3 Key Characteristics of Project Management Processes

When it comes to the project management process, there are a few key things to keep in mind. For starters, it’s always necessary to approach each project as its own unique entity. Different clients will have different sets of requirements, and you will need to think, act, and communicate differently each time in order to appease them. 

Despite that, there are still a few key characteristics of the project management process that you will need to employ in order to be successful not just as a team, but as an organization.

1. Consistency

One of the most important characteristics that the project management process can have is consistency. Regardless of the type of project you’re trying to deliver or the type of client you’re working for, every project needs to be held to identical standards for what has to happen for it to be considered a success.

This will allow you to identify certain areas of your process that may be redundant and can be eliminated, as well as avoid the type of bureaucratic practices that have derailed even the most well-laid out plans.

2. Flexibility

As mentioned in our eBook, there are many factors that must work cohesively to achieve successful results. One of those factors is flexibility. This doesn’t mean that you should be ready to shift away from your established plan at a moment’s notice — this is far from it.

Flexibility just means that you need to acknowledge that each specific project will have its own management needs, so you need to be ready to adjust to your own way of doing things accordingly. Additionally, certain types of issues will always arise unexpectedly, regardless of how detailed your plan is. Without that certain degree of flexibility, you don’t have a hope of surviving the unexpected when it does rear its ugly head.

3. Transparency

Almost more than anything else, one of the most integral characteristics of the project management process is transparency. This is particularly true when it comes to how resources are being used by team members at any given time.

A successful project manager will know how to best schedule a project to guarantee its completion, for example. They will also know how to get information to the right people and help to distribute all important project dollars where they will have maximum impact. This all falls under the umbrella of transparency and should be practiced at all times.

Key Takeaway

• Consistency regarding standards and success requirements is of paramount importance in project management.
• Transparency is also key, especially with regards to the ways in which resources are being utilized.
• Flexibility isn’t just a recommendation – it’s a requirement, particularly to account for unexpected situations that may occur.

Even though the project management process should always be tailored to a certain extent to meet the needs of the specific client that you’re working with, there are still a few key characteristics that will shine through at all times. So long as you maintain a certain degree of flexibility to account for the unpredictable and consistency regarding standards for success, you’ll find yourself in command of a high-quality team that can’t help but to succeed.