AndyMcGowan

Turning a business around from being a disorganised or dishevelled company, or even to turning a failing company into a thriving company requires one thing, a good plan. A good plan with an excellent execution can do wonders for a business, no matter what their situation is.

Most companies suffer from not having clearly documented processes or a way to efficiently execute projects they are working on. Some simply don’t know there is a better way and some are used to using spreadsheets and various scattered documents to handle everything from day to day operations to dealing with clients.

But those methods will not help your company become more profitable nor will it make you more organised. A good solution is to use a dedicated project management tool to handle everything from your internal processes to specifying how projects should be handled.

The simple use of an excellent project planner can break down the plan efficiently to put that plan into action. It can help you keep all the files in one place, improve your internal communication as well as client/customer communication, help you determine how a project should be planned out as well as report on your progress.

Sometimes, more advanced pieces of software are required to intricately plan the finer details of large projects. Simulation or visualization software can be a powerful tool for those wanting to represent complex physical environments in real-time so that preparations can be made for specific events, well in advance. If you’re in need of such technological solutions, here is the question you should be asking: “What Is Digital Twin Technology?” There are so many applications for this that will help in countless planning projects undertaken by businesses of all sizes.

Once you employ a little structure and organisation into your business, you will see results in terms of better productivity, increased cash flow, and the ability to accurately predict how profitable each subsequent project will be. Perhaps some businesses should consider looking into the project management software at https://www.prosymmetry.com/features/resource-forecasting/. That could help more businesses to successfully put projects into place.

Here are five ways how a project planning software will turn around your business.

Centralised Documentation

There is a lot of paperwork in every project. Having them easily accessible to everyone involved helps streamline the project. With the ability to house all relevant documents in one location that can be retrieved from anywhere, project managers can keep better tabs on ongoing projects, and make revisions as needed.

This also translates into not having to deal with extensively long email chains, long handed notes during face to face meetings between clients and other staff members, and waiting for updates that may come too late. Because the project details can be retrieved and updated easily by anyone involved, there is less risk of having project slippage or worse, a stalled or unfinished project.

This can also translate into reducing scheduling problems. It is typically thought that a rostering program helps to solve most scheduling issues, however they aren’t ideal when dealing with projects. A great project management tool will be able to sync with company calendars, Outlook 365, or provide a mobile app version.

Improves Client Communication

Having a project management software will also help you improve client communication where client input and feedback is needed. Projects that require assets or deliverables by client will be easier to handle once your clients can see what exactly is expected of them and when it is expected. This not only helps you get the needed files on time, it also helps your project stay on track because you’re not stuck waiting for client approval nor do you have to send them countless emails reminding them feedback is needed.

Improves Employee Communications

Communication between team members is essential for a project to be completed successfully. By using a project management software, you have a central place where team members who are collaborating on a project can keep track of their tasks and get notified on each project update. They know which parts of the project they are responsible for and there is no need to send individual emails to each team member.

What’s more they can avoid miscommunicating or missing a crucial piece of information missed in an email. Leaving comments or notes on tasks allows each member to be informed at any given moment.

Helps You Decide on Block or Detailed Planning

To avoid wasting any time when the project actually gets underway, it is considered a best practice to establish whether or not you need a very detailed task list, or if perhaps a block metric would be best suited.

A detailed task list is typically used for all the small tasks that need to be performed during a project. Though the small tasks may not always be time intensive, but if they rely on fixed dates, multiple employees needed to perform the task, or there being a substantial amount of work to be performed; then a detailed task list will work out better for you in the long run.

On the other hand, if none of those aspects need to be defined then a block planning metric can make it a little easier. However, if you are unsure of how long to schedule the period of time required for various groupings, having an employee record the amount of time needed to perform the tasks they are performing can create a knowledge base for future projects that involve the same tasks.

Then you may want to have both versions available, one as a master plan where everything is detailed and one that is used as a reference. It may be easier to see the stages of progress using a block planner because of the smaller nature while the detailed planner can show where more work needs to be completed. Keep in mind just how wasteful multitasking can be for your planning.

Allows You to Report Your Progress

You took the time to establish a plan that has cohesive teams that complement each other and you have created a detailed task list the teams would carry out Now how do you report it? You may not be directly reporting to clients while turning a company around, but you will be reporting to the upper management level; use these 3 key elements for project progress reporting.

The definition of the work package is the first key element. This definition should be as detailed as possible to avoid miscalculating resources needed or duration needed for the project. This can also be an indicator for when extra time should be budgeted in in case of unforeseen events.

The proper definition of progress is the second key element. Use the milestones set in place by the initial plan. These can be great motivators for both internal employees and clients as you turn the company around.

Finally, discipline is the final key element to progress reporting. Due to pressure, most people forego this aspect in hopes of reaching the finish line of a project, which is wrong. It is the discipline to continually analyse the situation from its current status against the finish line. Adjustments may need to be made because of an element in the duties not being able to be fulfilled. You should always revise when and where necessary.

In Conclusion

As you can see, a very well thought out and decisive plan can do wonders for turning around your business. Employ these ideals in every project you do and they will flourish just like your business.