Tracking work hours with Twproject

Tracking work hours with a time tracking system helps monitor the time spent on single tasks and the project.

This visibility helps gauge the accuracy of work estimates and employee efficiency by providing insights into each resource’s workload and the presence of employees on various projects. 

Time tracking within project management software should empower team members to easily add time entries to tasks and view reports on timelines.

In this article, we will examine the benefits of time tracking and how Twproject allows you to keep track of work hours.

7 reasons why you should use Twproject for time tracking

Many companies still opt to track time manually.

Yet manually tallying time involves much more paperwork, can bring in additional costs, and increases the chance of reporting errors.

Therefore, a great alternative is to use project management software, such as Twproject, which helps you track time and optimize your team or department‘s workload.

Here are its benefits:

1. Ensure transparency

Twproject offers the option of adding a level of transparency to tasks and how project managers and teams manage time.

All users will know exactly how long it took to complete a given task.

This will not only help create better estimates in the future but also ensure data transparency.

2. Less paperwork

Twproject can track actual work time automatically.

This will not only allow more accurate data to be collected compared to manual time tracking but also reduce payroll processing time and costs.

This becomes especially important for companies that work with remote teams, virtual assistants, or freelancers who are paid by the hour.

Spending less time on administrative work allows employees to focus their energy on activities that advance the project.

3. Provide a detailed view of your team’s performance

Twproject provides a better picture of team performance, helping project managers manage their teams more effectively.

Teamwork only becomes a concrete reality when everyone gives their best and takes responsibility. Only then can it be ensured that the projects being worked on are successfully completed.

Time tracking helps analyze employee performance. In other words, it allows us to know how long it took them to complete tasks and the overall quality of the results.

This provides an accurate picture of the team’s overall and individual productivity.

Furthermore, time tracking with Twproject helps identify patterns in people’s work behaviors by gathering information such as:

  • How long it takes individual team members to complete certain tasks;
  • Which employee can complete their tasks faster than others;
  • Which ones and if any team members are struggling or taking too long to complete specific types of tasks.

With this information, the project manager can identify the best-performing employees and determine who is best suited for what type of task.

4. Monitor your project’s progress

With Twproject, you can monitor project progress, making it easier to meet deadlines.

This will help finish tasks on time and ultimately provide clients with quality work.

5. Provide accurate timesheets

If timesheets are inaccurate, you will likely experience problems with project management in general.

As we know well, an important part of project management is cost tracking, so incorrect timesheets can lead to major consequences for the project, such as:

  • Companies facing additional costs;
  • Undercharging or overcharging customers;
  • Underpaying or overpaying employees;
  • Negative impact on project timeline;
  • Negative impact on customer relations;

Inaccurate timesheets can also spiral into legal disputes since they are, in fact, official documents.

6. Generate reports with ease

Project managers are not the only individuals who want to monitor a project’s progress.

Usually, clients, business executives, and other stakeholders also want to stay abreast regularly.

With Twproject, you can generate detailed, customized reports, and send them to stakeholders.

Reports provide stakeholders with proof that work is being done, providing transparency and trust and greatly simplifying the billing process.

7. Track time everywhere

When it comes to remote teams, freelancers from all over the world, or regular employees who have to do a lot of work in the field, Twproject allows you to track and record time from anywhere.

This software can also be accessed from mobile, thus allowing users to connect to the platform at any time and from any geographical location.

As a result, there will be no excuse for not recording the time each individual task requires promptly, optimizing employee attendance, and ensuring that the workflow is always updated in real-time.

Twproject: the ultimate choice for tracking work hours

In the end, accurate management and proper calculation of resource working hours are critical elements in ensuring the success and sustainability of any project.

This often underestimated factor directly impacts not only the internal organization but also staff satisfaction and the overall efficiency of operational processes.

Adopting advanced tools such as Twproject radically transforms how work hours are tracked and managed.

As we have discussed, this software not only makes it easier to record time but also introduces a higher level of accuracy, helping to optimize productivity, improve transparency to employees, and ensure accurate project billing.

Also, by reducing errors that can result from manual methods, valuable resources can be saved, and time management disputes can be prevented.

Investing in such technology gives companies a competitive advantage in a market environment increasingly characterized by rapid change and demands for flexibility.

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Estimated time in projects: how to plan for it?

Estimated time in projects is key in assessing a project’s feasibility and success rate.

This estimate must be factored in to guarantee alignment between project goals and business objectives, ensure efficient resource use, set client and team expectations, and mitigate potential risks.

In this article, we take a closer look at how to plan for estimated time in projects.

Planning estimated time in projects: how to do it?

1. Analyze historical data from similar projects

Using documented data from peer projects is key to accurate time estimates. One can start by carefully reviewing projects that reflect the scope and complexity of the current effort.

This data can be supplemented and updated with current trends and challenges in mind. This will allow estimates based on actual performance metrics rather than assumptions.

2. Create a general project scope document

Developing a broad project scope document is imperative for an accurate time estimate. This document must lay out all project deliverables, objectives, and requirements.

Defining the scope helps mitigate the scope creep effect, which can compromise estimates. This document serves as the project baseline, ensuring that each activity is executed clearly and that all team members understand the objectives.

3. Create a task list for the whole project

To do this more easily, you can break your project down into manageable tasks, assigning them priority based on importance and sequence.

At first, you can focus only on the task list without estimating durations to get a clear perspective of the workload, identifying deadlines and critical dependencies. Involving teams in this process can ensure complete coverage of all necessary tasks.

4. Anticipate the history of the project, including dependencies

Having compiled the comprehensive list of activities, you then proceed to predict the project schedule by assigning estimated durations to each activity. By taking into account the dependencies of the activities, the optimal sequence for completing the work can be determined.

This step helps to understand the project’s flow, identify potential bottlenecks, and avoid scheduling conflicts. Accurate forecasting also helps set realistic deadlines and ensures the project’s adherence throughout its life cycle.

5. Study the techniques and trends of project estimation

Keeping abreast of the latest estimating techniques and industry trends by familiarizing yourself with various methods can help you determine the best approach for your project.

There are several commonly used techniques for estimating task duration, each with its unique benefits and applications. Here are the main ones:

· Analogout estimating: It involves comparing the current project with similar ones carried out in the past.

· Parametric estimating: It calculates the duration based on historical data and mathematical relations. For example, if one kilometer of road takes 2 days to complete, 5 kilometers would require 10 days.

· Bottom-up estimating: It involves breaking down the activities into smaller tasks, estimating the duration for each, and then aggregating the results.

· Three-point estimation: It takes three values to estimate the duration. These are:

  • best-case estimate
  • worst-case estimate
  • most-likely estimate

The final estimate is calculated using the formula:

E=O+4M+P6E = \frac{O + 4M + P}{6}E=6O+4M+P

· Monte Carlo method: It involves statistical simulations to estimate the probability of different outcomes based on multiple scenarios.

· Expert estimation: As the name implies, it is based on the experience and knowledge of industry experts.

· Gantt chart and visual methods: It uses visual tools to plan schedules, often coupled with estimation techniques such as those described above.

·  Critical Path Method (CPM): It identifies the critical activities determining the minimum project duration.

These techniques can be combined or adapted according to your project’s specific characteristics, level of uncertainty, and available data.

6. Take into account risks and worst-case scenarios

This means incorporating buffers for risks and potential delays into your time estimates by adding extra time for unforeseen problems and complications.  

It is important to involve your team and stakeholders in the estimation to determine where risks lie. Preparing for worst-case scenarios increases project resilience and ensures that delays do not derail the project schedule.

7. Review your entire project and create a realistic estimate

After all of these elements have been considered, you can finalize the estimated duration and validate it with your team and stakeholders.

In this phase, reviewing the entire project with a special focus on the estimates already made, available resources, and any unforeseen contingencies that could affect the schedule is vital. This review can be beneficial in correcting any discrepancies and aligning on more realistic expectations.

Getting team members involved in this phase is also crucial. Each team member will get firsthand insight into challenges or opportunities that may not be immediately apparent in the initial planning. Openly discussing estimates, risks, and resources needed to complete the project is an opportunity to improve the final estimate and better adapt it to operational endeavors.

Moreover, it is important to maintain a flexible approach. Bottom-up estimating, which involves collecting the time estimate directly from single activities and aggregating it to obtain the overall duration, allows for improved accuracy. This way, potential areas of uncertainty can be identified that may require adjustment during the project life cycle.

Lastly, each activity should be checked against the strategic business objectives and customer priorities. If any changes or modifications in priorities arise, the schedule may need to be revised, and the resources needed to complete the project on schedule must be adjusted. 

Regular review helps ensure that the project remains on the right track and that the estimated time is always consistent with actual developments.

Creating a realistic estimate is not a one-off process, but rather an activity that requires continuous analysis and adaptation to changing circumstances. Through careful planning and constant monitoring, the risk of exceeding the estimated time is minimized, and the likelihood of project success is increased.

How to use Twproject to plan estimated time in projects?

Project management software such as Twproject can simplify and automate the estimating processes we have touched on in this article.

Of several options on the market, Twproject is a great tool for estimating time planning.

More specifically, it employs the functionality of timesheets, or task sheets, to track the time required for each task and then compare this data with initial estimates. 

Timesheets allow the project manager to monitor and manage the time taken to complete each task and quickly identify any discrepancies between the estimated and actual time required.

This helps monitor overall project progress, assess team productivity, and understand the cost of the project.

Furthermore, Twproject allows you to monitor allocated resources, ensuring that each task gets the right level of attention and resources. This makes managing time, planning resources, and assigning tasks to team members easier. 

The software helps track progress in real time, enabling project managers to make prompt changes if necessary and respond quickly to any delays or changes in the project so it can be completed in the required time.

This platform also offers tools for creating customized reports that provide a clear view of the project’s progress, comparing the time required to complete each task with initial projections.

This helps keep projects on schedule and optimize resource management, ensuring that required resources are properly distributed according to project priorities.

Also, by managing dependencies between activities, project scheduling can be optimized, improving the sequence of operations and reducing the risk of bottlenecks. This ensures that each project phase is completed consistently and in a timely manner.

Twproject provides a clear overview of progress through interactive Gantt charts, which provide a visual overview of the project schedule and deadlines.

This makes it easier for the project manager to quickly detect deviations from the original plan and make the necessary corrections to ensure the project is completed on schedule.

Plan your projects with Twproject

Measuring Project Progress: the calculation formulas

For a project manager, having an immediate and clear view of a project’s progress in percentage terms is critical to making informed and timely decisions.

Indeed, there comes a time in the life of a project in which the PM will find himself having to answer the fateful question: “where are we?”

At the dawn of our activity in this field, many years ago, the main purpose of the PM’s job was primarily the creation of a huge Gantt (the more detailed it was the better), which was punctually printed, or at the time “plotted” and hung in the office behind the PM’s desk.

