Project management is the backbone of any successful business. Whether you’re launching a new product, implementing a marketing campaign, or developing cutting-edge software, effective project management practices can make the difference between triumph and failure.
The realm of project management is vast and complex, encompassing various methodologies, tools, and techniques. However, understanding how these concepts translate into real-world scenarios is often a challenge.
In this article, we will dive into the world of project management and explore compelling examples from actual businesses.
We asked 19 businesses to give us their best project management tips and here’s what they had to say.
Note: some responses have been shortened for clarity.
19 project management examples
1. Janice Cook from Cook Family Resources
Business owners need a clear view of the actual hours that they have available each week for work tasks. They need to know which tasks are truly CEO tasks (things that only they can do) and it is important to know approximately how long that task should take.
Some tasks take me 1 hour if I place them on my calendar in the morning and that same task would take me far longer if I tried to do it in the late afternoon or evening. I love working with business owners to stack their calendar in a way that works in alignment with how their brain works.
Next we need to bring team communication into ONE space. So much time is wasted bouncing between Slack, Voxer, email, etc in a day. Checking inboxes one or two times a day and keeping all task communication inside the project management tool has been a game changer for my clients.
Those two small shifts can make a world of difference.
2. Bernardo Castro, Founder of Bybrand
When launching our new trial product with first-time customers, we had to take extra care in how we managed everything, this was a kind of make or break scenario.
Our approach to this challenge involved three steps – assessing customer needs and expectations, developing an effective plan of action, and delivering results on schedule.
Then came the delivery stage where results achieved through hard work put forth earlier become tangible benefits seen directly by people who gave us the chance to try out something brand new.
Result?
Success.
3. Danny Nathan, Founder/CEO of Apollo 21
At Apollo 21, we manage projects with a “stringently flexible” style. As a tech company, we follow an agile-ish approach, incorporating ceremonies like Sprint Planning and Stand-Ups.
However, we prefer to keep things lighter and tailor our workflows to our team and projects. As we grew, we realised the need to streamline and document our processes.
In a recent leadership off-site, we developed a comprehensive checklist with ~60 points, categorising each step from client onboarding to maintenance. We rigorously follow this checklist to maintain consistency, while allowing flexibility for the team to question and adapt the process as needed. It ensures nothing is missed and fits future project needs.
4. Robert Seglinzki, Managing Editor & Researcher at Breaking Muscle
I would say that conventional project management is a standard way for defining the activities that are essential for the completion of a project and providing a procedure to monitor the fulfillment of tasks.
This is something that can be considered a standard approach of project management. Your work as a project manager in conventional project management often entails overseeing the actions of your team, ensuring that they finish assignments on schedule, giving coaching and support when necessary, and reporting progress to higher-level management.
The successful completion of a project is dependent on the coordinated efforts of each of these components working together.
5. Jessica Carrell, Co-Founder of Any Software Tools
As a business owner, I have to always make sure that our projects are running as efficiently and effectively as possible. To ensure this, I use a variety of project management practices and tools in my business.
My challenge and objective is to make sure that the projects are running smoothly and in accordance with our set timeframe and budget. I also make sure to reward the team for their hard work and dedication as they contribute to the overall success of our projects.
The results of this have been more efficient and successful projects, as well as increased team morale and productivity.
6. Gene Caballero, Co-founder of Your Green Pal
During GreenPal’s early days, scaling operations while maintaining quality service posed a significant challenge.
As a platform connecting lawn care providers with customers, our rapid growth demanded a more agile solution. We implemented Scrum, an Agile project management framework, dividing work into manageable sprints spanning two weeks.
With dedicated teams and daily stand-up meetings, communication and problem-solving improved.
The results were remarkable: customer satisfaction increased from 85% to 94%, and project completion rate soared from 70% to 98%. Scrum not only facilitated efficient scaling but also upheld our renowned service quality.
For businesses navigating rapid growth, Scrum is a highly recommended approach for effective project management.
7. Vincent Shu, CEO of ACS Locks
As a business owner, my project management approach involves defining clear objectives, timelines, and budgets. Communication with my team is key to address issues early on. Streamlining workflows with project management software is vital.
Celebrating successes and learning from setbacks improves our processes for future projects.
A challenge I faced was boosting online visibility and website traffic. I implemented a comprehensive digital marketing strategy including content marketing, social media, and SEO. Paid advertising expanded our reach.
