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As we’ve addressed before, project management (PM) is very misunderstood. People tend to simplify or complicate it, but not understand why it is so impactful on business success. Because of this, it is also easily dismissed. As anyone who has worked with a good project manager knows, it is one of the best actions a business can use to be successful. With over 30 years of project management experience, QuantumMark had to overcome our fair share of misunderstandings. So, we wanted to debunk some of the most common ones, so you don’t fall victim to them. Read below to learn three common project management misunderstandings:
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Just a Set of Tools
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People often think that PM is simply a set of tools that you can use to help your business. And while it does provide tools, it is so much more. As Dr. Angela Trego says “Project management is more than just a set of tools; it is a way of thinking about work and creating value, and a results-oriented management style.” Project management uses proven tools/techniques to help bring successful results. However, it is a way of thinking bigger, thinking more strategically. The entire goal is to ensure success on a given project/goal. This is why holistic project management is so impactful – it changes a business from the inside out.
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Manages Budgets and Schedules
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One of the other common misunderstandings? That project managers just manage the schedule and budget of a project. Again, we absolutely do this, yet it is not all we do. In reality, it is a relatively small part of our jobs because there is so much that goes around/with managing budgets and schedules. Such as: developing risk mitigation strategies, facilitating stakeholder involvement and buy-in, and so much more. Again, the misunderstanding here is trying to simplify project management down too small. To make a project come in on time and on budget, you must do more than manage the schedule and budget. Professional PMs know this and working with one will let your business know this also.
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Does Whatever the Client Asks
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Some clients think that a PM is there to do whatever they ask. This is one we’ve definitely run into. It surprises a lot of people when we push back, but it is for good reason. Project management’s entire goal is to help a client achieve a specific goal. Therefore, if we as the PM feel they are thinking about the problem wrong, not asking the right questions, or that the true business issue is not being addressed, we are going to say something. Pushing back doesn’t mean arguing with a client. It means asking the right questions to help the client be successful.
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The bottom-line is simple: project management is one of the most impactful tools for businesses of all sizes and in all industries. As project managers, our biggest hurdle is overcoming the misunderstandings/misconceptions people have around WHY our work is so important and impactful. Our work goes beyond just the surface. Project management provides an in-depth review and improvement on businesses. Our work can help your business not only survive but thrive.
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Interested in learning more about the real benefits of project management? Contact our team at Kim@QuantumMark.com today!
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