Then the project started and ….

Unfortunately, the reality had not been informed on the path traced by the PM and despite good intentions they could be separated.

But here unexpectedly the atrocious aforementioned question fell from above on the head of the unsuspecting PM.

Following days were generally full of excited phone calls, rounds of emails, exchanges of Excel, screams and anxieties to be able to collect data and update the evil Gantt (which was the more detailed and the more difficult to update).

The idea of Twproject was born in that troubled era (we are talking about the distant 2001) precisely to solve this situation.

Twproject was born with the purpose of:

  • being a tool for the whole company
  • being able to collect information where the activities are carried out, i.e. at the operational level
  • providing updated data and management tools to the PM
  • presenting aggregate data and statistics for top management

Without the aid of a project management software such as Twproject, the PM, once the data was collected and the Gantt updated, had to make a manual estimate of the project’s progress percentage, the extreme synthesis.

66.6%

We consider it “diabolical” to synthesize an infinite number of parameters in a single figure, but basically this is what is required of us.

Having the project progress percentage means possessing a visual and intuitive indicator that facilitates communication with team members, clients and stakeholders.

In other words, it provides a common, understandable reference point that can be shared during project status meetings.

But to calculate it accurately, how useful can software be to help us assess it, perhaps by offering various viewpoints?

Progress data in the project dashboard

At Twproject, we believe that having this data at hand at all times is very useful, which is why we have placed progress centrally in the project overview.

project progress in percentage

In fact, seeing the percentage expressed numerically is very useful to have at a glance the health of the project.

We have also included some circular graphs showing the percentage of individual aspects of the project, such as::

  • Work done / estimated: shows the percentages of work done by each team member, compared to what remains to be done according to the schedule.
  • Phases closed / total: (if applicable, i.e., if there are sub-phases) indicates the percentage of closed or suspended phases to total phases.
  • Phases timing: offers the percentage of project sub-phase timings, which have a range of punctuality.
  • ToDo statuses: shows the completion status of the ToDos entered.
  • ToDo gravities: indicates the various levels of urgency of the ToDo currently active on the project.
  • Costs incurred / estimated: presents the breakdown of costs by type (additional or from employee labor) compared to what was estimated in the project budget.

These graphs are shown depending on the types of progress you decide to monitor.

In fact, by editing the project data, you can set the progress type with which to indicate the current status of project development.

Let us now see what and how many criteria we can set to monitor the progress of the project.

All types of project progress

Twproject offers several ways to monitor and update the progress of projects, allowing PMs to choose the method that best suits the specific needs of the project.

Here are what they are. With them, you can always have an up-to-date and flexible picture of your projects.

1. Manual progress estimation

In this case, the PM can simply manually update the percentage of completion of the project or individual activities.

As we have seen, Twproject provides you with a view of the main parameters, so that the PM can base their considerations and then manually enter the progress.

Let’s see an example: the data of the development project of Twproject 7.0.007.

Without going into too much detail, the project is managed in Scrum-like mode; we have a backlog where we collect all the ideas, improvements, bugs in the form of ToDo. Sprints, lasting 20 days, represent the Twproject releases.

For each sprint / release we move the ToDo’s that we are going to develop from the Backlog.

This is the structure we currently use:

Twproject Gantt structure
Twproject 7.0 project structure – Scrum

On each sprint resources (Scrum team) are assigned with the estimated hours to close the ToDo’s.

Here is how Twproject summarizes the data useful for determining the progress.

project overview
Dati riassuntivi Sprint 7.0.007

Looking at the figures, we see that 69% of the time has passed for this project, 82% of the to-do’s have been closed, 84% of the hours worked.

Surely a project in good health that could be estimated at 80% of completion.

Leaving this task in the hands of the PM, however, has two negative implications:

  • top management does not have this information available in real time and therefore the PM must update the assessment when necessary
  • the subjectivity of the assessment is a harbinger of discussions and requests for clarification

2. Automatic progress calculation

To solve these two problems, the solution was to introduce an automatic mechanism for calculating the progress of the project.

To do this, we have identified the most common situations and combined them to allow you to easily model the behavior of even complex projects.

selection calculation type for project progress

Let’s see in detail the other types of calculation besides the manual one:

2.1. By worklog done on estimated

Twproject can automatically calculate progress based on the actual time recorded versus the planned time.

If one estimated to work 100 hours and worked 45, the progress is 45%.

This is a useful calculation, for example, for a type of work that involves a pay-as-you-go contract or for the budgeting and study phases.

2.2. By phases (weighed)

This is a useful type of calculation for those who rely heavily on WBS, such as manufacturing companies that divide their activities into many stages of the production cycle.

In this case, the progress is calculated based on that of the subphases, weighted on their relevance.

For example, we can have an car manufacturing company that divides the production process into several stages:

  • Design (weight: 40%)
  • Production of the main components (weight: 30%)
  • Final assembly (weight: 20%)
  • Quality control (weight: 10%)

Each stage contributes to the overall progress of the project in proportion to its significance. If:

  • Design is 100% completed,
  • Production of the main components is 50% completed,
  • The other two phases have not yet started

Project progress will be calculated as:
(40% × 100%) + (30% × 50%) + (20% × 0%) + (10% × 0%) = 55% completion.

If it seems complicated to assign a percentage of relevance, don’t worry, Twproject levels out all values even if the total does not equal 100.

2.3. By completed phases over totals

In this other case, progress is calculated by the number of closed subprojects compared to the total.

Let’s say the project consists of 3 phases; after finishing the first two we will be at 66%.

A rather brutal calculation, but easy to understand, and that can be useful for projects consisting of many repetitive phases, eg: the installation of 200 identical appliances.

2.4. By closed ToDo’s over total

Here, progress is determined by the number of completed ToDo’s compared to the total.

If we have 100 ToDo’s on the project / phase and we have closed 50, project progress is 50%.

This data is interesting when the project activities can be summarized in ToDo lists.

This calculation is particularly fitting with Agile methodologies.

Check your project progress

with Twproject you can monitor your project progress easily with a complete overview over your statistics.

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2.5. By closed ToDo’s (weighted) over total

This is a refinement of the previous calculation, but in which the “severity” of the ToDo is considered.

If we have 80 ToDo’s, including 40 “block” ones and 40 “low” ones, and if we close the 40 blockers, we will have a higher advancement than closing the low priority ones.

This working method is a stimulus to induce good practices.

2.6. By encountered costs over estimated or budget

Twproject offers very fine-tuned project cost management, which is why project progress can also be evaluated based on various criteria related to cost trends.

If we have an expenditure (or budget) forecast of 100, and if we have spent 30, project progress is 30%.

This type of data analysis is useful for those working on different types of contracts related to WIP.

It also works for some no-estimate iterative Agile methodologies.

2.7. By dates

Finally, the simplest calculation model, the one for which everything always goes right 😉

If 90% of the expected time has passed, we are at 90%.

Unfortunately, it cannot be applied often in real projects.

Typical is the use in construction in some “waiting” phases such as settling, drying and the like.

However, it is very useful for modeling annual support contracts and similar situations.

Bottom line

Returning to our example of the sprint Twproject 7.0.007, the most suitable automatic formula is the ” ToDo weighed closed over total “, because the sprint is completely determined by the set of ToDo’s that compose it.

If we edit the project and change the type of calculation we will immediately see the effect:

automatic project progress calculation

So slightly better than the 80% expected per sensation.

Twproject allows you to use progress calculation rules not only on the project, but also on each phase, sub-phase, and so on.

In this way it will be possible to easily model even complex and heterogeneous behaviors.

For the Twproject 7.0 project we have development partners; in their case we have purchased packages of days and for the progress we use the “done / estimated worklog”

Twproject project progress

I could therefore have a phase of study progressing with the work done, an Agile development phase progressing by completed ToDo and a maintenance phase progressing by time.

Easy, powerful, intuitive, automatic, objective and above all without too much effort for the PM!

The information relating to the progress is then visible in Twproject not only in the summary lists but also in specific dashboards that high-level users can independently verify without disturbing the team.

In conclusion, these different monitoring modes allow flexible and precise management of project progress, adapting to different working methodologies and specific monitoring needs.

As always, flexibility is everything in Twproject. Try it for free for 14 days is check now how effectively it can simplify your calculations, and your life.

It’s your turn now! Let’s Twproject help you calculating your progress.

 



The Getting Things Done method: 5 steps for managing time

The GTD (Getting Things Done) method is a system that allows to efficiently organize one´s activities in relation to time, thus remaining productive.

It may seem complicated from an external point of view, but the ultimate goal is to optimize the available time to devote to the activities that need to be done, in order to have more time for the activities that a person wants to do.

The GTD method, when used correctly, can mitigate the load in both work and private life. In fact, this method can be used in both situations.

The GTD method: let’s deepen the subject

The GTD is a method used for organizing things to do, based on their priorities and on a – daily, weekly, monthly – schedule in order to make them all manageable.

This method allows you to see the activities at stake and to choose efficiently on what and how to work in the future.

The GTD system also allows you to eliminate from your mind any distractions that may impede efficient work.

All this sounds amazing, but this method is also known to be complicated.

Part of the reason for this reputation lies in the fact that there is no single and always valid and correct way to put it into practice.

For sure there are some guidelines, but there is no precise scheme to follow. The application of the GTD method varies in every situation.

Part of this flexibility makes it easy to customize it in order to suit your needs. On the other hand, it makes it difficult to approach and put into practice.

Let´s try to understand how it works in a very simple way.

The Getting Things Done method: 5 steps for managing time

The 5 phases of the GTD method

The GTD method is basically an organizational system. In fact, it does not set precise rules on how to carry out the work concretely.

The method focuses on how to organize, structure and choose the work to be done and is based on 5 phases or steps:

1. Collect

Here are meant all things to do, ideas, recurring tasks, in short, really everything

Collect and write everything in a notebook, in a Word sheet, on post-it, on any tool you prefer to use for your organization.

The GTD method does not tell you to use a specific tool, but whatever you use must adapt to your daily flow. There must be no excuse to say “I will add it to my list later”.

2. Analyze

Do not just write “Vacation Planning”, but divide it into practical and executable steps. For example: choose the destination, search for the flight, look for the hotel, etc.

If something can be done right away and you have time to do it, you have to take advantage of it, and do it right away.

If a thing can be delegated, then it should be delegated.

3. Organize everything by category and priority

Assign expiration dates and deadlines where possible, and set reminders to comply with them.

Pay particular attention to the priority of each activity.

Involving team members in the division of tasks can improve efficiency and reduce individual workload.

Right now you are not concretely doing any of the items on the list, but you are just organizing the list and the points, according to category and priority.

4. Doing

At this point, the system is realized to make it easily understandable and it’s now time to get involved and get to work.

The activities are divided into manageable blocks, of limited size, easy to start. There are no more excuses. The support of team members can be helpful in tackling more complex tasks in a collaborative manner.