Results: increased website traffic, higher social media engagement, improved search rankings, new leads, and increased sales.
8. Harman Singh, Director at Cyphere
My approach to project management:
Challenge/Objective: Delivering a high-quality penetration testing service efficiently.
- -Establish clear goals and expectations: Set specific goals, deadlines, and tailored client requirements.
- -Assign tasks and responsibilities: Allocate tasks based on team members’ skills for optimal results.
- -Regular communication: Foster open communication, regular check-ins, and updates to address concerns.
- – Monitor and track progress: Utilise project management tools for time tracking, task lists, and progress reports.
The results: Successfully delivered high-quality penetration testing service on time and within budget. Efficient teamwork created a positive environment, resulting in satisfied clients and repeat business.
9. Jeff Mains, CEO of Champion Leadership Group LLC
As CEO of Champion Leadership Group LLC, my major challenge was effective communication among remote team members in different time zones and locations.
We tackled this by implementing a digital project management tool for real-time communication, task tracking, and document sharing.
Clear remote work guidelines and virtual team meetings ensured alignment.
The results were remarkable: seamless collaboration, enhanced production, and efficient issue resolution.
The platform enabled monitoring of development and promoted a sense of solidarity. Improved communication fostered teamwork, motivation, timely project completion, and high-quality deliverables.
10. Andrew Pickett, lead Trial Attorney at Andrew Pickett Law
Our top project management technique is the Kanban-style agile methodology, which efficiently manages and prioritises tasks based on importance and urgency. This approach proves invaluable for large, complex projects.
For instance, we recently utilised Kanban to successfully manage a significant litigation case. Our board included columns for To Do, In Progress, and Completed tasks, along with user-defined priority levels.
This enabled accurate progress tracking and ensured that high-priority tasks received immediate attention.
Additionally, we employ Gantt charts to manage project timelines. This technique facilitates precise progress tracking, milestone management, deadline setting, and identification of resource needs.
By leveraging Kanban and Gantt charts, we optimise project management, ensuring efficient task prioritisation, progress tracking, and timely completion.
11. Robin Salvador, a marketing consultant at Kode Kloud
In my opinion, it’s important to establish clear objectives and roles for each team member at the outset of a project.
Encourage your team members to communicate frequently throughout the project while also establishing regular check-in meetings or calls. It’s essential that everyone understands their responsibilities and deadlines so that work is completed efficiently and without unnecessary delays.
Additionally, encourage open dialogue about any issues that arise during the course of your project so they can be addressed immediately. By prioritising effective communication within your project management approach, you’ll create a more cohesive team environment where everyone feels supported and valued throughout every phase of the process.
12. Musnad E Ahmed, CEO and founder of SkyTech
Here’s a summary of how we managed our ERP System Implementation project:
Our objective: Streamline business processes, enhance efficiency, and enable real-time data analysis.
Our approach:
- Needs Assessment: Analysed existing processes and gathered requirements.
- Vendor Selection: Carefully chose an ERP system provider aligned with our needs.
- Planning and Resource Allocation: Developed a detailed project plan and assigned a dedicated team.
- Implementation and Customisation: Ensured seamless integration and customised the solution.
- Testing and Training: Conducted rigorous testing and comprehensive employee training.
- Go-Live and Post-Implementation Support: Deployed the system and provided ongoing assistance.
Our results:
- Streamlined Processes: Automated and centralised key processes.
- Enhanced Efficiency: Real-time data access and streamlined workflows improved productivity.
- Improved Collaboration: Seamless communication and collaboration promoted transparency.
- Scalability and Adaptability: Solution allowed for future growth and expansions.
- Cost Savings: Reduced overhead and optimised resource allocation.
13. Patricio Paucar, Co-founder of Navi
One of the best hacks for project management in my startup is to delegate projects to key staff members, give them lots of runway, and get out of their way.
When you give ownership opportunities to your staff and provide check-in times for questions or updates, you can get many projects done at the same time, and this creates a lot of efficiency for the business.
The best project management involves empowering employees and creating space for founders to focus efforts at the strategic level.
14. Derrick Hathaway, Sales Director at VEM Medical
I deal with multiple projects on a regular basis and sometimes it becomes challenging.
To effectively execute a project while adhering to the intended quality standards and within the time, financial, and scope restrictions is, in my opinion, project management’s primary goal.
