Once only the concern of large multinationals and defense contractors, a new survey
finds small- to mid-sized companies emphasizing more discipline in systems and product
development work. In a survey of 382 companies with fewer than 5000 employees, EdWel
Programs -- a training and consulting firm, found 36% of surveyed companies adhere
to documented procedures for managing projects. An additional 27% of the companies
require project teams to follow more informal project management practices.
“With recent efforts to streamline both the supply chain and day-to-day operations
complete, most mid-sized companies are recognizing that project work is the last
bastion of corporate inefficiency,” said Michael Welles, an EdWel spokesperson. “If
short-term product development or systems work represent 20-25% of a worker’s day,
it makes sense that companies would look to the project management discipline for
improved worker productivity,” continued Welles.
According to most specialists, project management is the practice of defining and
achieving targets while optimizing the use of resources (time, capital, people,
etc). In action, project management is a set of approved templates and guidelines
designed to share critical information and coordinate teams across a company’s internal
functions.
According to Welles, "savvier organizations use project management to improve
company decision-making. Knowing which product to develop or system to install requires
more than just a hunch in today’s competitive landscape. Ultimately, it (project
management) comes down to making the right business decision at the right time.”