5. Review

Periodically perform a detailed review of the points to see where progress is being made. It is also good in order to see where changes in priorities and categories are necessary and, in general, to verify if the system works.

How to start with the GTD method

Including the basic premises of the GTD method, getting started is simple.

In fact, it is likely that many project managers already use some of the pillars of the GTD and that these are already part of their workflow.

It is probable but not so obvious. So, for those who want to try, here is how to get started.

First of all, we need a tool to acquire and organize all the ideas, activities and tasks to be done, responsibilities, everything that we need to remember.

The GTD method and the steps for managing time

It is necessary to choose a method, an instrument or a tool that allows us to report the new information given to us as quickly as possible.

If the boss announces a new task, in fact, this has to be reported in the tool chosen in the most immediate way.

If the current method does not allow this freedom, it must be changed.

Here is the point that most people do not: dedicate some time each week, or at the beginning of each day, to really get in touch with things to do.

How many of us, entering the office, sit at the desk and start working blindly, thinking only about the individual activities without thinking or having a general picture of the day?

Tasks must be organized into specific activities that can be managed according to schedule and priority.

An excellent solution for implementing the GTD method is Twproject, which enables efficient organisation of tasks, assignments and priorities.

Twproject makes it possible to monitor the status of tasks, delegate tasks to team members and simplify the periodic review of work. Thanks to its intuitive interface, it offers agile workflow management, making it easier to adopt GTD in daily practice.

Ideally, if the GTD method is executed correctly, all the tasks to be done should be easily displayed. You can quickly see what is most important, what takes more or less time, what can be postponed.

How a person organizes himself, specifically depends on the person, but a fundamental rule is: do not overdo it.

If the list begins to fill with categories, variable priorities and all kinds of labels, flags and possible functions, it’s time to get back to the starting point and simplify.

And above all, do not forget the periodic review, preferably weekly.

Conclusions on the GTD method

The GTD system has a lot to offer, but let’s not forget it: it’s just an organizational philosophy and it’s not suitable for everyone.

In fact, there are several other productivity tools and systems to choose from and the GTD method is only one of them.

The goal of the GTD method is to devote some time for organizing the activities in order to subsequently obtain a large amount of time that would otherwise have been spent on unnecessary and unproductive work.

You will generally be more relaxed, because you will not have to worry anymore with the thought of what to do next, how to do it or when you will have time to do it.

In our experience, success and productivity are connected to how you manage two aspects of work management:

  1. Carefully model the complexities of your work environment – and here, of course, Twproject assists you wonderfully
  2. Bring this complexity to something simple, light, quickly manageable by the individual user.

Many ideas surrounding “agile” and “getting things done” management move around this process.

The final result should be to be more in tune with work and to be more involved in the personal life.

And you, what method of organization of activities do you use?

What is your relationship with the GTD method? Write it in the comments.

Complete the activities with the right method.

How to develop a budget and make realistic forecasts

How to prepare a budget? As a business grows and becomes increasingly complex, budget preparation and realistic forecasting become ever more critical.

Budgeting and forecasting may sound the same, but within the corporate financial framework, they present distinctive characteristics.

Although they cover two different spheres, budgets and forecasts work together to produce a comprehensive guide to a project’s and the company’s financial performance.

Understanding the difference between budgeting and forecasting and strategies to manage them best can help an organization operate successfully.

Budget vs forecasts

As previously mentioned, budgets and forecasts are not the same thing.

A budget is a financial plan that outlines an organization’s future earnings and expenditures.

It is the basic blueprint for a company’s financial operations, setting out how much and what it plans to spend.

When set, the budget generally remains as is, becoming the benchmark for financial performance.

Conversely, a forecast predicts an organization’s future financial events based on current business trends, market conditions, and relevant data. The goal is to estimate how internal and external trends will affect a project or company’s financial future.

For example, forecasting may discover an opportunity to enter a new market by launching an innovative product.

Based on the forecast’s findings, a project manager can develop a strategic plan to capitalize on opportunities and overcome challenges. Budgeting is static, whereas forecasting is dynamic and an important part of the overall business plan.

This means that forecasting can be revised frequently, especially when internal changes or important influential external factors come to light.

The role of management control

To successfully implement a coherent budget and forecast, it is crucial to implement sound management control.

This process consists of continuously monitoring set targets and comparing them with actual results to pinpoint any deviations and take appropriate corrective action in a timely manner.

Management relies on the information provided by management control to make strategic decisions and properly allocate financial resources.

How to prepare a budget

Here are five basic steps to follow when drafting a budget:

1. Review and collect input

Inputs refer to all elements, such as fixed and variable expenses, revenue flows, and any other elements that can influence financial planning. At this stage, it is important to differentiate fixed and variable costs to have a clear overview of the operating margins.

2. Analyze historical data

Researching past budgets and other historical financial data provides insight into past trends to help establish realistic business goals for revenue and expenses for each month and fiscal year. You can also take the performance of the industry in which you operate as benchmarks.

3. Get cross-functional stakeholders involved

Consulting and communicating with stakeholders from other departments, such as sales managers or executives, provides insight into how the company’s priorities are perceived and helps create a budget that reflects the needs of the whole organization.

This consultation will also make colleagues feel part of the process, increasing their willingness to accept the budget.

4. Plan capital expenditures

Identifying any necessary capital outlays during the budget period, such as equipment, facilities, and property investments, is also important to ensure you have the resources you need to operate and grow smoothly.

5. Set KPIs

KPIs and any other performance indicators will help monitor budget effectiveness. Particularly, it is vital to include in the analysis not only general costs, but also the revenue forecast and variable cost structure to support objectives.

Come generare e gestire benefit di progetto

Economic budget and financial budget

In budgeting, it is worth distinguishing between economic and financial budgets.

  • The economic budget focuses on the income statement, namely cost projections (fixed and variable) and revenues, to determine the expected profit or loss.
  • The financial budget, in contrast, analyzes cash flows (inflows and outflows), cash management, and funding sources to ensure that the company possesses the financial resources needed to support its day-to-day operations and investment projects.

Having these two types of budgets separate helps management make more focused decisions, weighing both economic sustainability and financial soundness.

How to make realistic forecasts

To produce realistic financial forecasts, here are some key steps:

 1. Define areas of interest

The first step involves identifying the key metrics that the forecast needs to cover, such as revenue growth or determined cash flow.

2. Update your forecast with the latest financial data

The latest financial data drawn from business operations will be used as the starting point. By incorporating real-time data, the estimates will truly reflect the state of the business at that specific time, ensuring more accurate forecasts.

Additionally, adopting a collaborative budget planning approach can enhance accuracy by involving different departments in the forecasting process. This cross-functional input ensures that all financial projections consider diverse perspectives, leading to more informed decision-making.

3. Set a forecast time frame

The forecast must encompass a specific time frame, which can be monthly, quarterly, or annually, but the performance tracked must be precisely consistent with the chosen time frame.

4. Identify patterns and trends

By analyzing past performance data, you can look for trends that are likely to recur. Are there consistent patterns in sales, spending, and other critical metrics that can guide projections? Moreover, it is important to note when things change, how, and the causes.

5. Take into consideration the influencing factors

When making forecasts, it is important to factor in any known or unknown elements that could impact your forecast. For example, the launch of new products, economic changes in the market, regulatory changes, etc.

Drafting a budget and making forecasts with Twproject

Preparing an accurate budget and making reliable forecasts are two fundamental activities for the success of any project or organization.

Yet, it is also often one of the most complex tasks a project manager can face.

Many organizations rely exclusively on Microsoft Excel due to its familiarity and low cost, but this can be a big mistake in the long run, as fragmented workbooks and manual input can lead to errors.

In this case, choosing a great project management software becomes crucial, as a well-informed decision will help make financial management more precise and strategic.

Among the numerous software available on the market, Twproject stands out for its user-friendliness and wealth of customizable features.

By centralizing all relevant information, such as estimated costs, actual expenses, and available resources, teams, managers, and stakeholders can maintain a clear and up-to-date understanding of the project’s financial situation.

costi software project management twproject

Features such as detailed report generation, scenario simulation, and predictive analysis based on historical data help promptly identify deviations between planned and actual budgets.

Moreover, Twproject provides the potential to predict possible financial risks, optimize resource allocation, and adjust planning as needed.

A further benefit is the streamlined collaboration process between team members and stakeholders, who can easily access relevant financial data and contribute to more informed decisions.

Ultimately, project management software such as Twproject improves operational efficiency and brings crucial support for more informed and success-oriented economic management of a project and the company as a whole.

Keep costs under control with Twproject

The best project management software of 2025

If you are looking for a clear and concise list of the best project management software for 2025, here is the one for you.

Sul web ci sono molte liste che promettono di offrire le soluzioni ideali, ma spesso si limitano a riproporre gli stessi strumenti, che, a dire il vero, risolvono solo una piccola parte dei problemi che un project manager e, più in generale, un’azienda affrontano quotidianamente.

Ma quali sono questi problemi reali che richiedono soluzioni adeguate? E quali software rispondono davvero a queste esigenze?

1. Managing projects in heterogeneous ways

A problem that many companies face concerns the approach to project management. Who says that all projects in a company must be managed with a single methodology, such as the traditional waterfall, rather than adopting a more flexible and dynamic agile approach? Each project has its own peculiarities and requires a different approach, often involving the combined use of different methodologies.

Many software packages on the market only offer support for a specific type of methodology, thus limiting the company’s ability to adapt to projects that require agility, fast iterations, or changes in progress. Good project management software should be able to easily adapt to different needs and approaches, allowing the team to choose the most suitable methodology for each project.

2. Relying on a single software for complete project management

Another major problem companies face is the lack of software that offers a complete and integrated view of the project.

Many available tools focus only on certain aspects, such as activity management or internal communication, but do not provide a complete overview of the resources involved, costs, timeframes and possible criticalities.

What a project manager and a company needs is software that integrates all this information into a single platform. Software that allows them to monitor project progress in real time, visualise committed resources and their workload, control budgets and costs, and forecast schedules accurately.

The aim is to obtain an improved overview that allows to make informed and timely decisions, avoiding surprises or delays.e, evitando sorprese o ritardi.

3. A software that meets the needs of all business figures

Another crucial aspect when choosing project management software concerns its adaptability to different business needs.

It is not enough for software to be functional for the project team. It must also be able to meet the needs of those, such as executives or management, who need complete and accurate data to make strategic decisions.

An ideal software not only facilitates the work of the operating team, but also offers advanced reports and dashboards, so that those who have to supervise the entire project have access to high-level information to assess project progress, monitor return on investment (ROI) and make accurate forecasts.

Ease of use for all levels of the company is therefore a key feature, as is the ability to customise data to suit different roles and responsibilities.

