What you must know about digital project management
The strong trend from analogue to digital products resulted in new products and services entering the market and also a strong demand for how to manage this new world. Here are some of the new projects and work in the digital field. Some examples are:
Application development, advertising, web design, online education courses, games, remote employment coordination, digital marketing,
e-commerce projects, systems integration, social media, sales analytics, production modelling, data storage, business modelling, videos and many other.
The need to manage projects in a digital environment is in many respects different from traditional project management. We don’t manage projects anymore using pen and paper, whiteboards and sticky notes. Saving information on Microsoft Word and Excel spreadsheets is a thing of the past.
Today’s project managers are moving their teams and processes online to keep up with the competition and deliver at a faster pace than ever before. Using online project management, collaboration software and cloud file storage systems; work is performed with improved results.
The digital world
In the world as a whole 55% of people use the internet. There are currently more than 2.3 billion smartphone users. In the USA 77% of the people have a smartphone in their pocket. It means we have a huge market for digital products and services on the demand side. On the supply side, more people than ever can access, build, and manage digital products.
The most successful companies are taking advantage of a massive audience and capability to perform this kind of projects.
With the aid of new communication methods distance is not a restriction anymore. We use virtual teams and not people in one geographic location.
Programmers develop new software for the planning and execution of digital projects.
Digital project management is often easier to track than other project types since most of the work needed is carried out behind a screen, on a computer. Digital tasks are easily tracked and reported with various tools, and thus provide a better foundation for reliable time reports and estimations.
The role of the digital project manager
Digital project management usually happens in matrix organizations where the project manager is responsible for the output, and managing the project, but not directly line managing the team.
Digital project managers manage projects in the digital world and ensure that their projects are delivered according to the digital project plan.
Digital project management requires a unique skill set. The job requires an understanding from a strategic perspective of why you should do a project
and what technology could be used to achieve it. The digital project manager must define the project properly and know what it will cost and when it could be delivered.
Traditional project management principles and processes are valid for digital projects. The digital project manager should have all the basic required project management skills.
The role of the digital project manager can be a much broader role than a classic PMI project manager role. A digital project manager’s role is more than simply managing and facilitating a team to deliver a project. Digital project managers often take more of a leadership role on a project, managing clients directly, maintaining the strategic direction of a project, owning the customer experience, and making sure they’re cultivating a project that’s going to deliver results.
The selection of a digital project manager
The selection of the digital project manager is very important. In some instances, a person with the technical skills may not have the interpersonal and leadership skills required to make a success of the project.
In a digital environment, you must also be able to do project management and also digital tasks required in this environment. To properly select a digital project manager you must draw up a proper profile of the person you require. Also, make sure how you will measure candidates against the profile. How will you know what is a good fit?
The use of technology
Powerful software is available to assist the digital project manager & teams. I would like to caution you when using new software. Some vendors will make you believe that the way and methods of their software are the only way. The software is an enabler meant to assist you. All the principles of good PM are still valid. A project is usually done for business reasons or a specific purpose. The digital PM must keep the business in mind as she is managing the project and not focusing on what the software can do.
If you follow the project management life cycle properly then you will know the basics required for the digital project and what is additionally required. E.g. a proper requirements analysis will outline the needs and requirements for a digital project.
How to become a digital project manager
A prerequisite is a good grounding in project management. Then one must be highly tech-aware and display a desire to keep on top of the latest advancements in management technology and software. It is also necessary to have the confidence and capability to make strategic decisions based on real-time information.
The digital world has evolved at a rapid pace and is still a young industry. This means that digital project management jobs haven’t been around for that long, compared to many other professions.
Attend workshops and courses to ensure that you build your skills and knowledge base. Volunteer for digital projects and do everything in your power to build digital project management experience.
Learn project management
If you want to grow in project management and achieve results like a pro enrol for my “Introductory course to project management.”
The course has been internationally presented for many years. You can now do it online. The learning platform is very user-friendly. I will take your hand all the way through the course. You can work on a real-life project and get feedback as you go along. For more information go to https://www.peterjoubert.com/introduction-project-management/
