuals, teams and organizations across different industries for brainstorming, planning, problem-solving and communication purposes.
Figure D
Brainstorming and ideation in Creately
Pricing
Free Forever: Support up to three canvases, one folder, basic Integrations and basic collaboration.
Personal: This plan costs $5 per month, billed annually or $8 per month, billed monthly.
Team: This plan costs $10 per month, billed annually or $16 per month, billed monthly.
Business: This plan costs $89 per month, billed annually or $149 per month, billed monthly.
Enterprise: Quote available upon request.
Features
Advanced diagramming and whiteboarding.
Real-time collaboration.
Support timelines, grids and kanban boards.
Project management capability.
Image export – 4K, high resolution.
Pros
Ready-to-use templates.
Infinite canvas.
OKR and KPI mapping.
Mind maps, concept maps and decision trees.
Cons
Creately mobile app can be improved.
Some users experience occasional lag.
Bubbl.us: Best for students and small teams
Image: Bubbl.us
If you are on a budget and are looking for a cheap brainstorming tool, Bubbl.us is your go-to solution. The platform simplifies the process of mind mapping and brainstorming, allowing you to organize your thoughts and ideas easily. Its affordable pricing plans will enable you to access all the essential features without breaking the bank. Whether you’re a student working on a project or a professional seeking simple and beginner-friendly solutions, Bubbl.us will do the trick.
Figure E
Website structure diagram in Bubbl.us.
Pricing
Basic: Free for up to three mind maps.
Premium: $4.91 per month, billed annually or $6 per month, billed monthly.
Team: Minimum of 3 users.$59 per year per user, $177 billed annually or $18 per month, billed monthly.
Features
Allow you to export your work as JPG, PNG and text.
You can create and edit mind maps on any device.
Ability to customize color and font as you wish.
Pros
It is affordable.
Offers students, teachers and employees of nonprofit organizations up to 50% discount.
Cons
The premium plan storage capacity is limited to 5 GB.
It’s less feature-rich than other tools on our list.
Coggle: Best for ease of use
Image: Coggle
With Coggle, you can take notes, brainstorm ideas, plan and collaborate with others. It is a simple yet dependable brainstorming platform and its user-friendly interface and intuitive design make it easy for beginners to navigate and use the platform without fuss.
Figure F
Mind mapping in Coggle.
Pricing
Free Forever: No cost for up to 3 private diagrams.
Awesome: $5 per month.
Organization: $8 per month.
Coggle for Enterprise: Custom quote.
Features
PDF and Image download.
Export and import as .mm and text.
Unlimited image uploads.
Color customization.
Pros
Offers revision history capability.
Integration with third-party apps like Asana, Dropbox, GitHub, Google Drive, Jira, MeisterTask, Microsoft Teams, Trello and Typeform.
Cons
Not suitable for planning complex projects.
The free and awesome plans lack branded diagrams capability.
MindMeister: Best for extensive color and styling options
Image: MindMeister
MindMeister is an online mind mapping software that allows users to organize and present ideas visually. It provides a collaborative platform for brainstorming, planning, meeting management and note-taking. Users can create and edit mind maps using various templates, colors and styles. MindMeister is accessible on web browsers and offers mobile applications for iOS and Android devices.
Figure G
MindMeister product launch maps
Pricing
Basic: Free forever per user.
Personal: $3.50 per user per month, billable yearly or $4.50 per user per month, billable 6-monthly.
Pro: $5.50 per user per month, billable yearly or $6.50 per user per month, billable 6-monthly.
Business: $8.50 per user per month, billable yearly or $10.50 per user per month, billable 6-monthly.
Features
File and image attachments.
Team collaboration capability.
Custom product branding.
Export to PDF, image, Freemind, XMind, MindManager, text, MindMeister, Microsoft Word and PowerPoint.
Import from text, Freemind, XMind, MindMeister and MindManager.
Pros
Multiple export and import options.
Extensive styling options.
Versions history.
Cons
Doesn’t offer a month-to-month plan.
Limited integrations
WiseMapping: Best free brainstorming software
Image: WiseMapping
Budget-conscious individuals and businesses looking for free brainstorming software should consider WiseMapping. This mind mapping tool is based on an open source project and it helps individuals and teams visualize their ideas and create structured diagrams at no cost. It offers various features, such as different layouts and styles, collaboration options, attachable notes and the ability to export and share the created maps.
Figure H
Mind map in WiseMapping.
Pricing
WiseMapping is a free, open source tool.
