It is not surprising that human resources are essential to the success of a project. However, human resource management can present some challenges. A KPMG study in 2013 found that project failures were almost always due to mismanagement of human resource. Project management software is able to take over written requests for resources, allowing companies to deliver projects more efficiently and effectively.
Companies are shifting from project management tools that are purely individual to more comprehensive systems because of this and the constant, rapid, and unpredictable changes in the economic, technological, and strategic environment.
Organizations still have to balance the demand and supply of their resources.
The goal of a Project Manager is to deliver the project using their most valuable resource, people. They plan and implement projects by planning the course and distribution, and manage costs and resources to ensure they are available at the right moment. It’s like putting together a puzzle.
This becomes even more difficult in a multi-project environment. Project managers face many challenges when allocating resources to multiple projects.
Previously, a PM needed to call or email the resource manager to inquire about availability. However, with remote teams, different working hours, and different methods, managing human resources has become more difficult and requires a new approach.
Project management software can create a database that contains all company’s and project’s resources. It can also provide resource profiles so that the PM has a clear understanding of who is capable of what. These systems can also provide a hierarchy of resource priorities to help with classification and ensure optimal use of resources.
A common pole can be created at the company level to group all employee profiles for all projects. This allows the PM to quickly find resources, key skills or availability, and then plan their project accordingly.
A comprehensive project management system will often include an absence management module. This allows PMs to centrally monitor holidays and days off. For day-off requests, approval workflows can be also set up. Once the approval is granted, the system tracks the absence and provides a detailed view of the resource availability for each project.
The centralized calendar allows Project Managers to see their workloads and schedules clearly and to anticipate potential conflicts.
Time sheets are an essential part of project management systems for companies that want to track the time spent on each activity by their employees. They can also be used to monitor workloads and help prevent overwork.
PMs can access time sheets that can be attached to project plans. This allows them to provide details about the time and progress of each task.
Charts and dashboards provide a real-time view that allows for adjustments to resource allocations when needed.
It is clear that project management software has a significant advantage over long-term projects. Companies that centralize their resources ensure transparency and a complete view of the organization’s situation.
Project teams can be made more efficient and easier by having better resource management. Although success in a project does not depend entirely on its resource management, it is still a key factor. In a multi-project context, mastering resource allocation is essential.
Software for Project Management
Project-Man editors are available to answer your questions about the best project management software.
