Work management vs. project management

Does your team excel at executing projects, going above and beyond to plan each detail? Many organizations prioritize project management but also need a holistic work management strategy for tackling day-to-day operations and long-term initiatives. Both are equally important to master and each play a critical role in successful team collaboration. You’re likely familiar with project management…but what exactly is work management? Let’s break it down:

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According to monday.com, work management focuses on “planning, organizing, executing, and monitoring any business task or workflow that enables you to achieve your objectives.” Think about the goals and objectives you set in your annual business strategy at the start of each year. These are specific, measurable targets you’ve outlined that you believe will help grow your business. Having effective work management practices in place keep your business functions running smoothly and help you move the needle in achieving your annual goals. One key item to note: even though your annual goals and objectives may have estimated completion dates, the business workflows and processes you put in place to support those initiatives are ongoing. 

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If you have the proper work management processes in place, you should see an increase in efficiency, speed, and productivity because you’re essentially keeping a strong grasp on key work components such as: coordinating tasks, allocating resources, tracking time, and creating deliverables and dependencies. All of these components directly support the efficiency of your business (vs. directly supporting day-to-day project work). 

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Project management “is a single aspect of work management focused on planning, managing, and completing specific projects” (monday.com). Unlike the ongoing workflows and processes we discussed above with work management, projects have clear start and end dates and produce a specific deliverable or outcome to support a product, service, or event. Traditionally, project management involves the following stages: initiation, planning, implementation, and closing. Although you may deploy certain projects throughout the year to support your overall business goals and objectives, projects are generally singular, isolated initiatives. 

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Here are the five key differences between work management and project management:

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1. Focus: project management is centered around specific project lifecycles, focusing on specific deliverables. Work management takes on a broader perspective and focuses on ongoing operations that keep the organization thriving beyond individual projects.
2. Timeframe: project management deals with clear start and end dates, whereas work management practices may also use fixed dates (i.e. for specific annual goals) but can also be open-ended.
3. Resource allocation: project managers generally allocate resources to satisfy the project’s specific requirements. Work management allows you to spread out resources (i.e. budget or staff) across the business. 
4. Structure: a specific project manager or team is usually assigned to lead and execute projects. In work management, the structure may involve multiple stakeholders that collaborate across various departments.
5. Collaboration: because of the dedicated timeline, project management communication focuses on achieving project-specific objectives, which ends once the project is done. Work management involves ongoing collaboration and relationship-building.

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Hopefully, this gives you a much better understanding of how work management and project management are different, but equally important for a business to grow and be successful.

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Still have questions? Our team here is here to help! Contact us for a free consultation today: https://www.orangedotdigital.com/contact-us