Aug 3 2023

Project Dashboard: Fear the Illusions

Continuous Status Monitoring
6 minutes

 

Project Dashboard

 

Are you tired of projects that never seem to end? Do you feel like you are constantly putting out fires instead of making progress? If so, you are not alone. Per Runn, 11.4% of resources go to waste due to poor project management processes. It is no wonder that only 35% of project managers say they are ‘somewhat satisfied’ or ‘very satisfied’ with the management systems they have in place. So, what is the solution? The answer lies in the project dashboard. By using a project dashboard, you can keep track of your project's key performance indicators (KPIs) in real-time, identify issues before they become problems, and make data-driven decisions that will keep your project on track. Explore how leveraging a AI-powered project dashboard can enhance project outcomes and organizational success. 

The Power of Automated Project Dashboard

A project dashboard offers real-time insights into project progress, performance, and resource allocation, enabling project managers to make informed decisions. A project dashboard provides a centralized location for all your important project KPIs, offering a bird's-eye view of your project's status. With just a glance, you can answer critical questions such as: 

  • Who should take ownership of each task? 
  • When should that work be done? 
  • What needs to be offloaded? 
  • Who is being underutilized? 
  • Where are we with our budget, and what is costing us too much? 

What Is a Project Dashboard? 

A project dashboard is a report that provides real-time insights into project progress, performance, and resource allocation. It consolidates information from various sources, such as task completion rates, budget utilization, and team productivity, to offer a comprehensive overview of project health. With its user-friendly interface and customizable features, a project dashboard streamlines communication enhances collaboration, and facilitates data-driven decision-making, revolutionizing the way projects are managed. Having a clear and real-time view of your project's performance is paramount. This is where a project planning dashboard shines, acting as a compass that guides you through the complexities of project management. From key metrics to budgets, schedules, and potential risks, a project dashboard offers a 360-degree perspective on your project.  

Project Dashboard

What Should a Project Dashboard Include? 

A project management dashboard provides a comprehensive view of your project's real-time status and success. It should include: 

  • Descriptions - Briefly outline the project's purpose, objectives, and execution approach,
  • Progress Status Indicators - Visual representations, like charts or progress bars, to show if the project is on track, delayed, or completed,
  • Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) - Measurable metrics that indicate project performance and overall health,
  • Milestones and Timelines - Clear visualization of project schedules, including milestones and deadlines,
  • Dependencies and Impacted Metrics - Displaying relationships between tasks and any delayed deliverables due to dependencies,
  • Resource Allocation and Estimates - A visual representation of allocated resources, time estimates for task completion, and task owners,
  • Budgets and Financials - Real-time tracking of project spending, budget status, and financial KPIs,
  • Risk Status and Issues - Information about potential risks, their severity, and their status,
  • Custom Views and Features - Personalized project dashboard views and to-do list for team members,
  • Collaboration Tools - Communication and collaboration feature to enhance teamwork and information sharing.

When selecting a project dashboard software, define your goals to align with your business needs and find a solution that offers the right KPIs and features. The right project dashboard can boost visibility, data-driven decision-making, and project outcomes for organizational success. 

Project Dashboard

The Benefits of Leveraging a Project Dashboard 

  • Data-Driven Decision-Making - Gain access to real-time KPIs and metrics presented in a visual format for informed decision-making. Mitigate risks, allocate resources effectively, and keep your project on track with accurate and up-to-date insights. 
  • Increased Efficiency - Automate the tracking and monitoring of KPIs, freeing up time to focus on high-value tasks. Identify inefficiencies and streamline workflows, optimizing resource allocation for smooth project progression. 
  • Centralized Data - Consolidate essential project data in one accessible location for all team members. Say goodbye to manual data collection, ensuring everyone has access to the latest information. 
  • Continuous Data Updates - Real-time data updates keep your project dashboards accurate and relevant at all times. No more manual data entry or reliance on outdated reports. 
  • Customization and Scalability - Tailor your project management dashboards to specific project needs, selecting the most relevant metrics and KPIs. As your project evolves, easily adjust and scale the dashboard to match its complexity and size. 
  • Enhanced Communication - Share project progress and updates with stakeholders in a clear and concise manner. Cut through the clutter of lengthy reports, ensuring effective collaboration and alignment among all stakeholders. 

 

Project Dashboard

The Importance of Automated Project Dashboard

According to a recent study by Runn, only 1 in 4 organizations use project management software to handle their processes. This means that many organizations are missing out on the benefits of an automated project dashboard. In fact, a staggering 54% of organizations say they have no way to track their project KPIs (key performance indicators) in real-time. This means that more than half of all organizations are operating in the dark when it comes to project management. 

Conclusion 

Project management is a challenging task, and managing a project can be overwhelming. With so many moving parts, it can be difficult to keep track of everything and ensure that your project is on track. This is where the project dashboard comes in. A project dashboard is a powerful solution that can help you overcome the challenges of managing a project. They provide real-time insights into your project's progress, improve decision-making, enhance communication, and increase efficiency. By including the right metrics and information in your project dashboard, you can stay on top of your project's performance and make informed decisions that lead to better project outcomes. 

How TrueProject’s Dashboard Can Be the Differentiator 

TrueProject is a powerful predictive intelligence solution that can help organizations overcome the challenges of leading projects. With an automated project dashboard, TrueProject provides real-time insights into project progress, improves decision-making, enhances communication, and increases efficiency. With its user-friendly interface and customizable features, TrueProject streamlines communication enhances collaboration, and facilitates data-driven decision-making, revolutionizing the way projects are delivered. TrueProject offers a centralized location for all your important project key performance indicators (KPIs), offering a bird's-eye view of your project's status. By including the right metrics and information in your project dashboard, you can stay on top of your project's performance and make informed decisions that lead to better project outcomes. With TrueProject's predictive analytics, you can proactively assess project health, identify potential risks, and make informed decisions to keep your projects on track. TrueProject is the optimal product for organizations looking to enhance their project management processes and achieve organizational success.   

More information on TrueProject at trueprojectinsight.com

Brian Eckert

 

About the Author:
Brian Eckert is the Director of Engineering for TrueProject. Brian has 30+ years of experience in software development and process. He specializes in Requirements Analysis, Software Project Management, and SDLC. 

 




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