4. Solutions that meet all these needs

In the current list you will find the best project management software that according to an up-to-date analysis addresses these issues in a concrete and practical way.

These software are not limited to being simple management tools, but become true platforms that can adapt and grow with the needs of a company, supporting dynamic and integrated project management.

There is no need to settle for partial solutions that do not solve day-to-day problems: with such software, you will finally have complete and precise control over all aspects of your project, boosting productivity, optimising resources and ensuring project success. Simply perfect, isn’t it?

Twproject

twproject is the best software for project management in 2025

Twproject is an ideal solution for any type of company and any methodology adopted, thanks to its flexibility, which is one of its strengths. Despite its ease of use, it offers a wide range of tools to manage the entire project lifecycle.

With Twproject you can manage your project from the initial planning stages: the presence of a WBS (Work Breakdown Structure) and an interactive Gantt allows you to better organise resources and optimise budgets.

Throughout the course of the project, the software helps you keep track of deadlines, possible bottlenecks and budget overruns, making continuous monitoring much easier and more effective.

Twproject’s best features:
  • Comprehensive project management: planning, balancing resources, monitoring deadlines and budgets.
  • WBS and interactive Gantt for a clear and detailed view of all project phases.
  • Time tracking to monitor the time spent on different activities.
  • Integrated cost and document management to have everything at hand.
  • Simple interface and constant support for improved usability even for new users.
  • Daily functions such as To-do list, Kanban board and weekly planners to organise work.
Pros:

Twproject is a comprehensive tool that allows the project manager to always have an up-to-date overview of the project status, with advanced time, cost and document management features.

Cons:

No disadvantages were detected.

Price: from € 4.89 user/month

Twproject responds promptly to all the problems mentioned: it is customisable, integrated and suitable for any use

ProofHub

ProofHub is an all-in-one platform for project management and collaboration between team members, centralising all operations in one place.

This tool creates a centralised reference point for all projects, teams, documents, communications and activities, avoiding the need for multiple separate applications.

The platform stands out for its efficiency, allowing projects to be tracked in real time, keeping everyone up-to-date and synchronised.

In addition, it offers the possibility to easily monitor each stage of the project, ensuring that the results are delivered with maximum accuracy.

Pros: The interface is simple, clear and easy to use, with a minimal learning curve. It is highly customisable and can be adapted to different needs, offering full administrative control.

Cons: It is not ideal for small teams and, at times, the amount of notifications can become excessive.

Price: from $ 45 per month for unlimited users

Detailed tool with features suitable for larger teams, good graphical interface

Zoho

Another good option in terms of flexibility is Zoho, which, if purchased as a package, can meet various business needs.

Thanks to its modularity, Zoho allows individual tools to be customised according to specific needs. This allows companies to optimise their resources, adapting tools to real needs and saving on unnecessary functions.

The suite offered by Zoho also includes advanced project and customer relationship management tools such as CRM. In addition, it offers a number of applications ideal for facilitating remote working, making the platform particularly useful for those adopting remote working solutions.

Pros: A simple, well-organised structure and advanced tools for team collaboration, such as real-time chat, discussion forums, and the ability to assign tasks, monitor deadlines and share documents.

Cons: Although the basic interface is intuitive, some advanced features may take time to master. Customisation and integration of all available tools can be complex without proper training.

Price: from $ 37 per month for unlimited users

Zoho is a customisable solution suitable for different needs and for teams working remotely

ClickUp

ClickUp is one of the best-known project management software due to its wide range of functionalities and the flexibility it offers users.

The platform allows the use of various types of visualisations, such as lists, Kanban boards, calendars and Gantt charts, making it easy to track project progress and monitor progress in real time. In addition, it offers advanced automation features that simplify repetitive tasks, such as automatic task assignment and deadline management.

For new users, the platform may be somewhat complex due to the wide range of options and functionalities available. Also, while ClickUp is very powerful in terms of functionality, some small companies or teams may not need so many options, making the platform overly complicated compared to simpler, more focused tools.

Pros: A comprehensive project management solution, especially suitable for medium to large teams or companies with a need to manage complex projects.

Cons: The learning curve is relatively steep, and without proper training, some teams may find themselves overwhelmed by the amount of customisations and settings to configure.

Price: from € 7 user/month

Clickup is a solution for structured teams looking for advanced project management tools

Basecamp

On the opposite side of the fence we find Basecamp, one of the most user-friendly project management tools.

Although it is not, in our opinion, comprehensive enough to meet the needs of high-level management, it is nevertheless worth considering for its simplicity. If your team is particularly resistant to adopting new software, Basecamp might be the ideal solution for you.

Its main features include to-do list creation, deadline management, file and document sharing, and group chat communication.

Basecamp also offers a calendar function to track deadlines and a noticeboard to discuss ideas and updates.

Pros: The task list management is very well structured and allows easy communication with all members

Cons: Does not include the time-tracking tool, which we consider essential for a project management software, and is lacking in the structuring of complex projects.

Price: from $ 25 per month for 10 projects

Especially suitable for teams looking for a simple and intuitive solution without overly complex functionalities

Bottom line

To sum up, each of the software packages under consideration has strengths and weaknesses: it is up to you to choose the one that is best suited to your needs and context, without forgetting that the adoption of a project management tool is easier when the team is involved and motivated.

If you are looking for a solution that combines simplicity and power, Twproject is the best choice, as it offers all the tools needed to manage projects of any size, without compromise.

This is why we believe it deserves the first place in the list of the best project management software of 2025.

Se vuoi conoscere Twproject, hIf you want to get to know Twproject, you have a 15-day free trial starting today.

Put what we have suggested into practice and let us know what your final choice will be!

Managing infrastructure project complexity: Challenges and solutions

Infrastructure projects often face delays and increased costs.

In fact, the path to completion is often riddled with challenges that can test even the most experienced project manager.

The conventional control-centric approach must yield more flexible practices that can handle the unavoidable changes in the infrastructure industry.

In this article, we will examine the challenges and solutions to managing the complexity of infrastructure projects.

Complexity in infrastructure projects: Challenges

The complexity of any project, not just in the infrastructure domain, grows with the number of its elements and the amount and complexity of the interactions among them.

Effective management of large-scale infrastructure projects involves dealing with various project management problems, such as:

  • Adaptation to technological developments: The rapid evolution of technology brings both opportunities and challenges. Project managers must stay up-to-date with the latest technology trends, and logistics optimization is no longer a luxury but a must to remain competitive. Yet integrating these technologies requires significant investment and training, which can be a serious challenge for many companies.
  • Regulatory compliance and environmental considerations: Infrastructure projects often extend across multiple jurisdictions, each with unique regulations and compliance requirements. Moving through this regulatory maze can be a tough endeavor.
  • Risk management and uncertainty: The scope and duration of an infrastructure project can face different risks, ranging from financial fluctuations to unexpected site circumstances. Effective risk management thus becomes imperative and requires the project manager to anticipate potential problems and develop prompt contingency plans. The present competitive environment leaves little room for error, and the skill of managing uncertainty can dictate the success or failure of a project.
  • Stakeholder engagement and communication: An infrastructure project typically involves many stakeholders, including government agencies, investors, contractors, and the community. Clear and consistent communication among all parties is crucial. Balancing everyone’s interests while maintaining the project’s momentum is definitely a delicate and challenging feat.
  • Resource allocation and workforce management: Competition for skilled labor and quality materials is intense. The current labor market, characterized by skills shortages and high turnover rates, adds another layer of complexity to workforce management. Retaining talent and providing a skilled workforce throughout the project’s life is an ever-present challenge.

twproject progetti infrastrutturali

Complexity in infrastructure projects: solutions

As we have observed, infrastructure projects come with some significant challenges, but here are some strategies for responding to them:

  • Taking responsibility: In complex, long-term projects, the true property of results is a key issue. The project manager must assume responsibility for difficult decisions, fostering peace of mind within the team. This accountability allows for effective decision-making without being overly apprehensive. If executive support falters, it will likely run into more serious problems and risks.
  • Managing schedules: Estimating time and effort in infrastructure projects can be challenging. A time buffer must be calculated for the final date to account for any delays.
  • Building trust: Addressing concerns within local communities is crucial to the success of large projects. Providing a safe space for discussions regarding time-sensitive concerns and providing timely explanations of project methods and goals is critical. Instructing team members on the project’s purpose, expected outcomes, costs, schedule, and community benefits promotes a sense of understanding and collaboration. By nurturing relationships with stakeholders, project stakeholders can establish a foundation of trust and support, ensuring a smoother execution of the work.
  • Understanding the market: In the infrastructure domain, knowing and understanding the market area becomes the cornerstone for any project manager. A deep understanding of the business dynamics and the different sources of supply is essential to overcome most obstacles. Proactive planning provides more realistic timelines and effective management of expectations.

Twproject: the tool for managing large-scale infrastructure projects

The complexity of infrastructure projects requires the automation of some processes and the use of an effective project management tool capable of managing large-scale projects.

Choosing the right tool is key to the success of an infrastructure project.

Here’s how Twproject, the best project management software currently available on the market, can become the ultimate ally in this industry:

  • Accessibility: Twproject Offers accessibility from virtually anywhere in the world. Since infrastructure projects require the collaboration of various stakeholders who are unlikely to be within the same office, a tool that allows real-time connection from anywhere proves necessary.
  • Dynamic and customized reporting: To effectively manage infrastructure projects, data, and information must be accessible and understood by all stakeholders.

Twproject allows for creating immediate reports, customization of data visualization, and extracting up-to-date information.

  • Data security: given the value and sensitivity of data, particularly in the case of an infrastructure project, cybersecurity becomes critical. Twproject ensures that all parameters for data security and privacy are met. The administrator can assign different levels of data access to each user, thus protecting sensitive data where necessary.

Lastly, infrastructure project management is most certainly a complex discipline that requires a mix of technical expertise, strategic planning, and groundbreaking IT tools.

In the highly competitive present-day world, there are many challenges, but so are opportunities for innovation and improvement.

Still in doubt? Well, you can try yourself with a free demo.

Project manager and NRRP: key skills

The project manager for NRRP is a central figure for the success of projects related to the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP).

This professional’s skills in planning, coordinating, and monitoring efforts are crucial to ensuring that deadlines and strategic outcomes are met.

In this article, we will examine the NRRP and the essential skills a project manager must have in this domain.

What is NRRP?

PNRR stands for “National Recovery and Resilience Plan” and is arguably one of Italy’s most ambitious economic and social transformation projects.

The NPRRP is integral to the Next Generation EU program and aims to kick-start the Italian economy with investments and changes directed toward sustainability, digitization, and social and territorial inclusion.

More than 200 billion euros have been allotted for implementing this plan; therefore, its management must be precise and skillful to ensure that the funds are used effectively and truly perceived by the citizens.