One of my major challenges has been handling the expectations and demands of various stakeholders, who have varying interests in the project. Through my research and experience, I have figured out a few ways to effectively handle all of my projects. Here are my best strategies:
- Communication: I’ve found that encouraging open and honest dialogue among team members and stakeholders, as well as keeping them updated on project status and any changes, has been quite helpful.
- Monitoring and controlling the project’s progress, spotting deviations from the plan, and taking corrective action have all been successful.
- Closure: We were able to achieve our goals by ensuring a seamless project closure by delivering the final product, carrying out post-project assessments, and collecting lessons learned for future projects.
After carefully putting these tactics into practice, the results of project management improved organisational performance and the project team’s capabilities while also contributing to the overall success of our project.
15. Dennis Sanders, Founder and CEO of Burning Daily
Gantt charts are essential to the project management of my eCommerce shop, Burning Daily.
They help us stay organised and efficient by breaking down our timeline into manageable tasks.
The process begins with identifying products, negotiating with suppliers, and placing orders.
We then create product listings and launch them on our site for customers to purchase.
Tracking inventory ensures we meet customer demand without stock outs during peak times.
This effective technique keeps our business running smoothly and ensures timely deliveries, leading to customer satisfaction. I highly recommend entrepreneurs to explore Gantt charts for efficient shop operations without any hiccups.
16. Anna Koval, Marketing Officer and Co-Founder of Tarotoo
Good project management is crucial for marketing professionals like myself to achieve goals. One valuable tip is to define what success means for the project.
Establishing appropriate targets and checkpoints is essential for meeting objectives and satisfying stakeholders. Defining goals at the outset gives everyone a clear direction.
Understanding the project’s overarching goals before diving into details ensures alignment with the desired outcome.
This improves teamwork and increases the chances of success.
Well-defined targets allow for setting indicators of success and monitoring progress over time. Sharing objectives with the team enhances unity and buy-in, fostering a collaborative environment.
In conclusion, clear objectives significantly benefit business projects. Defining and communicating goals to the team increases the chances of success. Beginning initiatives with a well-defined plan and clear expectations is crucial for positive outcomes.
17. Joshua Bartlett, Owner and Editor-in-Chief of I’ll Just Fix it Myself
Efficient project management is crucial for company growth, and the key to success lies in fostering constant teamwork.
Encouraging a collaborative environment through team-building exercises promotes communication, cooperation, and trust among team members.
A reliable, collaborative tool enhances productivity by facilitating quick interactions, file sharing, problem-solving, and information flow.
Effective teamwork enables employees to accomplish tasks and drive the company towards its goals.
By valuing collaboration, sharing knowledge, and utilising online collaboration tools, as CEO, I prioritise teamwork during project management.
This approach improves productivity and efficiency, bringing us closer to our shared business objectives.
18. Jim Campbell, CEO and Founder of Honeymoon Goals
I’m a big fan of planning.
I think I’ve been able to be successful in my business because I don’t go into a project without doing my homework first.
Before I start any project, I know exactly what needs to happen, when it needs to happen, and who’s going to be responsible for each step of the process. This means that when things go wrong—and they will go wrong—I know how to react.
When an employee is sick, for example, or we run out of materials unexpectedly, I know who should be put on standby and how quickly we can get more material if necessary.
This frees me up from having to micromanage every aspect of our business and lets me focus on big-picture stuff like marketing strategies and branding strategies instead.
In short: planning ahead saves time and money!
19. Kira Green, Head of Marketing at Fifth & Cor
When it comes to effective project management, one of the key objectives we faced was maintaining organisation and efficiency throughout our projects.
To tackle this, we implemented Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and utilised project management tools, which have become an essential part of our team’s workflow.
We were able to streamline our processes and ensure clear communication and accountability within the team.
As a result, we witnessed improved project execution, reduced confusion, and enhanced productivity, leading to timely completion of tasks and successful project outcomes.
Final thoughts
These real-life project management examples provide valuable insights and inspiration to help you enhance your project management practices.
From agile methodologies to effective communication strategies, these businesses have successfully tackled various challenges and achieved remarkable results.
The examples demonstrate the importance of setting clear objectives, establishing effective communication channels, leveraging project management tools, and empowering teams.
It is evident that successful project management is not limited to a specific industry or project size, the key lies in understanding the unique needs of each project, tailoring approaches accordingly, and maintaining a flexible mindset to navigate unexpected hurdles.
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