There are four main types of project management software—individual, collaborative, integrated and cloud-based. In this article, we are going to investigate which are best to use under different circumstances.
Individual
This type of project management software uses one application, such as spreadsheets, to manage all the processes within an organization. The project manager can install the software throughout the organization and give users access only to what’s important to them.
Collaborative
A collaborative project management software works by bringing stakeholders on board and stored data can then be accessed and manipulated by anyone with access. One of the advantages of collaborative project management software is that it’s highly customizable to reduce conflict. However, collaborative project management software may not be suitable for organizations that need access to data concurrently, as it struggles to process data simultaneously.
Integrated
An integrated project management software solves the problem faced by collaborative software, executing different projects concurrently. The data in this type of environment is fed into a mainframe, allowing different users to access data simultaneously.
Moreover, data and information are integrated and can be accessed from a central dashboard, making it easy to analyze data. It’s possible in integrated software to create different users with different access codes, preventing data from landing in the wrong hands and promoting accountability.
Cloud-Based
Cloud-based management software are management apps that are hosted in the cloud. One of the benefits of this structure is that it enables access to data from anywhere there is internet access. Cloud-based options also have other benefits, such as providing the ability to customize based on your individual needs.
What’s the Process of Choosing a Project Management Software?
Choosing the right software is imperative because it can either hinder or facilitate every part of a business. Project management in healthcare benefits and other fields can be complex and necessary; there are many things to consider when selecting which software is right for you.
The first step is defining the problem. Does the current system meet the organization’s needs? Should you need improvements or a complete overhaul of the system? Do you need a customizable system? Will the new system integrate with the existing infrastructure? Will there be a need to train end users, and if so, what will training cost?
After asking yourself some of these questions, the next step is investigating whether your preferred project management software works with the methods currently used by your organization.
Determine all end users–if the software will be used by project managers only, there’s no need to implement an overly complicated system. On the other hand, if the end users include customers and other external stakeholders, you should choose software with an intuitive and simple-to-use interface.
Conclusion
There are four main types of project management software. Which is best for you will be determined to a great degree by your organization’s needs, because each works best under different circumstances.
If you’re interested in learning more about the possibilities of software management, check out our recent article about what scenarios Elementum’s project management software can help with.
