The term ‘project change management’ sums itself up quite nicely. When it comes to project management, there’s always ‘change’ in the middle. The way these changes are dealt with is paramount - good change management ensures that a project is seen through to a successful end, whereas poorly managed change can spell the end of a project.
Let’s begin by defining:
What is change management in project management?
Change management and project management are closely intertwined. Ideally, projects would be planned and executed exactly according to plan. Realistically, however, projects inevitably run into situations that require a change management plan. Project change management can therefore be defined as the action taken to keep a project on track despite change.
Why is change management important in project management?
- Keeps projects flowing smoothly: When a business is skilled in managing change in project management, their projects aren’t likely to be ruined when an unexpected change comes up. The more change is prepared for, with processes in place for various types of changes, the less the project timeline and expenses will be affected.
- Reduces stress: As a project manager, you want to integrate change management into your project: Imagine the difference between a company that has a project change come in from left field and has the change management resources ready to combat it, compared to a company that doesn’t. A change in the middle of a project can really throw managers and employees for the loop if they are not prepared for it. It could mean staying overtime at work to accommodate the change, raised tension as the team struggles to get things finished on time and under budget, ect. All this can be avoided when a project change management plan is in place.
- Gets team members on the same page: Part of effective change management is communication with team members regarding how changes are going to be dealt with. It’s one thing for management to decide on a change management plan, but once that plan is developed, it needs to be communicated clearly to everyone it involves if it is to be successful.
- Gives you a good reputation: When a company responds positively to a change request in project management, i.e. smoothly incorporates it without the project derailing, the client will be impressed and appreciative of the professionalism. They are then likely to give you a good review or recommend you to others and up to 82% of business comes from referrals!
- Saves time: The more a company practices implementing a project change management process, the better it will become at handling changes without wasting time trying to work out what to do in every situation. And of course, saving time means saving money!
What are some change management project examples?
Change of authority:
A project team could be right in the middle of a complex rebranding project when suddenly, the manager in charge of the project leaves the agency and a new manager is brought in. In this instance, good change management would involve adequately preparing the team for the transition, explaining how to communicate with the new manager, and fully equipping the new manager with the tools he needs to help the team complete the project successfully.
Change of software:
Plenty of agencies have been through this scenario: they were using a lousy project management software and then inspiration struck, and they switched over to Workamajig! We’ve seen time and again how companies that put in the effort to really acclimatize to the new system and make sure all employees know how to get the best out of Workamajig, end up with fabulous ROI. On the flip side, companies that made the switch and didn’t really take the time to learn the system or help employees with the transfer, are unfortunately missing out on a lot of potential to this day.
Change in the market:
An agency that was niching in a certain type of business can find itself with dwindling interest in its niche. For example, an agency that specializes in print ads could find itself struggling to find clients as more and more ads are being marketed digitally. A scenario like this would require change management to ensure that the agency stays afloat, e.g., management would need to find ways to reach new clients/figure out how to stand out more from other print ad agencies.
How can Workamajig help you with your project change management?
What better way to stay on top of changes in your agency than to employ a project management software that pretty much does the job for you?
At Workamajig, we’re passionate about making life as easy as possible for creative agencies, and we know how difficult and time-consuming it can be to manage change. Enter our full suite of project management tools, however, and you’ll never have to stress about project change management control again!
With Workamajig, you get:
- Updated in real-time on project progress, so you never have to wonder where you’re holding again.
- Warnings when a project is veering off track, as well as KPI metrics on project health.
- Customizable, exportable reports plus built-in Gannt & burn charts to help you visualize projects.
- Budget breakdowns by item, type, task, or person so you know exactly where your project stands.
- View, filter, and drill-down options across multiple project metrics.
- Plus, loads more time-saving, money-saving, and headache-saving tools!
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