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Management Software

Vangie Beal
Last Updated August 4, 2021 9:50 am

Management software is a general phrase used to describe a category of computer software designed to help streamline the complexity of large projects and tasks as well as facilitate team collaboration and project reporting. Most management software solutions can also handle resource and employee management, schedule coordination, task assignment, budgeting, time and risk analysis, and more.

Types of Management Software

Management software is a broad term that can also apply to financial management software, network management software, customer relationship management software, asset management software or inventory management software.

See also All About Software: Categories of Applications Software Explained.

Features of Management Software

Not surprisingly, management software vendors have developed a staggering array of features, integrations, and support plans to meet the needs of businesses of every size. At their core, however, these solutions share four key features.

Scope Definition

Before undertaking any new initiative, the outcome must be clearly defined. Management software gathers project requirements, customer deadlines, budgets, resources, and all other elements need for the team to act.

Scheduling

Management software solutions rely on a robust, calendar-based scheduling system to ensure the right resources are being used at the right time. Centralized scheduling keeps in-office and remote teams aligned and delivering their parts of the project at pace.

Resource Allocation

Management software streamlines projects by giving leadership visibility on current and projected workloads. Gaps in personpower and expertise are identified and filled before they disrupt workflow to keep the entire team moving toward its common goal.

Collaboration

Bringing context to multiple conversations is crucial to an initiative’s success. Management software relies on integration with email platforms, chat, video conferencing tools, review and approval tools, file sharing, and document storage to keep team members connected with each other and with the information they need to keep going.

Best Management Software and Tools

#1 – monday.com

Monday project management software logo.

Features

  • Unlimited project boards, multiple views (calandar, Kanban, timeline)
  • Web application, iOS and Android apps
  • Storage up to 1 TB per user
  • Remote work tools include collaborative whiteboards, document imbeds, Zoom, Salesforce, cloud storage integration
  • Time tracking, customized forms
  • Advanced, enterprise-grade security
  • Analytics & reporting
  • Support via self-serve knowledge base, available 24/7 customer support and available tailored onboarding

 

#2 – Wrike

Wrike project management software logo.

Features

  • Interactive project boards, multiple views (calandar, Kanban, timeline)
  • Web application, desktop, iOS and Android apps
  • Storage up to 10 GB per user
  • Remote work tools include collaborative whiteboards, document imbeds, multiple cloud platform intergrations, file and video proofing supports 30+ formats
  • Time tracking, customized forms
  • Analytics & reporting
  • Support via self-serve knowledge base, available 24/7 customer support, ticketing system, designated support agent

 

#3 – Smartsheet

Smartsheet project management software logo.

Features

  • Interactive sheets and dashboards, multiple views (Gantt, card, calendar)
  • Web application, desktop, iOS and Android apps
  • Storage up to 10 GB per user
  • Remote work tools include collaborative whiteboards, document imbeds, Jira, Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics integrations, file proofing
  • Time tracking, customized forms, templates
  • Analytics & reporting
  • Support via self-serve knowledge base, available 24/7 customer support, ticketing system, designated support agent
Note that these solutions include trial and individual plans, along with tiered or per-seat pricing based on the organization’s needs.

Benefits of Management Software

Designed to streamline the “work of doing work,” management software’s benefits impact multiple areas of small and medium sized businesses as significantly as they do in an enterprise setting. But five key benefits stand out regardless of company size.

Merges multiple systems

From moving project management away from spreadsheets to harmonizing resources, requirements, and project parameters, management software typically shows rapid ROI by eliminating overlapping systems or software packages. Where scheduling, collaboration, resource allocation, communications, and work approval used to require team members to access multiple platforms, a comprehensive management software solution eliminates the friction of sharing and acting on information.

Enhances visibility across the company

Management software provides access to the right information to the right people at the right time. Time and effort saved from tracking down documents, verifying schedules and coordinating effort is time and effort that can be spent on more important, revenue-generating work.

Clarifies dates, deliverables, and responsibilities

By using a single, unified system and a commonly understood tracking and accountability structure, all team members have the same understanding of expectations throughout the project.

Facilitates clearer, quicker reporting

Because management software captures and reports data in real time, company and project leadership can respond to changing conditions as they occur. Endless post-mortem meetings that re-hash “What happened and why did it happen?” are replaced by quicker, more actionable checkins that ask “What is happening now and what can we adjust to positively impact the outcome?

Mitigates the risk of failure

Only 19% of organizations deliver successful projects “at least most of the time,” according to a 2019 global survey by KPMG, AIPM and IPMA. Cost and time over-runs, mission creep, and ultimately dissatisfied stakeholders are typical outcomes cited. While management software can’t eliminate the possibility of project failure, the right solution creates a center of gravity around which the project’s elements can orbit productively.

Learn More about Project Management Software

Choosing the correct management software solution can be a daunting task. To learn more about your options, of dig deeper into project management best practices, visit Project-Management.com, the ultimate reference for project managers.