Features
Export your maps to SVG, PNG, JPG and FreeMind.
Personal workspace.
Collaborative workspace.
Pros
Drag-and-drop function.
100% free.
Excellent for educational use.
Cons
Limited functions.
Lacks real-time collaborative editing.
Scapple: Best for intelligent note taking
Image: Scapple
Do you like documenting your thoughts and ideas for future reference? Literature & Latte’s brainstorming software, Scapple, can help you organize your thoughts, ideas and information. It provides a flexible and freeform interface where you can connect and arrange elements such as text and notes non-linearly. Scapple is commonly used for brainstorming, outlining storyboarding and project planning.
Figure I
Brainstorming notes in Scapple.
Pricing
Scapple offers a 30-day free trial.
Standard license: $20.99.
Educational license: $16.79. Only available to students & academics. Requires institutional affiliation.
Features
Stack notes in columns of related ideas.
Customize the appearance of notes.
You can create background shapes to group notes.
Pros
Allow you to connect notes using drag and drop.
You can drag notes from Scapple into Scrivener.
Cons
No mobile app.
No free forever plan.
Stormboard: Best for digital whiteboard and augmented intelligence
Image: Stormboard
Commonly used for brainstorming sessions, project planning, agile retrospectives and virtual meetings, Stormboard allows teams to remotely collaborate and organize ideas visually and interactively. It provides a virtual whiteboard where users can create sticky notes, add images, drawings and documents and move them around to develop and structure ideas.
Figure J
Stomboard dashboard.
Pricing
Personal: Free for up to five users per storm.
Business: $8.33 per user per month, billed annually or $10 per user per month billed monthly.
Enterprise: Custom quote.
Features
Digital sticky notes.
Real-time collaboration.
CSV, JSON, XML and OPML raw data exports.
Word cloud, votes and tasks exports.
Pros
Visually appealing.
Intuitive interface and user-friendly.
Task tracking for project management.
Cons
Limited functionality.
Limited storage capacity.
Key features of brainstorming tools
Here are some key features to look out for when shopping for the best brainstorming software for your company.
Templates
Building a mind map from scratch can be overwhelming, especially for those new to brainstorming software. A tool that offers predefined templates for different types of brainstorming sessions (e.g., SWOT analysis, mind mapping, or affinity diagrams) can easily guide you through the process and help structure your ideas.
Integration with third-party applications
Before selecting a brainstorming tool, take inventory of the applications you currently use within your organization. Choose a brainstorming software that integrates with all or most of your apps to ensure seamless workflow and data sharing across platforms. Integration with project management software or task trackers is essential, as it allows for a seamless transition from brainstorming to execution by directly converting ideas into actionable tasks or projects.
Data visualization
The visualization capability provides you with visual representations of complex data and information. Selecting a brainstorming software with data visualization capability allows you to better understand and analyze the ideas generated during a brainstorming session. The tools we explored in this guild enable you to create charts, diagrams, mind maps or other visual representations to connect ideas and identify patterns or trends.
Voting and ranking
Not all brainstorming software providers offer this capability, but it is an essential component of brainstorming software. Voting and ranking features allow team members to vote or rank ideas. This helps identify the most popular or promising ideas, fostering consensus and prioritization.
How do I choose the best brainstorming tool for my business?
The right brainstorming software for you depends on your team size, needs and preferences. If you prioritize affordability, consider Bubbl.us, WiseMapping or Coggle. If you value features and functionalities over money, ClickUp, Miro or Creately are excellent choices. MindMeister allows you to customize and style your mind map tool to suit your needs.
At the same time, Stormboard and Scapple’s note-taking capabilities make them desirable for more free-flowing brainstorming sessions, while Lucidchart’s visualization features make it a good option for creating flowcharts and diagrams during brainstorming sessions.
Methodology
To write this review, we analyzed 25+ brainstorming software. We selected the top 10 that ranked high based on our evaluation of their features, costs, ease of use, interaction with third-party services and customer service and support.
We collected each product’s information from their websites and signed up for a free plan/trial where possible to gain first-hand experience with the tool’s capabilities. We also looked at user reviews to learn about real-world users’ experiences with the brainstorming software. This information was then used to analyze the tool’s strengths and weaknesses.
Thu, 16 Nov 2023 10:15:00 -0600en-UStext/htmlhttps://www.techrepublic.com/article/best-brainstorming-tools/What Is Project Management? (Comprehensive Guide)
What Is Project Management?