Naturally, being a project approved by the European Union, the NRRP must meet certain basic requirements:

·  Compliance with EU regulations;

·  Strategic goals, such as infrastructure improvement to the digitization of public services; ·  Stringent deadlines, as funds must be used no later than 2026.

Le skey skills of an NRRP project manager

The NRRP is a remarkably complex project involving many variables that must be carefully dealt with.

This is why an NRRP project manager absolutely must possess certain essential skills, such as:

·   Understanding of the project and management of European funds: The first point is related clearly to understanding the dynamics of the NRRP, its objectives, and, broadly speaking, Europrojecting. The project manager must have in-depth knowledge of the requirements for accessing funds and the scope of the project.

·   Strategic planning: The skill of defining clear objectives, identifying risks, and planning each phase of this important project is vital to ensure deadlines are met and resources are properly allocated.

·   Monitoring and reporting: NRRP projects involve close supervision to ensure that set goals are met and that funds are used transparently. The project manager must be able to prepare accurate reports, check activity progress, and measure the impact of initiatives.

·   Leadership and communication skills: In such a massive project, stakeholders are many and may also play important roles within the EU. As a result, the project manager must be able to communicate effectively with people at all levels and possess negotiating skills to manage relationships with partners and funders.

·   Technical and digital expertise: As digitization becomes more prevalent, and since digitization is a key focus of the NRRP, the project manager must be able to use advanced software tools, which are imperative for managing complex projects.

Twproject: the project management software

Using good project management software becomes indispensable in a context as complex as NRRP.

Specifically, Twproject provides a way to facilitate the management of NRRP projects in the following ways:

·     Planning: One of Twproject’s key features is its capability to support project planning in a structured and intuitive way.

This software provides the option to create detailed project plans, including the definition of goals, timelines, and critical deadlines.

The feature of assigning tasks to team members is tremendously helpful in ensuring that every resource is deployed efficiently and that all deadlines imposed by the NRRP are met.

Moreover, visualization via Gantt charts makes it easy to understand project progress at a glance.

Gantt chart in Twproject

· Performance monitoring: Twproject allows tracking activity progress and monitoring KPI in real-time. This allows the project manager to act swiftly in case of delays or deviations, minimizing the risks of non-compliance with NRRP requirements.

·  Centralized communication: Twproject facilitates stakeholder collaboration, fostering transparent communication within the same environment. 

All project-related data are stored in a unique, easily accessible, and secure location, thereby preventing the information from being dispersed.

This feature is particularly useful for maintaining a detailed record of decisions made, updates provided, and any change requests, ensuring maximum transparency.

· Reporting: Reporting is one of the most crucial aspects of NRRP-funded projects, as it demands a high level of detail and accuracy.

Twproject massively streamlines this process, helping to generate customized and automated reports that include all relevant project data.

These reports can be easily shared with funders or regulators, ensuring complete regulatory compliance and transparent fund management.

As we have seen then, the success of an NRRP project depends first and foremost on the management skills of a skilled and qualified project manager.

In this context, project management software such as Twproject provides a strategic partner that can offer advanced tools to optimize operations and ensure maximum efficiency, thereby contributing to Italy’s recovery and transformation.

Plan your projects with Twproject

The Role of the Sustainability Project Manager in Businesses

A Sustainability Project Manager is in charge of coordinating a company’s sustainability initiatives through collaboration with internal departments and partners.

As defined by the United Nations, sustainable development involves addressing current needs

“without compromising the future generation’s ability to fulfill their needs.”

In the business environment, sustainability typically denotes a commitment to running operations without negative impacts on the environment, local communities, and society overall.

For this reason, many companies are now turning more and more to sustainability experts.

Sustainability in project management

Sustainability Project Manager twproject

In an ever-changing world, sustainability in project management is assuming increasing relevance.

Project sustainability involves both individual and organizational responsibility to ensure that deliverables, results, and benefits are sustainable throughout the life cycle.

This is often planned from the very beginning, becoming a key requirement in (nearly) every project.

It is a concept that can be challenging to implement, but it is becoming a thing that can no longer be overlooked.

Sustainability involves taking individual and organizational responsibility and is something that all project professionals must understand and fulfill.

Sustainability is a multifaceted concept that comprises the careful management of economic, environmental, and social resources to ensure the well-being of current and future generations. In particular:

  • Financial sustainability: Ensure that projects provide long-term financial benefits and contribute to economic growth of organizations and communities.
  • Environmental sustainability: Minimize negative environmental impacts of projects and project results, like lowering carbon footprint, preserving natural resources, and promoting energy efficiency.
  • Social sustainability: Address the social implications of projects, both during project delivery (community involvement, stakeholder engagement, and promotion of diversity, equity, and inclusion) and as a result of projects (stronger communities, empowered people, hope).
  • Governance: Abide by and even anticipate regulations, policies, and procedures that change how organizations and people think and plan.

Sustainable management in project management, hence, requires a holistic approach that addresses how these elements are interconnected.

By integrating these sustainability principles into project decision-making processes, companies can generate value for all while mitigating risks and ensuring the long-term viability of their projects.

What is the role of a Sustainability Project Manager?

The Sustainability Project Manager role will vary depending on the type of organization.

However, duties generally include managing programs that aim to reduce waste and improve energy efficiency, supervising the creation and dissemination of the annual corporate sustainability report, and ensuring compliance with all relevant environmental regulations.

A Sustainability Project Manager is responsible for creating messages based on the organization’s goals and target audiences and determining the most effective channels for message distribution.

They also play a key role in promoting change by encouraging internal and external stakeholders to adopt sustainable practices.

Qualities and skills needed to serve in a Sustainability Project Manager role include:

  • Excellent communication skills (both verbal and written) are essential for this professional, who works to establish relationships with key personnel and improve an organization’s sustainability efforts.
  • Strong analytical skills are vital for collecting data on areas such as waste reduction and sustainable transportation and analyzing the results.
  • Effective collaboration skills, required as a Sustainability Project Manager, serve as a bridge between internal employees, suppliers, and community partners.

Twproject and the importance of project management software for project sustainability

In this day and age, a project’s sustainability is increasingly dependent on its ability to adapt to changing needs, use resources efficiently, and deliver consistent results over time.

That is why a good project management software solution is crucial in ensuring these outcomes.

Twproject, in particular, can be the right choice. Let’s have a look at how it can be beneficial:

1. Efficient resource allocation

Twproject helps the Sustainability Project Manager allocate resources wisely, avoiding overuse or underuse. It also helps monitor resource availability, plan work efficiently, and ensure all team members work optimally.

2. Improved collaboration and communication

Effective communication is a mainstay of sustainability. Project management tools such as Twproject help facilitate smooth collaboration by centralizing communication, enabling file sharing, and providing real-time updates.  

These features ensure that stakeholders stay informed, misunderstandings are minimized, and the project runs smoothly.

3. Risk management and problem mitigation

Unexpected challenges often threaten sustainability. Twproject includes risk management tools that help project managers identify potential problems in advance and promptly develop contingency plans. This proactive approach reduces disruptions and helps maintain long-term project stability.

4. Data-driven decision making

With analytical and reporting capabilities that provide valuable information on project performance, bottlenecks can be identified, and key performance indicators can be measured so that informed decisions can be made.

5. Scalability and adaptability

IProjects often evolve, requiring adjustments in scope, budget or timeline. Twproject supports scalability, helping the team manage increased complexity without losing focus. Its adaptability ensures that changes can be implemented efficiently without derailing the project, thus contributing to sustainability.

6. Automation of repetitive tasks

Automation reduces manual effort, allowing team members to focus on higher-value tasks. In this way, Twproject saves time and energy, making operations more sustainable and efficient.

Project sustainability relies on a combination of effective planning, resource optimization, and adaptability.

Twproject can become the backbone of this process, providing the tools needed to manage complexity, promote collaboration, and make informed decisions.

Work together with your team effectively

Create an effective Pitch Deck that captivates Investors

Whether you are a rookie founder or a serial entrepreneur, a pitch deck is the key to successfully raising capital for a startup.

A well-structured pitch deck presents investors with a compelling narrative about a startup’s vision and plans, emphasizing the timeline and investment needs and explaining what makes the project successful.

This article will explain how to create a compelling pitch deck to captivate investors.

What is a Pitch Deck?

A pitch deck is a carefully crafted presentation that conveys a startup’s vision, business plan, key metrics, and other critical information to potential investors.

It is designed to provide a thorough overview of the business and highlight its potential and viability in the marketplace.

The main goal of a pitch deck is to engage investors, allowing the startup to raise the capital it needs to grow.

Regardless of the type of investor, there are some key elements that every early-stage startup should include in their pitch deck.

Founders should customize their pitches based on their target audience, although successful pitches for early-stage rounds generally include the following elements. Let’s examine them in the next section.

The key elements of developing an effective pitch deck

  • A thrilling story

The pitch deck requires a captivating narrative that outlines the startup’s vision and future plans.

Right from the development stage, inspiring and thrill the audience is critical. The story can be engaging and relevant, showcasing why the company’s purpose is important and why the team is made up of the right people to achieve this vision.

The goal is to make investors willing to be part of that same journey and invest in the startup and the impact it aims to create.

The story must begin with a clear understanding of the problem you want to solve. Do not merely describe the situation: excite your audience.

Use real-life examples or anecdotes that prove how critical the problem is and how it affects real people or markets. Simon Sinek sums it up well in his “Golden Circle”: begin with the why before moving on to the how and what.

Example:

Every day, millions spend hours searching for information inefficiently, wasting valuable time. We asked ourselves, why should it be so difficult to find what we need in just a few seconds?”

  • Visual Storytelling

Pitch deck is more than just content: it is also design.

The visual aspect is key in attracting attention and keeping the audience engaged.

Use a clean, consistent, and professional design. Do not clutter the slides with too much text or irrelevant images. Each visual element should emphasize the message you want to convey. High-quality infographics, graphics, and images can make your message clearer and more memorable.  

Tools such as Canva or Figma can help create an eye-catching presentation without advanced design skills.

  • An exceptional team

Having a first-class team is one of the most critical factors.

This is where it is crucial to establish credibility, show expertise, and build trust.

The pitch must highlight the team members’ relevant experience, unique skills, and past successes to show why they are the best people to achieve this vision.

  • Numbers, KPIs, and Growth Outlook

Needless to say, a pitch deck requires numbers and KPIs. Each word needs to be related to key metrics that demonstrate traction.

Bringing actual numbers and data is critical for investors who expect a return on investment.

Yet those in the early stages and with limited or nonexistent data need to be transparent about it.

Investors do realize that early-stage startups may not yet have well-defined metrics. In this case, you can focus on presenting the product’s potential, the problem it solves, and the market opportunity.

Using qualitative data, pilot program results or user feedback can bring support to your statements.

  • Clear and convincing Value Proposition

A successful pitch deck must make it unambiguously clear why your startup exists and what makes it unique.

