A goal without a plan is just a wish
Project Management
Project management is the practice of leading the work of a team to achieve goals and meet success criteria at the specified time. The primary challenge of project management is to achieve all of the project goals within the given constraints.
Every business will have a need for management of a project - what's yours?
The Need for Better Project Management in Business
Project management is not rocket science, yet it often gets dressed up that way. At its foundation lies a bedrock of basic organisational skills, which - come to think of it - might as well be rocket science the way some managers grapple with the concept. In reality, project management is just a set of tools that enables managers to guide a project from point A to point B and do so in a way that demonstrates efficiency, cost-savings and leadership.
More and more organisations are recognising project management as one of their core business competencies. These organisations are raising their level of project management performance and are seeing significant business benefits. They choose the projects that make the greatest contribution to the business strategy, and they execute them faster and cheaper, with less risk, and their projects deliver the expected business benefits.
Project Management Software is software used by a wide range of industries for project planning, resource allocation and scheduling - and is now covered by hundreds of 3rd party suppliers helping to enhance your business project management strategy.
Does your business know your Monday from your Wrike? Is Teamworks better than ProofHub? Why would you use Trello when you have Microsoft Planner? A real strength of a business is finding the right platform to run legitimate projects that will improve internal and external business performance.
PROJECT MANAGEMENT TOOLS AND SOFTWARE
Understanding the Project Management Tools
Project management tools are aids to assist an individual or team to effectively organise work and manage projects and tasks.
Identifying what tools and platforms are best for your business communications can make or break your long-term outlook. Below are the best 10 that I would recommend.
the 10 best project management tools - as suggested by PCMag
GantPro
With reasonable pricing, an interface that anyone can learn to use, and a good balance of features, GanttPro is one of the best project management tools. We also appreciate that it includes custom fields for tasks, a kanban board view, a critical path feature, and a save history that allows you to do multiple undos.
Teamwork
Before Teamwork became focused on organizations that take on client work, it was already a superbly designed project management platform. If you are new to project planning, you could spend a bit of time using Teamwork and watching some of its excellent video tutorials to learn enough to use it in practice.
Zoho Projects
We picked Zoho Projects as one of the best project management apps because it offers excellent value. It's easy to set up and navigate, offers deep configuration options, and includes the option to track time worked. You can make your own project templates in Zoho Projects, but the app does not come with its own set of templates.
Celoxis
Celoxis is reasonably easy to use with a short setup time. Medium to large businesses will like that it includes time tracking, budgeting, and resource management tools. Celoxis offers two plan types, a cloud-hosted one and an on-premise option that comes with custom pricing. You need a minimum of five users for any plan type, and the company now provides custom price quotes for potential customers. It used to cost $25 per person per month, which is a good price. The company formerly sold the on-premise plan for a flat per-person-per-year rate but no longer does. We still believe Celoxis offers high value among project management apps for medium and large organizations.
Liquid Planner
LiquidPlanner is impressive at managing projects, tasks, workloads, and more. It can automatically and dynamically schedule work for your whole team, even as factors change—which may not be everyone's cup of tea. If you're open to what LiquidPlanner offers, this app can project best- and worst-case scenarios for projects and tasks, dish up rich management and insight tools, and give you the tools you need for time-tracking—as long as you opt for a Professional or Ultimate plan.
ProofHub
ProofHub aims for simplicity without skimping on core project management features. It's also competitively priced for small teams. This app is surprisingly easy to use, making it great for teams that don't have dedicated project managers.
Redmine
While Redmine isn't for everyone, we chose it as one of the best project management apps because it's free and open source, which is a rarity in the project management world.
Smartsheet
If you're willing to put in the time to learn what Smartsheet can do and customize it to your needs, it's very powerful. It might become your go-to tool not only for project management but also for other collaborative business.
TeamGantt
TeamGantt has lovely interactive Gantt charts that are incredibly easy to learn to use. The app has exceptional tutorial content to help you learn anything you don't know. We also love a feature that automatically corrects any errors created among dependencies.
