Project managers, what management wants to see at any time and what does it have to do with Project management tools?

Being a project manager in some infrastructure industry like telecommunications means managing numerous complex projects at once, knowing everything about all of them – at all times. Sounds rather demanding, right?

On top of that, the very nature of this industry requires skills in connecting the fieldwork to the rest of the business. So what does it take to do so and to do it efficiently?

For starters, a healthy combination of accurate data visibility and empowering people with the right tools. Every project consists of many moving pieces, so one can’t but wonder what critical information you as a leader must obtain and provide to your superiors standing higher in the hierarchy chain?

Before all, you must always have accessible data on any given project by status. It implies the answer to questions like how many tasks are started, in progress, or behind schedule, for example. Also, a precise categorization of projects by type, meaning how many, let’s say – small cell projects vs. co-location projects are you working on…

Besides, keeping evidence on every project’s start date is crucial to respect deadlines, just like planning following a project’s projected completion date and whether the processes are going aligned with a time frame.

And last but not least – do you and your team have the capacity to take on more projects?

It depends on how many projects you are managing at the moment and how much time each task takes.

Visibility is key.

When you don’t have clear visibility into projects, various unnoticed issues can delay that project and others that are waiting, too.

Capturing accurate data is critical for every member of the team, including both internal and external stakeholders and customers, as well. Any telecom company will always keep its customers in the loop in the perfect scenario. Taking milestones and putting them into one place will make it possible to capture accurate data and report on it, positively impacting customers’ experience. 

Therefore, any project manager should be aware of the project status at any given moment so they can reference live, real-time data. When the manager can accurately report on the successes and failures of each project – the upper management can see it, and any unexpected twist in the process can be smoothed out on time.

The golden rule is that the best organizations are data-driven. The project’s success ensures a solid functioning of the critical infrastructure for citizens who rely on their daily communication and information supply. 

From employees’ point of view

Some results of the global surveys point out that Telecom employees are the least happy workforce of any industry! Quite shocking! But, let’s see why that is and what can be done.

First of all, telecommunication is a sector with a traditionally high employee turnover rate. This results in the fact that every new worker is an investment. As we all know, happy workers are way more productive, so each telecom organization needs to concentrate on creating a good atmosphere where every employee can thrive and feel accepted and valuable. Any company is best placed for this when its systems are directly aligned to support its workforce.

A powerful element backing up this approach is Employee Empowerment!

Making them more responsible for their tasks and involving them in the management process gives employees a sense of responsibility and control, providing additional feedback and giving input to the organization.

Never lose sight that people are the most critical asset of the company. You are making their jobs as seamless and easy as possible by giving them the tools they need to do their tasks efficiently.

Also, maintaining clear communication channels is the best way to support your staff. This way, you allow them to discuss potential issues with management or HR. They can also receive targeted praise, get on board with the organization’s goals and values, and see how they fit into the bigger picture.

A quality tool acts as a daily communications touch point.

Tool for managers and employees

Most software platforms are limited to supporting a specific role. This deficiency is a critical flaw: your employees may not have direct access to the plan, workflow, reports, and documents they need daily to perform their job.

A helpful tool must provide visibility into relevant records and data. It is a harsh reality that Project Managers often struggle to stay on top of plans, job costs, profit margins, and outstanding vendor invoices. Therefore, a tool like Teodesk is created with managers and other team members in mind.

The experts advise anyone looking for Project Management software to keep an eye on the needs of both the team and its leader. Teodesk is designed to help both, providing direct access to the project’s operational issues. In addition, it allows them to collaborate by enhancing capabilities.

You can now identify the necessary steps for achieving goals and objectives. Thoughtful preparation can save significant resources in the long run. So, put your plans to good use and have the end goal in mind. Use integrated data to ensure you achieve set objectives while respecting the budget and time constraints. Finally, retrospect and improve your practice. Take a critical look at your work and learn from all you have done systematically.

Teodesk is the best way to fulfill the project manager’s and his team’s needs.