A strong value proposition is not just a statement but the very essence of your project. It clearly outlines what problem your product or service solves, how it is different (and better) than the competition, and why users can’t do without it.

This section not only catches the attention of investors but also helps them immediately understand the startup’s impact and potential value. Use simple but powerful language and images or data supporting your message.

  • Growth plan

Although your product is still under development, it is key to demonstrate a thorough understanding of the market, customers, and scalability.

A pitch deck must include a well-thought-out growth plan highlighting the strategy for reaching and expanding the customer base, penetrating the market, and scaling the business.

  • Call to Action

Lastly, a pitch deck would not be complete without a call to action, which should be clear and concise.

As most founders seek to attract investment with their pitch deck, some simply want to expand their network, have their audience sign up for a trial version, or download their app.

If a startup is looking to raise money, it is crucial to be clear about the exact amount of funding and mention exactly what it will be used for. This will help determine realistic short-term, medium and long-term goals.

How important risk analysis and mitigation strategies are in the pitch deck

An element that is often underestimated in pitch decks is risk analysis and strategies for dealing with them.

Investors welcome founders who can demonstrate a realistic market view and potential obstacles. Including a section that identifies the project’s key risks, such as competition, market fluctuations, or technological limitations, and presenting well-crafted mitigation strategies can make all the difference.

This approach shows that the team is prepared to deal with challenges and builds investor confidence in the project’s solidity.

Project management tools, such as Twproject, can help manage risks by providing the means to constantly monitor them and adjust strategies in real time. This further proves a high level of organization and professionalism, which are key to winning investor support.

Gantt chart’s importance in a pitch deck

The Gantt chart is a key tool in a pitch deck, as it clearly and visually illustrates a project’s time schedule.

Its primary purpose is to provide a comprehensive overview of the development stages, highlighting key activities, crucial deadlines, and dependency relationships between the different steps.

This approach not only makes it easier for potential investors or partners to understand the action plan, but it also delivers a key message: the project team has a clear sense of direction, organization, and time management skills.

A well-structured Gantt chart is a powerful indicator of professionalism and preparedness, as it shows that the project is not just an abstract vision, but a concretely planned and realistic path.

The Gantt chart becomes a strategic tool in a competitive environment where details can often make the difference between an investor’s yes and no.

A powerful ally for creating clear and well-structured Gantt charts is Twproject, a project management software that offers intuitive tools for planning, monitoring, and managing complex projects.

With Twproject, you can create Gantt charts in just a few clicks, customizing them according to your specific project needs and keeping them updated in real-time.

Built-in features make managing dependencies between activities easy, allocating resources efficiently, and adjusting scheduling in case of unexpected events.

Gantt chart in Twproject

With Twproject, the Gantt chart in the pitch deck is not just a visual representation but becomes a strategic communication element that strengthens the startup’s credibility before investors’ eyes.

Tools like this are also helpful for startups that want to develop their business model in an organized and realistic manner, particularly to impress their potential investors

Still in doubt? Well, you can try yourself with a free demo.

Flowchart: what is it and why it is important in a project

Flowchart is very important in project management – perhaps fundamental – because it improves work flow efficiency and makes the project transparent.

Lack of transparency is one of the main causes of inefficiency in any project.

Whether it is the lack of a clear domain for particular activities or a path not properly outlined from start to finish, this cloudiness hinders the project flow with unnecessary obstacles.

You can use flowcharts at every stage of a project, from initial planning to final evaluation, to ensure clearer, more efficient management that is shared among all team members.

Let’s take a look at what a flowchart is and why you should use them in projects.

What is a flowchart?

A flowchart not only helps you visualize all types of processes and work flows in a project, but also provides a shared language that improves team orientation.

But there’s more.

By using a flowchart to visually document your project, you can:

  • Illustrate the sequence of activities required for its completion
  • Highlight possible work flow issues
  • Find out about areas where efficiency, quality or performance can be improved
  • Show high volumes of information on a single screen thus allowing you to handle large amounts of information
  • Assign different color schemes to different activities and processes, easing their interpretation

Also, another good news is that project management flowcharts generally are easy to create.

Each symbol in the flowchart communicates specific actions or decisions. Just use a standardized collection of symbols and shapes of the flowchart to view each step of the project, then connect them with linking arrows indicating the direction of the work flow.

Once completed, the flowchart is ready to help the project manager and team to analyze, edit, and implement specific project plans and objectives.

In other words, a flowchart is a graphical helper, designed to to provide a visual representation of the sequence of steps to follow during the project management process.

There are different types of flowcharts, each designed for different purposes: for example, high-level charts provide a general overview, while most detailed charts can provide step-by-step instructions for specific tasks.

Choosing the right chart template is crucial to ensure that the chart effectively serves its purpose, providing focus and guidance at all organisational levels.

Here are a couple of examples of flow diagrams:

  1. Hiring process: a flow chart of the hiring process can start with the receipt of a candidate’s CV and follow the steps of selection, interview, assessment and recruitment. This helps HR to maintain a clear and standardised process.
  2. Manufacturing sector: in a manufacturing context, a flow chart could illustrate the assembly process of a product, from raw material to final quality control. Detailed diagrams can help identify bottlenecks and inefficiencies.

With this guide running, the project team will know what comes next and the process can run as smoothly and efficiently as possible.

Why use a project management process flowchart?

The purpose of any flowchart is to help to visualize the required steps, which is especially useful when managing business processes and projects.

Each diagram includes actions, who is responsible for executing those actions and the inputs and outputs for each step.

Furthermore, in some cases, the flowcharts may also include a record of all project documents and other materials needed to perform the actions.

L’obiettivo del diagramma di flusso è la chiarezza e la trasparenza.

The goal of the flowchart is clarity and transparency.

The wording used must be simple and free of unnecessary or expert jargon; the steps must be clear to everyone, whatever their level of specialization and knowledge.

For the same reason, already at the beginning of the project a consistent agreement must be found on how to “build” a flowchart: for example, a square shape represents a process, a hexagon the end point, a diamond a decision, etc.

Shapes of the chart themselves thus provide information about the stage of the process, and a single glance can tell the reader what kind of operation is taking place at a precise point.

The same applies to colors: these can represent, for example, different resources.

Whatever encoding we agree upon, it will also be necessary to add a legend to the flowchart to identify the meaning of each shape and color, so as to avoid any kind of misunderstanding.

Once the flowchart has mapped the steps in each phase of the project and assigned ownership of responsibilities, everyone can fully understand their role and how they contribute to the whole.

the flowchart

How many types of flowcharts are there?

There are many different types of flowcharts, each designed to effectively represent certain aspects of a process or project. Here are the main ones:

1. Basic (or simple) flowchart

Used to represent the linear sequence of activities or operations in a process. This is the most common type and is suitable for mapping standard procedures.

2. Decision flowchart

Used to visualise the points at which decisions must be made, showing alternative paths depending on the outcome of a choice (e.g. yes/no). It is perfect for processes that involve branching or conditions.

3. Logical flowchart

Highlights the reasoning behind a process, rather than the process itself. It is very useful for analysing complex systems or planning algorithms.

4. Data flow diagram (DFD)

Mainly used in computer science and software engineering, it represents the flow of data within a system, indicating inputs, outputs, storage and transformations.

5. Functional (or cross-functional) flowchart

This divides the diagram into swimlanes, each associated with a department or role. This type is perfect for representing business processes involving multiple functions or departments.

6. Process flow diagram (PFD)

Widely used in industry and manufacturing, this shows the physical and chemical steps of a production process. It is useful for engineers and technicians.

7. Workflow diagram

Describes the activities and their order of execution within a workflow. It is used to improve the management of operational activities.

How to draw a flowchart

The first step is to think about all the different steps of a process.

It is a great idea to engage the whole team in this phase, as everyone can provide valuable input.

Second, you will think about the flow from one step to another:

  • Are there any points where the path can split?
  • What happens if an activity fails one of the steps, where is it postponed and how are the following activities managed?
  • How to handle returns or bifurcations?

These are just some of the questions you will have to ask yourself in this step.

Next, you will assign property of each step. This is particularly important for audit or review phases that can only be performed by a single role or decision maker.

Lastly, you should make sure that your flowchart is consistent and easy to understand, perhaps asking for feedback before making it official.

Ultimately, the benefit of flowcharts is that they show the activities of a project, including decision points, parallel paths, branching loops, and the overall sequence of processing by mapping operational details.

A basic flowchart can help a project manager especially during the planning phase.

When you create a flowchart, this shows the method used by the organization to achieve a particular project goal.

This makes it easier for a project manager to go through the process of determining, delegating and planning each task to team members.

Plan, monitor and optimise every phase with Twproject

Twproject is the ideal software for managing business processes efficiently and flexibly.

Try Twproject!

How to benefit by using software

If, as we have seen, the flowchart can be simple and intuitive to make, but if we use good project management software the process will be even easier. In fact, the software currently on the market allows the construction of customised flowcharts that can be adapted to the real needs of a project.

Some state-of-the-art software provides highly elastic and flexible Gantt charts that therefore translate into electronic form what can be initially conceived with pen and paper by the project manager.

Twproject is one such software. Its recent release of an ultra-advanced version of the Gantt diagram enables detailed and flexible project flow analysis, with many tools to optimise processes and avoid mistakes.

It is important to keep in mind, however, that certainly chart and diagrams are incredibly useful tools, but they are still one of the many cogs in what is the most complex project management “machine”.

Strategies such as monitoring project status or adopting a project management methodology are other ways to further improve work processes.

Creating a diagram with the help of software such as Twproject not only speeds up the process, but also provides a clearer and more interactive visual representation of the various operational phases.

Good software can also be used to integrate other essential functions, such as resource management, time planning and the division of responsibilities among team members. This allows you to keep track of the progress of the work at all times and intervene promptly in the event of critical issues.

Every useful tool for project management and execution is present in Twproject. Try its features for 15 days free of charge and we bet you will never go back!

Generate your flowcharts with Twproject.

Get rid of data overload: optimise views with Project Filters

In a shared project management software, one of the common problems is getting lost among too much information.

In a teamwork context, each member only needs to see certain information, without having to go through non-relevant data.

The ability to customise views therefore becomes crucial for working more efficiently.

Foreword: the information leakage problem

When all information is visible at all times, the view can be chaotic. This can slow down the workflow, preventing focus on the most important aspects.

Twproject, one of the most flexible project management software, addresses this problem by simplifying the visualisation of information and allowing users to customise their views according to specific needs.

Twproject aims to reduce the time for monitoring and controlling projects, and at the same time make them more accurate.

It sounds like a mission impossible, and yet Twproject succeeds.

Let us now take a detailed look at how much customization can be done through the project search and display filters.

1. Filtered lists: customisation and efficiency

The use of search filters is useful for managing any type of list within the software. Twproject has developed filters that are not only easy to use, but also highly customizable and accurate.