Wrike
Wrike is a powerful tool not only for project management but also for use as collaboration software. Now owned by Citrix, Wrike supports team collaboration, work management, and project management. It continues to grow by adding new work intelligence features that can, for example, predict when a project is at risk of falling behind and call attention to possible causes
My 6 step guide to project management
Identify & Meet with Stakeholders
Identify & Meet with Stakeholders
Identify & Meet with Stakeholders
A stakeholder is anyone who is affected by the results of your project plan. That includes your customers and end-users. Make sure you identify all stakeholders and keep their interests in mind when creating your project plan.
Set & Prioritise Goals
Identify & Meet with Stakeholders
Identify & Meet with Stakeholders
These goals should outline project objectives or the metrics and benefits you hope to achieve. Write your goals and the stakeholder needs they address in your project plan so it's clearly communicated and easily shareable.
Define Deliverables
Identify & Meet with Stakeholders
Create the Project Schedule
Identify the deliverables and project planning steps required to meet the project's goals. What are the specific outputs you're expected to produce? What are the key targets to reach? What is the timeframe to measure success?
Create the Project Schedule
Present the Project Plan to Stakeholders
Create the Project Schedule
Look at each deliverable and define the series of tasks that must be completed to accomplish each one. For each task, determine the amount of time it will take, the resources necessary, and who will be responsible for execution. This is when you build the project team.
Identify Issues
Present the Project Plan to Stakeholders
Present the Project Plan to Stakeholders
No project is risk-free. Crossing your fingers and hoping for the best isn’t doing you any favours. Are there any issues you know of upfront that will affect the project planning process, like a key team member's upcoming holiday? What unforeseen circumstances could create hiccups?
Present the Project Plan to Stakeholders
Present the Project Plan to Stakeholders
Present the Project Plan to Stakeholders
It's important you understand how to present a project effectively. Explain how your plan addresses stakeholders' expectations, and present your solutions to any conflicts. Make sure your presentation isn't one-sided. Have an open discussion with stakeholders instead.
My project management work
CRM Integration
CRM Integration
CRM Integration
I have integrated 5 CRM platforms into five separate business
Website Build
CRM Integration
CRM Integration
I have helped design and build over 15 websites from scratch
Exhibition
CRM Integration
Budget Planning
I have run full-scale exhibitions and conferences for over 20 years
Budget Planning
Stakeholder Communications
Budget Planning
Utilising smart tools to set global budget plans for marketing campaigns
Stakeholder Communications
Stakeholder Communications
Stakeholder Communications
Providing regular updates to stakeholders, addressing concerns, and obtaining feedback to ensure alignment and satisfaction
Timeline Management
Stakeholder Communications
Stakeholder Communications
Setting realistic timelines, monitoring progress, and ensuring that projects are completed within deadlines.
Project Management Case Study
My work with CMS Distribution was a 1 Year project management case study that covered seven areas of business change. Take a read
Project Management Case Study
My work with Wand Education was a 5-month project management case study that covered the design and lunch process of the brand. Take a read
Project Management Case Study
The gigantic event management project I managed at DXC - start to finish on how to project manage with ROI outcome
Customer Feedback - Working with Brad Chuck
Julie Monkman – Marketing Manager at Kingston Unity
"We at Kingston Unity have been offering Financial Services for 175 years, but have seen our numbers and members drop thanks to superior budgeting spends of the major financial players in the marketplace. Brad came to us with a Content Marketing idea that involved producing a digital magazine that was used as an educational message and traffic driver for non-members to engage with our products. We saw a 20% increase in traffic activity and customer quotes in the first month of the campaign alone. Brad was an integral part of the project process and was a sheer joy to work with"
Andy Cruickshank, Director of Strategy, Macmillan Cancer Support
"Working with Brad on a joint story case study was an absolute pleasure. His exceptional project management skills and commitment to delivering outstanding results ensured a seamless collaboration. The story we crafted together not only conveyed our message effectively but also had a profound impact, reaching and resonating with so many. Brad's dedication and expertise truly made a difference in our efforts to support those affected by cancer."