Project management is oversight of the entire project lifecycle and involves using various tools and techniques to help ensure projects are completed on time and within budget. Project management tools and techniques also allow for more granular insights into various sub-tasks within a larger project. By combining these different overview and granular management techniques, the entire project is easier to manage.
Project management began as quality management initiatives, mostly in the engineering and manufacturing fields. Today, it is used in everything from marketing, healthcare, digital marketing and sales.
It’s important to note that project management differs from ongoing management within a department. Project management is focused on initiatives and goals, while ongoing management is focused on operations.
What Are the Benefits of Project Management?
The main benefit of project management is that it increases project efficiency, which in turn lowers costs and decreases the time needed for completion.
It’s not uncommon for initiatives within an organization to be over budget and over schedule. Looking back, it’s often easy to see where things went wrong, but during the project, there are limited insights and ways to keep things on track.
Project management techniques help to solve this by essentially breaking larger, cumbersome projects into more easily manageable deliverables. Each of these can be managed as part of the whole.
The result is that projects stay on schedule and within budget while delivering a product of substantially higher quality.
What Are Basic Project Management Concepts?
While different project management methodologies may use their own unique terms, they all follow essentially the same core concepts.
First, the project is broken down into phases or what is sometimes referred to as theproject lifecycle, as follows:
Project initiation
Project planning
Project execution
Project monitoring and controlling
Project closing
Each of these phases will have its own tasks. For example, during the initiation and planning process, the project manager will deal with scheduling, project scope and the cost of the project. This area is often referred to as the triple constraint of project management (time-scope-cost). This phase will also involve bringing in stakeholders and getting corporate approval for the project to show that the end goal provides value for customers.
Next comes the execution and monitoring of the project and the individual deliverables or stages along the way. The original concepts of time, scope and budget still play a key role in this process, as adjustments can be made to maintain the overall goals within a successful project. Finally, the complete project is delivered and the end goal is met. Any issues or risks along the way will be documented to Boost efficiency in subsequent projects.
What Are the Best Project Management Methodologies?
Project management methodologies have the same goals, but they achieve those goals in different ways and by using different workflows. Each has its own benefits and drawbacks. Each one also tends to be more appropriate for specific fields or industries.
Below are the most popular project methodologies and what sets them apart.
Waterfall
Waterfall project managementis focused on linear task completion and adherence to a strict timeline and task completion order. The sequence of completion for tasks is rigid in Waterfall project management. Waterfall works best for repeated and predictable projects. However, it doesn’t work well when flexibility is needed or previous tasks need to be revisited.
Agile
Agileis a flexible project management methodology and has become popular in software development where the goal is constant improvement over time. Agile focuses less on rigid sequences and more on an iterative approach that tries to Boost a product through a triage type of system to address issues.
Scrum
Scrumis a type of Agile project management and is based on team efforts led by a Scrum Master. Scrums are categorized by unique techniques, such as sprints, where an entire team works towards one goal. Scrum works well for collaborative and team environments but can be adapted to other situations as well.
Lean
Lean project managementfocuses on getting the most results from the lowest amount of resources. It does this by prioritizing efficiency and eliminating wasteful redundancies or tasks not directly related to the end goal. Lean can work well for organizations looking to cut costs or Boost efficiency.
Critical Path
Critical Pathis a component of other popular project management methodologies. It focuses on the longest sequence of events from the start of a project to the end. This is defined as the critical path. The time needed for each step along the path is then determined via an algorithmic flow chart.
Kanban
Kanbanis based on the Agile framework, providing a visual way of managing and monitoring a complex project. A “Kanban board” is used, and the board provides an overview of a project at a glance. The board contains cards that represent tasks or project goals. The cards are moved between columns as they reach different stages of completion.
Other visualization tools are used in the project management process, such as Gantt charts. These provide a more linear look at tasks and the relation each task has to the other.
With the popularity of project management in many industries, a host of tools have been developed to help with various aspects of project management and methodologies.
Scheduling and Planning Tools
Most project management tools will have scheduling and planning tools. These tools help with the initial phases of project development.
Dashboards
Dashboards allow project managers and individual team members to quickly see the information they need at a glance. When choosing project management software, the ability to customize dashboards is an important feature to look for.
Collaboration Platforms
Some project management solutions prioritize collaborative efforts either through built-in tools or enhanced communication integration. These collaborative tools can include software you may already be using. For example, if your teams already use Slack extensively, a project management solution that integrates with Slack can help you maintain your current workflow.
