Tools and Techniques Used by Project Managers for Daily Tasks
The tools in Project management discussed below are the leading platforms available in the market that provide these features as well as some unique to only themselves. Most of them have in-built Solutions i.e. pre-made templates for different work fields (Engineering, IT, Sales, DevOps, etc.) and different branches of companies (Media, Tech, Hunan Resources, Marketing, Designs, etc.)
1. monday.com
monday.com is a Work OS (Operating System) to manage all your team’s work in one place. No more endless e-mail threads or long meetings! It is highly customizable to each team’s needs regardless of the industry or size of the enterprise. This is why it is used by 180,000+ customers, including Coca-Cola, Hulu, and Lionsgate. Easily track everything your team’s working on, communicate in context and get started in minutes with a super easy set-up.
Key Features:
- Automation to save time on mundane tasks and work smarter
- Integrations with all your different work tools, such as Gmail, Slack, or Hubspot
- 200+ workflow templates for the different needs of a company.
- Secure platform to ensure data privacy.
2. Trello
Trello is a web-based, kanban-style, list-making application, built to boost productivity and keep track of important tasks in one place. It is developed by Trello Enterprise, a subsidiary of Atlassian. It is used by over 2,000,000 teams worldwide including teams at Zoom, Visa, Coinbase, Grand Hyatt, etc.
Key Features:
- Allows automation via Butler automation – task and workflow automation
- Varying views (Board, Timeline, Table, Calendar, Dashboard, Map, and Workspace views)
- Power-ups i.e. plug-ins like Jira, Slack, Google Drive, InVision, etc for varying functionalities and cross-platform actions.
- Integrations with 191 platforms like Miro, Jira cloud, Toggl, etc. to bring all your work to one platform
3. Asana
Asana holds a plethora of features for any possible necessity of a team. This project management tool allows teams to access data across members and also note who is doing what, and by when. It is used by famed companies like Deloitte, NASA, Spotify, and The New York Times.
Key Features:
- 21 task management features including kanban boards and time tracking
- App integrations on endless platforms like Tableau, Microsoft Teams, Github, etc.
- Asana apps and API for building apps integrated with Asana.
- Mobile apps are available on Android and iOS.
- Various views and reporting mechanisms
- Multiple communication methods – projects, teams, etc.
4. Jira
Jira is a very popular tool due to its extensive features. Jira plug-in is available in several other product management tools as well. It is powered by Atlassian and has positive testimonials from leading companies like Flo Health, Canva, and Rent The Runway (RTR). It has over 100,000 users including Spotify, Cisco, eBay, and Dropbox.
Key Features:
- Cloud-based as well as on-premise deployment.
- Chatbot ‘Angie’ to assist in perusing the interface.
5. Wrike
Wrike is an easy-to-learn tool, that can be understood in as little as 3 minutes. It is a versatile and robust project management tool, designed to address modern challenges; that is used by over 20,000+ organizations worldwide including P&G, Pfizer, Siemens, and Sega
Key Features:
- Customizable, scalable, easy-to-use
- Allows Native proofing for direct feedback to assets
- Supports 400+ popular apps and custom integrations
- Holds a flexible and thorough user interface.
- Contains an automation engine to reduce manual work.
- It has Mobile (iOS and Android) and desktop (Windows and Mac) apps accompanied by integrations and an OPEN Rest API
6. Zoho Projects
A feature of Zoho that is heavily built-in with features to support the needs of a software building team, specifically. It allows one to break a project into Milestones divided into tasks and sub-tasks to gain an effortless method of reaching the set goals. It also holds a finance module to make sure the team stays on the assigned budget. It is used by Dell, Airbus, Vodafone, Sodexo, etc.
Key Features:
- CRM – Customer Relationship Management platform.
- BugTracker – To find and fix bugs and ship great software.
- Recruit – An applicant tracking software.
- Sprints – A planning and tracking tool for swift product deployment
7. Microsoft Project
Powered by Microsoft, Projects is integrated with all Microsoft products (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, etc.) as well as the pre-existing functionalities of most project management tools. It is also conclusive of the new Microsoft AI Copilot built on ChatGPT 4 to allow automation in every field necessary, for example: analyzing your data and generating insights in a fraction of a second or drafting your emails.
Key Features:
- Power BI: Build interactive dashboards using business intelligence.
- Azure: Build innovative projects/applications on Azure.
8. Slack
This tool was primarily designed as an instant messaging program for project teams and was integrated with Workflow Builder and other integrations later. The latest integration being built in is Slack AI focused on providing users the comfort of being ready for the future of work. It is used by Uber, Atlassian, BBC, TIME, Twitter, IBM, etc.
Key Features:
- Communication spaces: Huddles, Clips, Canvas, etc.
- Slack Enterprise Key Management: to ensure the security of data.
- Available on Windows, Linux, MacOS, Android, Windows Phone, and iOS.
A Day in the Life of a Project Manager
A day in the life of a project manager involves juggling various tasks to ensure projects stay on track. They start by reviewing schedules and checking emails for updates. They then coordinate with their team, discussing progress and assigning new tasks. Throughout the day, they oversee project plans, making sure everything aligns with timelines and budgets. Communication is key, as they engage with clients, team members, and stakeholders, keeping everyone informed. They also handle documentation, reporting progress, and addressing any issues that arise. Quality assurance is essential, ensuring deliverables meet standards. At day’s end, they wrap up tasks, plan for the next day, and reflect on lessons learned. Effective time management and prioritization help them manage the workload and contribute to project success.
Table of Content
- What does a Project Manager do?
- Roles and Responsibilities of Project Manager
- Typical Working Hours for Project Managers:
- A Day in the Life of a Project Manager
- Common Challenges of Being a Project Manager
- Effective Tips to Plan Your Day as a Project Manager:
- Tools and Techniques Used by Project Managers for Daily Tasks
- In Software Company Is Being a Project Manager Stressful?
- Examples of industries that hire project managers:
- Conclusion: Life of a Project Manager
- FAQs: Life of a Project Manager