Claire Arnold - Project Manager - Eurocell
"Brad's approach in building a relationship with Eurocell was instrumental in positioning DXC as the lead service for digital transformation. What set Brad apart was his ability to focus on fostering genuine connections rather than pushing sales agendas. His interpersonal skills are truly second to none, and it was evident in every interaction. Brad's dedication to understanding our needs and providing tailored solutions played a crucial role in securing the deal. It was a pleasure working with someone who values relationships as much as results."
Milly Barret – Product Manager at TravelNation.com
"Travel Nation are experts in world travel, specialising in every aspect of trip planning. We were looking to increase our awareness to the older market and was introduced to Brad Chuck by a fellow digital colleague. Brad was able to introduce me to content creation and marketing via the audience extension market by running and reporting on our campaign. Thanks to his insights, we were able to target a new audience via native ad placements on prime websites. The resulting data analysis report was exceptional and confirmed the 6 new round the world trip quotes we generated from the small campaign. We have since signed up to work with Brad again."
Lindsay Montgomery – Marketing Director at Scottish Widows
"I worked closely with Brad for nearly 6 years whilst he was my account manager for IFAonline marketing and advertising, and can safely say I enjoyed our working relationship immensely. Brad was always on hand to help create new ideas and envisage new marketing concepts with the website and supporting brands. His willingness to travel to Edinburgh on regular occasions was essential in our client relationship and meant we always understood what the website could do for us. A shame and a loss to the company when he left, I would always be happy to work with Brad again."
Eirin Craske – Lifestyle & Beauty Business Head at Pro Bono Bio Group
"At SEQuaderma, we were looking for a UK Publisher to help create and distribute a lifestyle health magazine that would target middle aged women with skin conditions and complaints. Once we agreed the partnership with At Home Magazine, it was imperative that Brad was part of the project management and delivery of the digital aspects thanks to his drive, determination and complete understanding of our products. It is thanks to Brad that the relationship between the companies has remained positive and his help in the research and analysis stage was of the utmost importance. We look forward to continuing our working relationship."
Haimish Mead – Marketing & Communications Manager at Adey Professional Heating Solutions
"I presented Brad with a brief in order to help establish Adey and the MagnaClean product into the hearts and minds of the 21 million homeowners who are not yet our customers. Brad came back with a classic A/B Testing proposal that was not classic in its approach. By introducing animation as an educational tool, into a concept that can grow over time, we were able to conduct a 6 week campaign that Brad delivered across Social and Native online markets – all within a targeting area. As tough as I know the market to be, I was impressed with his endeavour to deliver and recording of data was excellent in order to create a national version of the campaign"
Tom Gates – Digital Marketing Manager at GVA
"Thoroughly enjoyable to work with, Brad has a unique blend of sales & Marketing and digital expert which has definitely positioned him above most other digital professionals I have worked with.
Especially nice to have a conversation with Brad about digital trends with not only relatable experience but also a passion for what he does.
I’ve spent many a night out with Brad, chewing the cud over digital in business and generally having a good laugh. Genuinely looking forward to continue working with him"
Fiona Frost – Marketing Manager at Durkan Construction
"I was delighted to select Sectorlight as our agency of choice thanks to a direct and warm marketing approach from Brad – simply portraying the unique assets of the agency helped me decide to use them. Brad was also instrumental in helping deploy a PR strategy to combat a rather troublesome internet troll. Forever grateful and would love to work with Brad again"
Stuart Hales – CEO at Wand Education
"Brad was hired to design, build and implement a full-service Marketing and PR strategy for the Wand Education company – what he delivered was so much more. An absolute beast of the Marketing and Promotion world he will not stop at anything to get a job done. A real team player, people manager and product champion across digital, events, press, radio and TV."
My Project Management Training