Budgeting and Expense Tracking
Different industries will require different levels of budgeting and expense tracking. Some project management tools offer enhanced integrations with popular business software. For example, Zoho Projects offers detailed time tracking and expense reporting along with integrations for popular accounting apps.
Resource Management
Resource management can be crucial during the project management process. Some project management solutions, such as Wrike, prioritize this aspect of project management and offer advanced reporting and analytics to monitor resource allocation and management.
Documentation
For project managers, teams and stakeholders, documentation is vital to improving project strategies and analyzing their effectiveness. Robust reporting and analytical tools are key to providing proper documentation before, during and after the project objectives have been reached.
What Are the Most Important Project Management Skills?
Collaboration
Collaboration is a key component of any project. Being able to work across teams efficiently leads to better outcomes and lower costs. Fostering an environment that rewards effective collaboration and offering the tools needed for collaboration are all part of this essential skill.
Communication
Communication in project management is about openness and trust. Everyone involved in the project should feel as though their voice can be heard. Team members should also never feel worried about asking for clarification or where to turn if they hit a roadblock.
Leadership
Leadership is about building trust. Even if you don’t have a leadership role in a specific project, you can still project the qualities of a leader. This creates a sense of support among the team, knowing everyone is playing their part and that reaching the goal is everyone’s responsibility.
Organization
Organization is needed at every step of project management. A good project manager should have a solid grasp of organizing complex problems and systems. They also need to understand which project management tools will help them best keep the project and the team organized.
Time Management
Without time management, the project will quickly deteriorate and fall behind schedule. Project management tools and methodologies have many features to help with time management. A good team and project manager will know which methodologies will work best for their time management needs.
What Is a Project Management Framework?
You can think of the project management framework as an outline or blueprint for the project or goal. In general, the framework will consist of three main components. The first is the lifecycle of the project. This describes the initial planning, execution, management and completion of the project. Other areas considered during this phase are risk management, budgeting and scheduling.
Next in the framework is the project control cycle. This involves the management of the project, reporting and communicating with stakeholders regarding progress.
Finally, there are the tools and templates to be used to complete the entire project management task. Many effective project management methodologies have predefined strategies, templates and tools that can quickly and easily be adapted for a given project.
What Are the Components of a Project Management Plan?
A project management plan outlines the entire project process. It will contain baselines for the scope of the project, the schedule of the project and the costs. Baselines are important in project management as they provide guidelines and metrics to which managers should adhere. Another component will be the management plan. This outlines how the baselines will be managed as the project moves along.
Next up will be change management. This involves both project management and team management. This involves implementing the changes necessary to reach the end goals of the project. Finally, there will need to be process improvement. This is like an after-action report so that improvements can be made team-wide to Boost efficiencies.
What Are Common Project Management Roles?
Project management can include many roles. The most prominent begins with the sponsor. This is the individual or group that is calling for the project to be implemented. This can be the owner of the business, executives or a working group. Next is the project manager. This role is tasked with overseeing the project at various stages along the way. Some projects may have other similar roles, such as project creative manager, program manager and other roles specific to the project. Project managers are often certified by various groups, such as the Project Management Institute (PMI).
Next are project team members. These are members tasked within the project to contribute and complete milestones to move the project toward completion. In project management, you’ll also often hear about stakeholders. A stakeholder can be any person or group who has a vested interest in the completion and the success of the project. These are the most common roles, but each project can have other specific roles if needed to more efficiently design, manage and execute the project.
Which Industries Utilize Project Management?
Many fields and industries today use project management methodologies.
For example, an IT department may be tasked with rolling out a new piece of software company-wide. Utilizing project management methodologies allows for a smooth and predictable roll-out. The planning phase also lets stakeholders determine if the value is worth the expense.
In software development, an app or SaaS provider may use Agile methodologies to Boost the product and address bugs in the software. New feature requests and service requests are represented as specific tasks in the Agile framework. These are triaged based on importance and then addressed one by one until completion.
This Agile software example is a more continuous type of project management versus a single project. However, project management methodologies work equally well in both settings, and that type of flexibility across industries and applications is one of its main strengths.
The Bottom Line
Project management provides a reliable and proven set of tools to efficiently complete a wide variety of projects and initiatives. These proven tools help to keep projects on schedule and within budget at each step along the way.
These common project management skills and tools can be used by virtually every industry or organization that is focused on improving efficiency and the quality of the product or service they offer to customers.
