Business use case
What is project management?
Project management is the process of planning, organizing, tracking, and coordinating the tasks, resources, deadlines, and budget needed to achieve a project's goals.
What are the key phases of project management?
There are generally five phases: initiation (defining objectives), planning (resources, timeline, budget), execution, monitoring progress, and closing the project.
What tools are used for project management?
The most common tools are the Gantt chart for scheduling, Kanban boards for task tracking, and dashboards for key performance indicators.
Real-world example
Opening a new retail store involves project management to schedule build-out work, coordinate equipment deliveries, hire and train staff, and track every task through to opening day.
Waterfall vs agile methodology
| Waterfall | Agile (Scrum, Kanban) | |
|---|---|---|
| Planning | Detailed upfront, few changes. | Short cycles, adjusted continuously. |
| Typical tool | Gantt chart. | Kanban board. |
| Best for | Projects with fixed deliverables and deadlines. | Evolving projects, shifting priorities. |
Key takeaways
- Five key phases: initiation, planning, execution, monitoring, closing.
- Relies on tools like the Gantt chart and Kanban board.
- Goal: deliver a defined outcome, on time and on budget.
Visual Planning centralizes project management: scheduling, resources, and progress tracking in one place.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between a project manager and a resource planner?
A project manager oversees the entire project (budget, risk, team), while a resource planner focuses specifically on scheduling time and resources.
What's the most common project management method?
Traditional methods (waterfall, using a Gantt chart) and agile methods (Scrum, Kanban) are the most widely used, often combined depending on the project.
Is project management useful for small teams?
Yes — even a lightweight version helps clarify priorities, deadlines, and responsibilities, regardless of team size.
What happens when project management is weak?
Budget overruns, cascading delays, uneven workload distribution across the team, and losing visibility into real progress.
Related terms
Gantt Chart
Kanban Board
Resource Planning
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Construction
"We use Visual Planning every day to manage our manufacturing and installation schedules. It’s an excellent fit for our constantly changing planning requirements."
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Manufacturing
"Fewer bottlenecks between production and shipping. Visual Planning helps us maintain production pace while preserving quality without unnecessary downtime."
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