For each list Twproject offers a default filtering, but this view can be changed and also possibly saved for the future.

Let’s look at some examples of filterable lists:

1.1. Project list

In the list of projects, the default filters show the active projects assigned to the current user.

default bar for project filters

From here, we can choose instead to view all projects with a different processing status, and perhaps with a different assignee.

The possibilities are countless: just click on the additional filters icon to see all the categories available for searching.

1.2. To-Do list

Similarly, Twproject allows you to customize combinations of filters in the ToDo list. Some useful predefined filters include:

  • Expired ToDo’s
  • Open and severe ToDo’s
  • Inserted by me

There are many daily activities managed through ToDo’s, so it is very important to use tools that reduce the chaos of information and allow us to focus on individual aspects in an orderly manner.

1.3. Load analysis

Even on the resource workload analysis page, filters are an excellent monitoring tool.

To optimize resource workload, for example, you can use a filter that combines resources and work periods. This is useful for adjusting the load of operators based on their availability.

2. Types of Project Filters: advanced customisation

So far we have seen generically how to change the basic display through the use of the default filters.

But Twproject offers many other types of filters, broken down by Project, Dates and Resource, which you can see within the additional search filters window.

advanced filters divided by project, dates, resources

In fact, each of these domains has several attributes that can be combined to create an effective filter for the visualization we want to achieve.

Among the Project attributes, we can, for example, select Project/Phase to decide whether to display only the main project nodes, or also its sub-phases, thus customizing our WBS.

We can also filter by Date in a highly flexible way. The system already gives us predefined time frames (last week, last month, etc.) but it also allows us to define the time frame in a customized way.

Let us now look at two advanced features that will allow us to conduct research and get totally customized visualizations:

  • Query by Example (QBE):
    The QBE is a useful tool to enable the user to perform queries in a simplified manner. Twproject offers a practical user guide for applying it to search filters, allowing anyone to find desired items based on criteria such as “contains…”, “has a value less than, equal to or greater than…,” etc.
Query By Example

This handy guide is always available by clicking on the question mark inside the additional search filters window.

  • Team filter:
    a special filter allows you to select your team and make it a filtering element that you can use whenever there is an opportunity to filter by resource. In this way you can select a group of users of your interest and filter by areas in which the group is involved.

This could be useful, for instance, when planning workloads and assigning tasks. For example, the project manager might be able to see where the workload of the graphic designers in the company stands, so that the manager can assign a graphic design job to those who have more time available in the coming weeks, and so on.

3. Filter combinations: saving and quick usage in projects

As mentioned, the real strength of filters lies in their ability to be combined with each other.

Default project filters combinations

Twproject already offers some predefined combinations of filters for projects, which can be selected through the main drop-down menu.

These combinations allow you to quickly find certain types of projects, such as:

  • Forthcoming starts / Forthcoming ends: to view projects starting or ending within a week.
  • Milestones overdue: to view projects with milestone delays.
  • Budget overflow: to quickly find projects that went over budget.

But that’s not all: Twproject allows you to save filter combinations you set up for future use. Saved combinations will appear in the drop-down menu for easy recall.

You can also save a combination as default by adding the prefix “d:” when saving. This way, the combination you choose will be the default view whenever you consult the project list.

4. Customising columns: managing information

Also in the area of list customizations, Twproject also allows you to customize the information displayed for each list item.

With column customization, it is possible to display for each list item only the relevant information, eliminating the superfluous items and adding others that are relevant to the viewer.

So, in the case of the project list, not only will you be able to decide which projects to display, but also what information about the projects to show (e.g., due dates, status, allocated resources).

Customized visualizations can be exported in various formats, facilitating sharing with colleagues or clients and supporting the preparation of reports for meetings.

Bottom line: more targeted management thanks to Twproject

We have seen how much flexibility Twproject offers in terms of visualization filters and customization of project data.

A brief summary of all these features is available in this handy tutorial:

With these tools, Twproject enables more organized and focused project management, improving team efficiency and reducing control and monitoring time.

Still not familiar with Twproject and want to try this and all its other project management features for free? You have a way to do so here.

Don’t hesitate and optimize project control with ease and satisfaction!

Simplify project monitoring with Filters!

Triangle of Design Constraints: how to find balance

The project management triangle visualizes the need to balance scope, cost, and time to achieve a top-quality end product.

No single variable in this triangle can be changed without trade-offs with the other two.

It is the project manager’s duty to balance all three elements, keeping the project within budget and on schedule while satisfying the project scope.

What is the project management triangle?

This triangle used in project management includes three basic variables that determine project quality: scope, cost, and time.

The triangle shape illustrates precisely how these three elements are directly connected: if one of the variables is changed, the other two must be adjusted to keep the triangle connected. If the triangle is broken, in other words, if one point is moved without changing one or both of the other points, the quality of the project will be impacted.

Being balanced means that each side of the triangle is equal in length.

To a project manager, striking a balance between these three constraints is crucial to the success of a project in order to deliver a quality product.

The project management triangle: the three variables in detail

To manage all three elements, the project manager must possess a deep understanding of each variable and the areas in which they might be flexible and adapt to changes throughout the project.

1. Scope

The scope constitutes all the work and services that must be provided to achieve set goals. Clearly defining the scope is vital to the ultimate success of any project, as it sets expectations and guides the team’s activities.

A clearly outlined scope includes:

  • Project goals
  • Deliverables
  • Tasks and duties
  • Limitations: Constraints such as budget, time, and available resources
  • Exclusions: what is not included in the project to prevent uncertainty

Scope management requires constant communication between the project manager, stakeholders, and team members. Eventual changes to the scope must be carefully weighed, as they can significantly impact both the time required to complete the project and its related costs.

For example, suppose the client requests additional features after the project has begun. In that case, the project manager will need to weigh the impact of these changes on time and cost and may need to renegotiate schedules or budgets. This process is known as “scope change control” and is integral to project management.

2. Time

Generally speaking, at the beginning of a project, clients and stakeholders would ask how long it will take to complete the work and the total cost. Items that fall under the time variable may be, for example:

·   Overall project schedule

·   Hours worked

·   Time allocated for planning and strategy

Should the budget be cut or the scope increased, a way must be found to compensate by loosening one or more of the time constraints. This could mean extending deadlines, adding hours, or making other changes to the schedule.

3. Cost

Cost constitutes all the financial resources required to complete the project. Accurate cost management is paramount to ensure the project stays within the approved budget and to avoid financial surprises.

The main components of cost are:

  • Direct costs: Expenses such as salaries, materials, and equipment are directly ascribable to the project.
  • Indirect costs: overhead expenses that cannot be attributed to a single activity, such as rent, utilities, and administration.
  • Reserve for contingencies: funds allocated to cover unexpected events or identified risks.

Examples of additional costs:

  • Adding new team members requires budgets to cover salaries, training, and integration.
  • Extending office hours increases energy, security, and maintenance expenses.
  • Purchasing special software or equipment to meet additional requirements.

The project manager must constantly track costs, compare actual and planned expenditures, and take prompt action in case of deviations. Tools such as project budgets, cash flow, and realized value analysis help project managers maintain financial control.

How to maintain balance in the project management triangle

Here are some strategies for keeping the project triangle relevant and balanced throughout the life cycle.

Setting clear expectations

The project manager must clearly communicate project constraints and priorities to the client and stakeholders even before work begins. This will prevent unsatisfied expectations in the future.

Especially in areas most affected by unforeseen complications, such as construction, the project manager must inform stakeholders of all elements and risks and how these might impact the variables in the project triangle.

Opting for flexibility wherever possible

Knowing where compromises can be allowed during the project is a good thing.

No project can be successful if the three points are rigidly fixed. At least one variable must be flexible so you know where you have room to make changes when they become necessary.

For example, if the priority is staying on budget, an unexpected hurdle can be addressed by postponing the deadline rather than hiring more staff. On the other hand, if the schedule is tight, the solution will be to get an extra budget so that you have the resources to deal with challenges without delaying production.

Communicating and updating stakeholders regularly

By constantly keeping project stakeholders informed of how the team is working in relation to the variables in the project triangle, any adjustments will be more favorably accepted and minor. This will make it easier to gain support for any requests for changes to the framework.

Balancing the project management triangle with Twproject

Project management software such as Twproject is a key tool for balancing the delicate project management triangle.

Twproject offers advanced tools such as the Gantt chart and shared calendars for time tracking.

These tools allow detailed task planning, realistic deadline assignments, and rapid adaptation to changes, ensuring that schedules are met even in complex projects.

Moreover, automated notifications and reminders keep team members updated, minimizing the risk of delays.

Cost-wise, Twproject integrates budgeting and expense control features, enabling real-time monitoring of costs incurred versus planned costs.

The option to connect human and material resources to specific activities clearly shows how funds are being used, helping project managers identify and address any oversights before they become critical.

Regarding quality, Twproject supports teams in managing responsibilities and monitoring progress, ensuring that each phase is executed within the requested standards.

The platform facilitates balanced workload management, preventing overloads that could compromise the quality of the work performed.

Furthermore, highly customizable reports and dashboards provide the means to assess the project’s progress, quickly identify any problems, and implement corrective actions if necessary.

By integrating these aspects into a single flexible and accessible platform, Twproject provides a holistic approach, increasing the chances of completing the project on time and on budget without sacrificing the quality of the final product.

Keep all your projects under control with Twproject!

 

Project monitoring and control: mistakes to avoid

Because of mistakes, project monitoring and control can get tricky and cause delays.

To prevent these potential risks, it is crucial to plan and keep track of set goals and to set and stick to a realistic work approach.

In this article, we will discuss what mistakes should be avoided during the project monitoring and control phases.

7 Common errors in project management

1. Lack of clear goals and objectives

Out of all the risks that can arise during project management, the lack of clear goals and objectives is one of the most significant. It is usually caused by a lack of proper planning and coordination or by an inexperienced project manager.

The project manager must determine and communicate goals to the team.

A lack of clear goals is usually encountered when the scope of a project changes or is not well delineated. This leads to bad work management and poor results. It is important for the entire team to know roles, responsibilities, and results from the very beginning.

That is why a kick-off meeting helps establish and define expectations while fostering a stronger sense of accountability within a team. Key stakeholders will be involved in this process to get their feedback and ensure alignment.

It is helpful to present the core indicators that will be used to measure project progress during the kick-off meeting.

2. Poor communication

Lack of communication is one of the most frequent errors that can result in many threats and can also lead to a major project delay. Poor communication can be caused by a number of factors, leading to misunderstandings and, in extreme cases, complete deviation from objectives.

Further problems such as scope creep, micromanaging, and human error can also be ascribed to communication problems.

Holding regular meetings and establishing who will attend and the agenda will help keep work under control.