Tue, 14 Nov 2023 10:00:00 -0600en-UStext/htmlhttps://www.marketwatch.com/guides/business/what-is-project-management/Why You Need Project Development in Project Management PlanningNo result found, try new keyword!Project management is essential for companies across all industries, with these teams working to bring new and improved products and services to consumers. Project development is vital to reduce waste ...Tue, 14 Nov 2023 06:30:02 -0600en-ustext/htmlhttps://www.msn.com/What is PMI? The Gen Z dating trend that may be ruining your relationship
A new toxic trend, PMI, is set to take over the world of dating next year. Here’s how to spot it and stop it in its tracks before it ruins your next fling.
The early days of a new fling are filled with almost every emotional peak and trough in the book. From the longwinded anticipation of each text to the silent panic that sets in when you realize you’re sitting across the table from a cat person (instant dealbreaker), the dating scene can be one whirlwind of an emotional rollercoaster.
While there are plenty of valid reasons why a fresh romance won’t survive the harsh dating landscape, self-sabotage (whether intentional or not) has got to be one of the most unfortunate. Now, there’s a new trendy iteration of dating drama casting a shadow on new couples everywhere. Premature intimacy, or PMI, speaks to the urge to share too much too soon with a new partner, often leaving people feeling exposed or regretful.
Certified sex and relationship practitioner, Georgia Grace, shares with Body+Soul why healthy boundaries and a strong line of communication are so important to nurture at the start of any relationship, and why it’s crucial to look out for signs of PMI.
What exactly is PMI?
While yet another trending abbreviation might have you cursing the ever-changing Gen Z language, this one is especially important. A quick scan of the English language will tell you the word ‘premature’ is scarcely used to describe anything good, with its current dating association only reinforcing the stereotype.
PMI is the romance equivalent of TMI (too much information), incorporating whispers of love bombing and trauma dumping. In essence, the term refers to the oversharing of mind, body and soul. Imagine you’re sitting across from your date at dinner, swapping facts about yourselves and critiquing the restaurant’s playlist. Suddenly, before you’ve even had time to digest the entrees, your casual first date begins talking about your detailed future plans or reaches over to plant a kiss on your lips. Pretty jarring image right?
While intimacy is no doubt an important building block for any blossoming relationship, overstepping too early on is a surefire way to supply someone the ‘ick’. PMI can manifest in more ways than simply oversharing your thoughts on a date, such as overt displays of physical affection and deep dives into your personal information.
PMI is the romance equivalent of TMI (too much information), incorporating whispers of love bombing and trauma dumping.Getty Images/iStockphoto
“[PMI] is a really hard thing to measure,” says Grace, noting every relationship travels on its own unique timeline. “Yes, it’s exciting when you start a new relationship, but it’s also important to have platonic love and friendships, to see your family and to make sure you’re going to work and moving your body in the way that you like to move it so that you still have a sense of self and it doesn’t get wrapped up or lost in this new relationship energy.”
According to relationship expert Jessica Alderson, unleashing intimacy too early on in the relationship has become increasingly more common in the modern dating landscape. PMI can be caused by a myriad of reasons, such as a deep-rooted need for validation or an inability to accurately understand social cues.
“Some people have a fear of rejection or abandonment and believe that by opening up quickly they can create a strong bond,” she shares with Stylist. “They may believe that by being vulnerable and sharing personal information in the early stages of dating, their date will see them as more desirable or trustworthy.”
What are the consequences of PMI?
Now, maintaining the right level of intimacy can be a challenge for any couple, regardless of whether you’re celebrating two weeks or 20 years of blissful harmony. Intimacy ebbs and flows throughout different stages of any relationship, but it’s important to establish healthy boundaries and expectations early on.
‘Being all in’ has no doubt been romanticized across pop culture, leaving many fresh couples feeling the pressure to imitate every smiling couple on social media, apparent products of ‘love at first sight’.
“They’re selling the dream, they’re selling romance,” Grace says of couples across the media landscape. “We cannot and should not turn to TV or social media to teach us about relationships, because often they are designed to reflect a relationship that is entertaining, that is exciting, that makes us feel. But they’re often not real.”
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Exposing your new partnership to intense bursts of intimacy before it’s ready will only create cracks in the relationship, often causing irreversible damage.
There are some immediate consequences for PMI, with the most common ones being the risk of overwhelming your partner or having them misinterpret your behavior. Too much PMI early on may also lay the foundation for other issues down the track.
