Software releases are some of the most stressful dates on any calendar. New and existing customers alike can be severely affected by delays, or worse yet, bugs upon release. Software developers find themselves under immense pressure as deadlines loom large. Although there are unique aspects to software development, projects of all kinds are similar in nature. With proper technical project management, release days can be a cause for celebration rather than a source of stress.

4 Tips for Improving Your Release Process

1. Adopt an Agile Development Methodology

Agile development isn’t just the buzzword of the day: it’s the real deal. Agile software development makes it easier to implement changes into software and respond to sudden modifications. Through frequent communication and concurrent processes, an Agile approach gets work done faster and minimizes bureaucratic bottlenecks in your company.

However, Agile is such a different methodology that the learning curve can scare companies off. The prospect of switching systems terrifies many managers. It’s important to bring in experienced Agile coaches who can teach your staff by letting them live the Agile experience.

2. Keep Documents Updated

Documentation is vital for technical projects. Change logs, test results, feature requests, and the company budget all pull projects in different directions. If you don’t keep track of these details throughout the project, redundancies and mistakes are more likely to occur. Fixing these problems later slows down releases.

A technical project manager needs to keep documentation up to date and make sure that employees have access to the latest information. Consider assigning the job to someone who can oversee documents across departments, unify the writing style and format, and push notifications out to workers.

3. Consider Technical Project Management Software

Software can help create software. Project management software can make managing technical projects much easier. Switching to software-based project management can cut down on unnecessary meetings that sap valuable time that could be spent developing. Software also helps you keep track of who is responsible for various tasks within a given project. Tracking that data can help you find roadblocks such as underperforming departments or excessive back and forth between departments.  

Cloud-based project management tools will also make it easier to manage projects remotely. Since you can access everything from any device, work-from-home situations and hybrid offices can seamlessly handle projects despite the distance. If you’re not sure what kind of software is best suited for your technical projects, reach out to Project Genetics to learn more about your options.

4. Don’t Rely on Crunch Time

Crunch time has become so commonplace in software development that many companies just assume that if a deadline gets too close for comfort, they can crunch their way out of it. While that might work, it’s not a sustainable solution. Crunch time costs more, burns out workers, and produces more errors.

A smoother approach to technical projects is best. If you want to reach your release dates and put out the best product possible, contact Project Genetics. We can help you optimize your project management and have the latest version out right on time.  

CRM, or customer relationship management, is one of the best approaches to boosting sales. Rather than focusing solely on luring in new clients, CRM encourages your company to target existing clients with personalized attention and messaging. Repeat business is easier to get than new business, which is why CRM has become such a popular method of increasing sales. However, successful CRM calls for new tools that facilitate interactions with customers. CRM implementation takes some time, but it’s worth the wait.

How Long Does CRM Implementation Usually Take?

Factors to Consider

The exact time it’ll take for your company to deploy a CRM system depends on several variables. From a technical perspective, a cloud-based CRM software suite could be up and running in as little as a month, given enough resources. However, your CRM software needs to be tailored to your company and the products or services you offer. Customizing your CRM system may add a few weeks to deployment. Data migration is another variable to consider.

Ideally, you’d upload data from existing systems to make your CRM system productive from the day you launch. If you leave old data in the dark, expect a longer wait to see a significant return on your investment. This is where the experience of your team comes into play. Do you have experienced IT personnel who can handle a large data migration? Do you have CRM experts? If not, consider bringing in outside help.

Starting From Scratch

If you’ve never used any sort of CRM tool before and you’re looking to add it to your business, you can get up and running faster. If you’re a small company or a startup, you might be able to use your CRM tools in as little as a month or two. Larger enterprises may need a few more weeks given the breadth of their client base and diversity of products or services. However, even large companies can get moving quickly.

Cloud-based CRM tools scale very easily. From a system perspective, there isn’t much of a difference between a CRM user with 10 clients or one with 10,000. Data transfer to the new system becomes the main challenge for large enterprises. Finally, you have to consider employee training needs. A long CRM project could take up to three or four months to complete if there is a lot of data to manage and many people to train.

Upgrading Existing Systems

How long does it take for companies that already use CRM in their workflow? Upgrading a CRM system to a more versatile one is usually an easier process than starting from scratch. System setup time is similar, but your staff can adopt a new platform faster since they’re familiar with CRM tools. Data transfer across systems is also faster since data is already organized.