Prioritizing open and honest communication, setting procedures to ensure the proper flow of information, and involving stakeholders in the decision-making process are solutions to remedy this problem. Through effective and proactive communication, building trust and monitoring expectations will be possible.

3. Inadequate risk management

A critical project management mistake is ignoring or minimizing risk management value.

Every project involves some level of risk, which can considerably affect its success. Therefore, it is key to identify relevant risks, assess their likelihood and potential consequences, and create different plans to address or minimize each identified threat at the beginning of the project.

4. Bad resource allocation

This failure is caused by insufficient planning and supervision. Some actions that can help avoid this risk include a realistic assessment of resource requirements, proper timing of their use, and regular reevaluation of the feasibility plan.

Too many project managers focus on variables such as scope, quality, cost, and timing while forgetting that people are actually doing the work. Failing to properly manage team members or micro-managing them can lead to delays, affect quality, and cause budget overshoots.

To prevent this problem, it is necessary to ensure that everyone understands how and why their role is important to the project’s success and to plan periodic checks, for example, using a Gantt chart that can help keep track of activities and resources.

visualizzazione delle tempistiche attraverso il Gantt

5. Letting changes slide out of control

All projects experience large or small changes during their life cycle. Additional requests and features can stress the project manager and team.

Without proper monitoring, these change requests can severely affect project progress. That is why it is crucial to set up transparent and honest reporting that provides real-time data to enable informed and timely decision-making.

This way, should something start to go wrong, it is possible to adjust course in time. It goes without saying that when a change request is received, it is necessary to assess whether it aligns with the project’s scope and the overall vision.

6. Not learning from past mistakes

Sometimes, although we do everything we can, things can go wrong, and a project can go south. In these cases, it is pointless to second-guess, blame, or point fingers for what has happened, but it is important to regard this as an opportunity to learn.

It is important to analyze the data collected during the project to identify the causes of errors.

Asking yourself key questions such as “How can we prevent or foresee what happened?” can generate answers that will serve to avoid similar errors in the future.

7. Not using a project management tool

State-of-the-art monitoring tools provide a general, real-time view of all the work  to help project managers keep the project on track. 

Project management software can improve project monitoring, minimize error possibilities, and improve project planning.

Twproject is the most comprehensive and innovative project management tool available on the market today. This tool allows users to create customized and easy-to-manage reports to avoid the common pitfalls they face on a daily basis.

Thanks to a centralized system to encapsulate all project information, the project manager can easily view and manage dependencies, priorities, resources, and workflows. 

Working with a project management tool such as Twproject helps avoid common project monitoring and control mistakes such as lack of communication, ineffective resource management, and missed deadlines. This tool helps you plan activities more accurately, identify risks early, and optimize resource allocation, thereby reducing delays and unexpected expenses.

Whether the project is complex or simple, Twproject, when used correctly, will improve transparency, organization, and operational efficiency during project execution, increasing the odds of project success.

How to conduct effective project monitoring and control

As we have already mentioned, it is crucial to implement a robust monitoring and control process to ensure project success.

This process begins with clearly delineating key performance indicators (KPIs) from the beginning. These indicators provide a way to measure the project’s progress compared to set goals, providing quantifiable metrics to assess the progress and effectiveness of the activities carried out.

Using appropriate monitoring tools, such as project management software, facilitates the collection of accurate and up-to-date data on different activities. These tools not only automate information collection but also offer advanced data analysis and visualization features, making it easier for the project manager to find significant trends and patterns.

During the different monitoring phases, the project manager must carefully analyze the collected data to pinpoint any deviations from the initial plan. This involves constantly comparing actual and planned results.

If any major discrepancies are found, timely corrective actions must be implemented to get the project back on the right track. Complex data and a thorough analysis of the causes of deviations must support this decision-making process.

It is also critical to monitor potential risks that may arise during project execution. This requires constant attention to internal and external variables that could adversely affect the project. 

Effective communication with the team and stakeholders is pivotal to ensuring everyone is aligned and aware of any changes or actions.

Visual tools such as the Gantt chart can graphically portray timelines and dependencies between activities. This assists in overall planning and control by providing a clear view of deadlines, responsibilities, and interrelationships between different project parts.

In Ultimately, accurate monitoring and control help the project manager make informed decisions and keep the project aligned with initial objectives. This proactive approach increases the chances of project success, helps optimize resources, and improves stakeholder satisfaction.

Keep all your projects under control with Twproject!

 

How to choose apps to keep your work organized

Work organization apps are widely replacing notebooks, notepads, and handwritten memos.

This is because companies, regardless of size, need to manage multiple projects, plans, tasks, and people at once.

Choosing software solutions that help project managers and employees plan better and stay organized throughout the day becomes a key decision for everyday work.

Businesses that do not implement apps to organize work are more likely to lose money because time is wasted on simple tasks that can be automated.

In this article, we will examine the features a work management app should have and how to choose one.

Work organization apps: key features

Adopting a work organization app can dramatically transform how projects and tasks are managed within an organization.

Yet, given the wide range of tools available on the market, it is critical to know what features to look for to ensure you choose the app that best suits your needs.

1. Activity management features

The main goal of any work organization app is task management.   

As part of a project, you often have to keep track of many tasks, so you need a tool to help you organize and manage them simply and straightforwardly. 

Sound software should allow you to create to-do lists that help you organize your day-to-day work.

First and foremost, prospective software should allow you to include all the relevant information for your different tasks.

For example:

· Task status: Know whether a task is in progress, completed, or on hold.

· Task priority: Set different priority levels to focus on the most urgent tasks first.

· Start and deadline dates: Plan the time required for each task and meet deadlines.

· Heads: Assign tasks to the appropriate team members.

to-do list per ottimizzare i flussi nelle aziende it

Furthermore, to improve time management and productivity, the app should provide the option to take notes within tasks so that important information is not lost and can be easily referenced.

Having the flexibility to access tasks from mobile devices is crucial for working on the go and always having your to-do lists at hand.

Another important feature is the activity filter. Since project boards tend to get crowded, finding what you need can be challenging. That’s why the filter option is a must: it allows you to display only relevant tasks based on criteria like date, assignee, or priority level.

2. User-friendliness

 It’s likely that not all employees within an organization are tech-savvy. Hence, it is important to remember that the software should be user-friendly and easily operated by everyone.

Most of these tools like Twproject offer a free trial, which is excellent for testing the product and ensuring that it is easy to use or if mastering it requires a technical background. In this case, it would be best to ask for feedback from employees, especially those less familiar with technology.

3. Collaboration features

Working on projects often involves a team effort, so it is important to choose software that helps the team collaborate efficiently.

A sound project management platform enhances communication and collaboration by enabling team members to work on the same tasks together in real-time. This way, all information is confined in one place and not scattered among various messaging apps.

Let’s take a look at the benefits of efficient collaboration through the app:

  • Information centralization: All communications, documents, and updates are kept in one place. This avoids the confusion caused by information scattered among various platforms and reduces the time spent searching for important data.
  • Increased productivity: When teams collaborate seamlessly, downtime is reduced, and task completion is accelerated, increasing overall productivity.
  • Faster and more informed decisions: With an open communication flow and immediate access to information, decisions can be made more quickly and based on up-to-date data.
  • Improved team morale: A collaborative environment can improve team morale as members feel more involved and supported in achieving common goals.

4. Customization

Choosing the best project management software for an organization means finding the one that best matches workflows. Of course, all organizations have unique needs, but for that very reason, a good app for organizing work should have:

Choosing the best project management software for an organization means finding the one that best matches workflows. Of course, all organizations have unique needs, but for that very reason, a good app for organizing work should have:

  • Customizable task fields: The option to add custom fields to activities allows the team to include any relevant information, from project-specific details to special notes. This allows the team to keep track of all necessary information directly within the task.

  • Customizable templates: Templates help you easily create boards and projects based on your company’s specific needs. Custom templates allow you to standardize processes, save time, and ensure consistency in task organization.

  • Custom tables and views: It is essential to be able to visualize information in different ways to adapt to individual preferences and project needs. Whether it’s to-do lists, Kanban boards, Gantt charts, or calendars, custom tables help represent data in a meaningful way, making it easier to understand and manage tasks.

  • Employee profile customization and admin features: Every team member has distinct roles and responsibilities. Customizing user profiles and access settings ensures that everyone has the appropriate permissions, improving security and efficiency. Furthermore, customizable administration features make it possible to tailor the app to the company’s internal policies.

  • Workflow automation: The power to automate repetitive processes, such as sending notifications or updating task status, can help you organize your work more efficiently and allow your team to focus on more strategic tasks.

  • Multilingual support: If your company operates in an international environment or has multilingual teams, support for multiple languages can be critical to smooth communication and collaboration.

And much more to suit the needs of your company.

 5. Scalability

Having a project management tool that fits only the current needs of an organization isn’t enough.

This software should also be able to evolve along with the company’s development. Therefore, when looking to find the best app for organizing work, it is crucial to consider where you are currently and where you want to be in the future. Here are some important questions you should ask:

  • Does the software allow new users to be added? Is there a limit on the number? Are there any extra costs?
  • Can an unlimited number of boards and reports be added?
  • What are the different growth plans available in the software?

6. Data security

Company data is confidential, and the consequences could be catastrophic if it falls into the wrong hands.

A high level of security hence becomes imperative.

One crucial aspect to consider when selecting a work organization app is its data security features. Ensuring that company information remains secure signifies an understanding of how sensitive data operations are managed. This is not just relevant for maintaining confidentiality, but also speaks to the components of data risk management, which involves structured measures like data discovery, risk assessments, and security controls to protect and organize important data efficiently.

That is why one should check how the software company handles the data and that it has the certifications mandated by law, if applicable.

7. Cost

Last, but not least, cost is the issue. Budget is key when purchasing anything for your business, and expenses must be managed intelligently.

Project management software prices can vary widely between tools and tools and depending on the plan you choose. Therefore, before making a choice, it is important to analyze the costs and plans offered.

Is Searching for a Project Management App the Right Choice?

In an increasingly mobile-oriented world, we understand that it may feel natural to seek a solution on these devices even for project management. However, we firmly believe that project management requires sophisticated tools that go beyond the limitations of a mobile app.

Twproject offers a mobile web application that can support those who work off-site, but the core of the system, such as the Gantt chart, is only accessible via the web.

Project management is a complex activity that requires a comprehensive and detailed view, access to in-depth data, and the ability to analyze information in a multidimensional way.

The small screen sizes of smartphones and the functional limitations of mobile apps can compromise efficiency and effectiveness in managing projects.

For this reason, we have decided to focus our efforts on developing a highly optimized and responsive web app that provides the basic functionalities needed on the go, such as creating a ToDo, entering worked hours, or logging expense notes.

This approach allows us to offer our users a complete and uncompromised experience, enabling them to fully utilize all the features that Twproject offers.

Try it for free.

Keep all your projects under control with Twproject!