One of the best parts of any new relationship is gradually learning about each other’s lives, slowly uncovering the interesting facets of your partner’s personality, “A gradual unfolding of personal details can contribute to the anticipation and enjoyment of discovering more about each other over time”, says Alderson. Too much intimacy in the early days fast-tracks this process, removing the sense of intrigue that fuels attraction.
“Oversharing early on can leave little room for growth and discovery as a couple. This can hinder the development of a strong, lasting bond,” adds Alderson.
“No two relationships are the same,” explains Grace, adding that any stage of a partnership can see couples misaligned in their expectations and goals. “I would never put a time frame on anything because it’s such an individual thing.”
In a new relationship, intimacy is important for growth and connection, just ensure you’re employing self-awareness and sharing something with the right intention in mind.
“I would never suggest or recommend not opening up on a first date, but you can have a choice around how much you share and what you share,” says Grace. “And you can also set a boundary if someone is trauma dumping on you because that’s not fun and it’s not sexy and it’s kind of overwhelming.”
Wed, 15 Nov 2023 00:00:00 -0600en-UStext/htmlhttps://nypost.com/2023/11/15/lifestyle/what-is-pmi-and-is-it-ruining-your-relationship/7 Project Management Styles
When starting a project for your company, you need a plan in place to keep everything on track. A project manager’s job is to be the point person for this plan, overseeing every step of the project to ensure its success. There are several project management styles, and the one that’s best for you will depend on both your team and the scope of the project.
Why determining your project management style matters
Determining your project management style allows you to coordinate your team and the project at hand effectively. This promotes the success of your project and your organization as a whole. Regardless of the project management style you choose, a set framework like this can make the process significantly easier for you and your team.
Editor’s note: Looking for project management software? For help finding the right solution for your business, fill out the below questionnaire to have our vendor partners contact you with free information.
Good project management not only ensures that your project aligns with your company’s strategic goals, but also establishes a clear and focused process to achieve them. It sets realistic and achievable goals for each phase of the project, holds all team members accountable for their part in the process, and ensures all steps are completed correctly and in a timely manner.
Project managers must lead this process from start to finish, using their expertise and knowledge to mitigate risk and adjust the scope as needed. Once the project is complete, you can evaluate its success and learn from any failures or missteps made along the way.
Your project management style should complement your business objectives and the way your team works. Hiring or learning to be a good project manager is an indispensable part of this process.
7 project management styles to consider
You know the importance of project management and determining the right style for your team, but how do you know which one to choose? Here are seven of the most popular types of project management, as well as their pros and cons.
1. Waterfall project management
Waterfall project management is a straightforward, linear system in which a project is divided into distinct phases, and the next phase cannot begin until the prior one is complete. The process and each team member’s responsibilities are clearly defined and mapped out from the beginning; they are not expected to change over the lifespan of the project.
Waterfall project management is ideal for longer, linear projects that require step-by-step phase completion, as well as projects with a static goal and scope. If your project has overlapping timelines or requires frequent modifications along the way – for example, incorporating customer feedback on an ongoing basis – the Waterfall model can be limiting.
2. Agile project management
In contrast to the linear nature of Waterfall project management, Agile project management is an iterative system. A project using Agile methodology has several iterations or releases, providing plenty of opportunities to adjust along the way. It breaks the larger goal into smaller, more manageable chunks that can be worked on simultaneously, decreasing the time required to complete a project.
This management style works well for projects that require frequent innovation, collaboration and modifications. This is why it’s highly popular in the field of software development, where technology and customer needs are constantly changing.
It should be noted that “Agile” is an umbrella term for a set of guiding principles, rather than its own distinct step-by-step method. Agile project management can be subdivided into two schools of thought: Scrum and Kanban.
3. Scrum project management
Derived from Agile project management, the Scrum methodology focuses on completing work in short cycles called “sprints.” Teams have “daily standups,” which are brief meetings held to discuss task progress and address any issues. These meetings are led by a “Scrum master,” whose main responsibility is to oversee the day-to-day work and remove any impediments to productivity.
Scrum project management helps teams turn projects around quickly, while maintaining quality as well as flexibility for changes as needed. It emphasizes productivity and collaboration and is an especially effective system for small organizations or teams.
4. Kanban project management
Another system derived from Agile project management, Kanban methodology helps managers to visualize and organize their team’s workflow. It emphasizes eliminating wasteful work and inconsistencies to increase productivity and efficiency. To do this, Kanban divides projects into smaller tasks, allowing team members to focus on one actionable task at a time.