Whether you’re looking to start fresh with CRM or you’ve got an aging system in need of an upgrade, CRM is always a worthwhile investment. If you need help implementing CRM in your company, contact Project Genetics to learn how we can get your CRM system up and running.

Enterprise project management (EPM) is simply the oversight and control of all ongoing projects within an organization. An EPM formulates a company’s overarching strategy, aligning that with departmental tactics and operations, creating an organizational synergy to efficiently achieve the desired goals while correcting inefficiencies and identifying new opportunities. An EPM can resolve several issues many companies face. Here are just three.

3 Real World Applications for Enterprise Project Management

1. Improve Efficiency Following a Merger and Acquisition

2. Inform Critical Decisions With Reliable, Consistent Data

In the entertainment industry, several platforms have merged in recent years. CBS and Paramount are one example, Disney and Marvel Studios another. While each studio maintains its own budget, properties, and strategies for series and film development, the umbrella organization needs to have its eye on the bigger picture (pun intended).

Each division needs to report its data in the same manner. Time is money. The amount lost converting differing departmental spreadsheets into a detailed overview could cost millions. Keeping everyone on the same page is imperative. An EPM team can install unified portfolio management to achieve that aim, enabling the streamlining of resources while simultaneously improving the capacity to plan new programs, which, in turn, drives growth and creates further opportunities.

3. Improve and Innovate Your IT Department

Every major business relies on its network in the current digital economy. Most people view IT as the people in the shadows who keep the network up and running, avoiding bottlenecks and enabling work to be delivered on time. Then there is the security team, which polices the network to repel outside threats and ensure protocol compliance within.  

Increasingly, however, companies are integrating network and security teams to great benefit. Not only does a unified NetSecOps achieve better network performance with greater cost efficiency, but it also accelerates incident detection and response while lowering risk. Solid EPM creates greater transparency across an organization, allowing IT to operate to its full potential in terms of both network maintenance and security.

Whether your company is undergoing a merger or acquisition, is simply diverse in its nature, or is getting in its own way thanks to its siloed structure, bringing in an experienced EPM team is the solution that will have everyone pulling in the same direction. Book an introductory call with Project Genetics now to learn how we can help you. 

Should the Project’s Scope Be Reduced?

Should Some Tasks Be Put On the Fast Track?

Is Overtime the Answer?

Is Recovery Absolutely Essential?

• Are there sufficient funds to continue?
• Should more be allocated?
• Do unexpected changes necessitate altered priorities or needs?
• Do these changes indicate the project should be delayed or abandoned altogether?

If the updated risk analysis determines the project should continue but doesn’t present solutions to continuing delays, CEOs should ask one further question.

Should the Project Recovery Be Outsourced?

Sometimes, an in-house project management or recovery team lacks the experience or knowledge to rescue a struggling project. When that occurs, companies should consult a professional project management firm.

Experienced and dedicated project management leaders are ideal partners to rescue flagging projects. Book an introductory call with Project Genetics now to learn how we can help you.

People have been following the Elon Musk/Twitter saga online and in the news for weeks now, waiting to see if the multi-billion-dollar purchase will actually happen. In truth, however, closing the deal is just the beginning. Integrating mergers & acquisitions can take months, if not years, and more than half of these ventures end in failure. What, then, are the necessary features of a PMO methodology that can deliver a successful merger & acquisition? 

Developing a Successful PMO Methodology for Mergers & Acquisitions

1. Prioritize Culture & Human Resources

2. Identify Areas Where Support is Required for a Successful Merger & Acquisition

3. Identify Special Needs

4. Establish an Effective Project Management Framework and a Master Plan

Successful integrations require an appropriate hierarchy. An executive committee typically oversees merger projects. Its responsibility is to address all details of the merger. If the committee is not chaired by the highest-ranking executive in the new company, the chair should report directly to them. Smaller teams can be formed under the purview of the overarching project management team to handle the unique needs within individual departments or more challenging obstacles to the merger.

5. Monitor and Document Progress

Like any project, integration should be measured in terms of time and cost. It should have a firm budget but also the flexibility to adapt to unforeseen changes and make necessary corrective measures. Reports should be in real time so that the senior committee and the new company’s board are constantly aware of the progress and updated timeline for full integration.

In addition to successfully managing the merger of two companies into one, a clear, focused integration plan that utilizes the new entity’s full resources can also present new, lucrative opportunities not anticipated in the original merger proposal. Learn more about how your merger can benefit from a robust project management methodology. Book an introductory call with Project Genesis now.