Project management software (what I use)

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As a project manager, I stay on top of a lot of moving parts. Thankfully, there are software tools out there that help me keep everything organized and on track. Let's take a closer look at some of the most popular tools used by project managers (also what I use).

Jira: Jira is an Agile project management tool that can help teams plan, track, and release software. It's particularly useful for teams that follow a Scrum or Kanban framework, as it allows them to manage their backlog, sprint planning, and issue tracking all in one place. With Jira, project managers can create and assign tasks, track progress, and collaborate with their teams in real time. They can also generate reports and dashboards to get an overview of the project's status and identify potential roadblocks.

  • Plan and manage Agile processes using Scrum or Kanban frameworks

  • Create and assign tasks to team members

  • Track progress and collaborate with the team in real-time

  • Generate reports and dashboards to get an overview of the project's status

  • Identify potential roadblocks and adjust the project plan accordingly

Confluence: Confluence is a content collaboration tool that can help teams organize their knowledge and information in one central location. It's particularly useful for teams that work on complex projects and need a place to store and share documents, meeting notes, and project plans. With Confluence, project managers can create pages for different projects, share them with their team, and collaborate in real time (much like Jira). They can also use Confluence to create project templates, automate workflows, and integrate with other tools like Jira.

  • Store and share project knowledge and information in one central location

  • Create pages for different projects and collaborate with the team in real-time

  • Create project templates and automate workflows to save time and increase productivity

  • Integrate with other tools like Jira to streamline processes and improve efficiency

Office software: Microsoft Office, iWork (my preferred office software of choice), and Google Suite can also be incredibly helpful for project managers. These tools include familiar programs like:

  • Pages, Word, Docs

  • Numbers, Excel, Sheets

  • Keynote, PowerPoint, Slides

They can be used for a variety of tasks, from creating project plans to presenting status updates to stakeholders. Project managers can also use these tools to create and share reports, manage budgets, and communicate with their team.

Overall, these software tools can help project managers keep their teams organized, on track, and focused on the project's goals. By using Jira to manage their Agile processes, Confluence to store and share project knowledge, and Office software to create and share reports, project managers (like me) stay on top of everything and keep projects running smoothly.