Team members and project managers can easily visualize assigned tasks and progress in real time with a Kanban board. A Kanban board has separate columns for each stage of the process, such as “to do,” “in progress” and “complete.” While Kanban is commonly associated with software development, its principles can be applied to nearly any industry.
5. Lean project management
Lean project management is a philosophy that focuses on increasing efficiency across processes. In the principles of Lean, project managers must first specify what value means for the customer. Then, they must identify the project’s value stream – the sum of all the actions necessary for the project to reach completion – and eliminate actions or processes that don’t add value. This evaluation process is ongoing, allowing for customer feedback and continuous improvement.
The Lean project management style can be applied to a number of different industries and used in conjunction with other principles, such as Kanban.
6. Six Sigma project management
Similarly to Lean project management, the Six Sigma method focuses on understanding the needs of the customer, eliminating waste and continuously improving processes to deliver a high-quality project.
Despite the number in its name, Six Sigma has five phases, referred to as DMAIC:
Define the project.
Measure data.
Analyze the root of any problems.
Improve processes.
Control by implementing solutions.
Six Sigma also keeps in mind the four constraints of a project: scope, time, cost and quality. It focuses on clearly defining and planning for each of these constraints without compromising any of the others. This has the obvious advantage of increasing efficiency and organization. However, the structured nature of the process makes for a more cautious approach and can potentially inhibit innovation and flexibility.
7. PRINCE2 project management
PRINCE2 (Projects inControlled Environments) project management focuses on organization and structure through the project’s life span. With PRINCE2, projects must have a business justification, including a detailed cost assessment and baseline requirements, before they are initiated. Team members’ roles and responsibilities are clearly defined, and the project is broken into phases, with plenty of time for quality control and reflection.
The PRINCE2 project management style emphasizes an organized and controlled process, while still offering the flexibility to make changes as necessary along the way. The time spent reflecting on each stage allows team members to learn from the project and apply these lessons to future projects. However, the highly detailed process often requires extensive documentation and can be slower than other project management styles.
Some project management styles might be more suitable for your business than others; there is no right or wrong option. Consider your business’s circumstances to choose the best style for your team.
Choosing a project management style for your business
Of course, you may find that using a combination of project management styles is the best solution for you and your team. There are also options beyond the seven main styles listed above that could work better for you. For instance, Strato Doumanis, chief technical officer and creative director of MediaCutlet, said his company has seen the most success with a hybrid approach of Incremental and Process-Based project management.
“Many of our projects are complex, large-scale endeavors … [that are] multifaceted with fluid requirements that change as the project evolves,” Doumanis said. “Incremental project management allows us to remain agile while also keeping the project closely aligned with phases and deadlines.” He combines this methodology with that of Process-Based management to “build out technology flowcharts and business flowcharts that are set up to scale and run in parallel with other processes.”
In short, there is no one correct way to manage a project. Consider the skills and needs of your project, team, and company, and don’t be afraid to use elements of two or more project management styles.
Consider the realities of your projects, your team’s workflow and how you communicate. What type of planning best supports your goals?
What makes a project manager an effective leader?
Even if your company follows all the steps of a certain project management style, the outcome of the project depends largely on the person behind it. A project manager must possess or cultivate several leadership qualities to bring the project and team to the finish line successfully.
A project manager must have excellent communication and interpersonal skills. They must be able to clearly convey goals, expectations and the big picture of the project to their team, which comprises people with varying roles and personality types. They must also build the trust of others, both at the individual and team level. To do this, a project manager must demonstrate not only their competence, but their commitment to upholding their personal values as well as the company’s.
Successful project management also requires a certain temperament. A project manager must maintain a positive attitude and keep themselves and the team focused on the project at hand. They must be able to make informed decisions and take responsibility for the outcomes. This means a project manager needs to stay calm under pressure, working quickly and creatively to solve any problems that arise.
Cultivating these leadership traits, while applying a strong project management style that aligns with the needs of your team and project, will help you ensure the success of your project and your company as a whole.
Project managers should be excellent communicators and highly organized individuals. An effective project manager will ensure proper implementation of the best-suited project management style.
Mon, 06 Nov 2023 10:01:00 -0600entext/htmlhttps://www.businessnewsdaily.com/15892-project-management-styles.htmlNew Study: Project Management Information Systems Further Benefit Capital Building Programs When Applied to Multiple Processes
Improved cost predictability experienced by 61% of owners using PMIS for most of their capital management activities
New research from Dodge Construction Network and Projectmates reveals construction business owners can Boost their processes and projects by using project management information systems (PMIS) beyond core functions. In the report, Building Better With Technology: How Owners Are Leveraging Software to Boost Project Management SmartMarket Brief, it is clear that most PMIS users experience many benefits. However, more owners who expand their use of PMIS compared to those with limited utilization rate their experience of those benefits at a very high level, including:
Better informed decisions on their projects (74% versus 39%).
