Over time, solid processes led to consistent use of tools, and a radically simplified SharePoint site template was born. Project sites at this organization were used more as a place to archive project documents.Īs this organization established a PMO to manage its first major IT project (the intranet), its processes solidified. Project documents we uploaded only once at the end of the project Some team members never logged in to check if they have access to their project site In other words, the template was there, but it was disconnected from how PMs worked. The PMs did use a template to create sites for each new project but didn’t use it as a daily tool. To fix the issue, this organization hired a consultant to set up their project site template and train PMs on how to use it. Some PMs were tech-savvy, while others were not.Įvery PM picked a tool to fit their style. Some PMs favored communicating through task lists and checkboxes, whereas others liked weekly check-in calls. In this organization, project processes changed like seasons. This wasn’t a small organization, but it didn’t have a formal Project Management Office (PMO). Why would anyone not use the project site? An example might help.Ībout a year ago, we started work with an organization of about 1,000 employees. Project sites fail when they’re not used.
When are SharePoint project sites successful, and when do they fail? See examples below of what these project sites look like. Each project site keeps related resources and links in a single place. Most organizations create a SharePoint project site for each of their projects.
In addition, you can use SharePoint to track projects and enable these capabilities:Ĭentral place to store project documents and deliverablesĪ place to create and access a project plan Microsoft 365 has these main project management tools:Īllows you to create and access a project plan in SharePoint and more How do companies use SharePoint for project management?įirst, let’s see what project management applications are available in SharePoint and Microsoft 365. If your organization already owns Microsoft licenses, then you should at least consider using SharePoint for project management. In contrast, Microsoft 365 lets you audit and downgrade the license if a particular user no longer needs that software. Are all those licenses fully utilized? Or are some of them no longer used? The more software vendors you sign up with, the more different licenses you might pay for.Įach license can cost the company anywhere from $10 to over $100 per user. Each new software leads to a fragmented user experience. In contrast, imagine having a separate user experience and separate login for each PM application, separate security groups, and separate retention and governance rules. Being able to switch between all these PM applications with a single Microsoft 365 login is a big advantage to enterprises.