All projects are work but not all work (part 2)
We discussed the differences between “projects” versus nonroutine “work (e.g. daily tasks, collaboration with coworkers and low-risk ad-hoc requests, etc.) and noted that although this type of work does not require formal project management, it must still be managed.
Get work management software today!
You’re not the only one who heard crickets after the entrance. There is a lot of confusion about what work management software is, and how it differs to project management software. We can help.
This article will explain what work management software looks like and provide examples of how to use it. The goal? The goal?
Quick overview of Work Management Software
What is work management software?
Software for managing workflows and processes, organizing tasks and activities, and collaborating in a shared workspace. These tools can be used to capture and execute work, simplify communication, and provide status updates for different stakeholders.
You might have heard the term “work management” software referred to by different names such as:
You’ll see that there are some key themes repeated here: Collaboration and teams.
This is because work management software targets non-technical business professionals as well as knowledge workers. A key purpose of these tools is to facilitate collaboration between users.
These are the key features:
There are some similarities between project management software and work management software features. The key difference is that project managing tools include project planning, tracking, and are designed to manage the project’s triple constraints (scope and timeline, budget, and budget). This level of oversight is not offered by work management tools.
Learn how project management differs from work management
GET STARTED
Use cases in work management software
Gartner says that work management tools are useful in situations where work cannot be planned or ordered precisely (full report available for Gartner clients).
This type of work is more common than others in certain industries and roles. It requires creative problem-solving, not strict instructions, and is often more common in some roles.
These are some of the use cases for work management tools:
There are 4 types of work management software
Here’s how Gartner breaks up the different types of work management software (full Gartner report available to Gartner client):
1. Personal to-do list
An online version of a to do list that is specific to an individual. Examples include: Any.do, Todoist, Wunderlist.
Pros Cons2. Management of shared tasks/work
Acts as a centralized workspace; designed for teams; allows users to assign tasks, track work efforts, and collaborate/communicate around these efforts. Examples include Trello, Basecamp, Asana.
Pros Cons3. Collaboration tools
This shared platform allows multiple users to communicate and coordinate through file sharing, video calling and messaging. Examples include Yammer, Confluence, and Slack.
Pros Cons4. Agile tools
This workspace is designed for software development teams and provides a collaborative space for tracking and executing tasks at every stage of the development process. Examples include Leankit and Pivotal Tracker.
Pros and consHow to choose the right work management software
Now that you know how different tools can be used for different purposes, here’s what you need to do next:
Follow our blog for more information on how to maximize your software investment’s return.
Are you looking for Project Management software? Check out Capterra’s List