Improved design solutions (67% versus 31%).
Better cost predictability (61% versus 35%).
Ability to mitigate design and construction risks (51% versus 30%).
"At Projectmates, we've witnessed the remarkable impact that a fully optimized PMIS can have on construction programs," says Varsha Bhave, President and CTO of Projectmates. "Dodge's survey findings serve as further validation of what we've long understood: the utilization of a PMIS can significantly enhance construction programs, making owners more efficient and promoting sustainability when this technology is fully harnessed."
STRONG STRATEGY BRINGS STRONG OUTCOMES
When surveyed, owners fell into three types: those who ensured each division in their company had at least one competent PMIS user, those that centralized their PMIS expertise into a few users, and those with no strategic approach to PMIS competence. Those with a more centralized approach report the strongest results from their PMIS strategy.
Most of those with centralized expertise report high levels of satisfaction with the document management (78%) and schedule management (75%) capabilities of PMIS, far more than those with an unstructured approach (21% and 24% respectively).
A large majority of those with a strategic approach to PMIS reported the tool exceeding their performance expectations compared to those with an unstructured approach. This is particularly notable when it comes to effective document management (80% versus 53%) and risk issue tracking (71% versus 45%).
"Establishing a deliberate and strategic approach to utilizing PMIS across an organization is imperative to the success of their capital program," says Steve Jones, senior director of industry insights at DCN. "Those who manage more of their processes in the PMIS from the start are set up to achieve more than those who take a more passive approach. Our findings reveal that by creating a specific, deliberate strategy for the means and the breadth of their PMIS implementation, owners achieve far more in the long run."
About Dodge Construction Network: Dodge Construction Network is a solutions technology company providing an unmatched offering of data, analytics, and industry-spanning relationships to generate the most powerful source of information, knowledge, insights, and connections in the commercial construction industry. The company powers longstanding and trusted industry solutions to timely connect and enable decision makers across the entire commercial construction ecosystem. For more than a century, Dodge Construction Network has empowered construction professionals with the information they need to build successful, growing businesses. To learn more, visit construction.com.
About Projectmates: Projectmates, part of Hexagon, is an owner-focused, SaaS-based enterprise construction project management software provider. Projectmates' configurable and centralized platform enables owners to keep all project documents and data within a construction program up to date in one, easily accessible location — from the planning stages through closeout and handover to the facilities team. With powerful reporting and a concise view of an entire project portfolio, owners can Boost communication and collaboration with architects, engineers, and contractors to streamline workflows, control costs, and deliver projects faster.
Hexagon (Nasdaq Stockholm: HEXA B) has approximately 24,000 employees in 50 countries and net sales of approximately 5.2bn EUR. Learn more at hexagon.com and follow us @HexagonAB.
Wed, 08 Nov 2023 20:11:00 -0600entext/htmlhttps://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/23/11/b35702555/new-study-project-management-information-systems-further-benefit-capital-building-programs-when-apPMI Survey Confirms Increased Salary Potential for Project Professionals Who Earn the Project Management Professional (PMP) ® CertificationNo result found, try new keyword!New PMI Salary Survey finds that PMP certification holders earn a higher median salary that non-PMP certified professionals.Tue, 07 Nov 2023 02:00:00 -0600https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231107680202/en/PMI-Survey-Confirms-Increased-Salary-Potential-for-Project-Professionals-Who-Earn-the-Project-Management-Professional-PMP-%C2%AE-CertificationWhat the Next Generation of Project Management Will Look Like
Illustration by Klawe Rzeczy
Traditional project management skills, such as project governance or project management methodology, aren’t sufficient to meet changing organizational needs. Gartner recently surveyed 373 project management leaders to identify the “next generation” skills — from organizational awareness to financial acumen — that have a disproportionate impact on performance. They also identified three future-focused project manager roles: the teacher, the fixer, and the orchestrator — all of which highlight the uniquely human aspects of project management that go beyond performing discrete, repetitive tasks.
The future of the project manager role has been hotly debated as a number of trends shift organizational dynamics:
Sun, 05 Nov 2023 10:00:00 -0600text/htmlhttps://hbr.org/2023/11/what-the-next-generation-of-project-management-will-look-like
