Features Your Project Management Software Must Have

Management blogger

Managing a project can be a very exhausting task, considering one has to manage different modules of all the projects, read large amounts of files, check each minute detail and bring out the relevant information. This is where project management softwares come to your rescue. However, it is important to know that for efficient management, a software that possesses some key features should be wisely chosen. Here are a few of those:

1. Flexibility

Whenever you start with a project, there are some requirements you enlist. However, these requirements keep changing from time to time and thus you will have to add or subtract a few things from your planned schedule. It is also important that all of these changes are conveyed to your employees, and the project management software you use, should be able to involve the whole team.

2. Easy usability

The software you use should be simple. You would not want your employees to waste their time on first understanding every minor detail of the software and then working on it. It should not require formal training, before the employees can actually start working on it. Anybody who has basic computer and software knowledge should be able to work with it.

3. Multi user login

A project is not handled by one person. It requires the inputs from your employees, clients, vendors etc. Therefore, it is important that the software you buy or develop, has multi-login functionality. However, you should be able to grant them access points, ensuring the security of the project. Each and every one should not be able to access all the modules of the software, and be given accessibility to only those modules, on which they need to work.

4. File sharing:

A lot of people are involved when work is being done on a project. This means each and every person has their work-station, where they complete their designated job. However, it is important that each and every change made by one employee, is reflected in everybody’s copy. This implies that the software should be centralized. A good idea is to have a -check in- and -check out- feature in the software. If a person tries to access a document which is already being used by another user, then the former would be alerted for the same; the document would be given a -checked out- status.

5. Platform Independence/Not Operating system specific:

The software to be developed should be able to work on any simple operating system. This will make it more popular amongst a lot of users, owing to its ease of being able to work on any OS.

6. Internet enabled:

Having an internet-enabled software is extremely important for a well-coordinated project. One should never take the risk of taking an offline project management software. It does not allow one to reflect changes in the entire system and is a complete failure.

These are some of the main features a software should have; apart from the ones listed, a calendar which reminds you of the set deadline, automatic e-mail notification, Gantt charts are other important features.

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The Value of Time Management

Management blogger

The advantages of time management include reducing stress, gaining time, reducing avoidance, while promoting reviews and eliminating cramming. Another advantage is that managing time helps us to stay motivated while we avoid procrastination.

The trick to successful time management is setting up goals that work, while having an awareness of those goals and prioritizing your list of goals. When you set up an effective time management plan, you are growing and upholding a personal commitment to yourself, with the ability to be more flexible.

When you have a great time management plan, you are giving yourself an individual chance to, to generate a timetable that works to suit your busy caseload. When you create a good plan, you will soon find time to do all the things that matter most to you in life. In addition, when you have a good time management plan, you are saving your health.

Plans have a schedule timed, which includes all the activities you are responsible to handle. Your Master Timetable should include all the most important activities you are responsible to handle. It is important that you modify this schedule according to your time changes. When you set up a Master Timetable, you will need to list the priorities first, and work your way down to the least important tasks.

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It is important that you follow as you write the tasks first listed. In other words, if you state on your Master Timetable that you need to write up some documents for your business, then do this task first and proceed to the next task. Try to avoid handling multitasking at once, unless it is your job and you are sufficient, and have laid out a time management plan.

You will also need to include meals, sleep, family, friends, yourself, and other tasks if you they are a part of your time management. By setting up a Master Timetable, you can work out your time scheme by working through the list on the time chart. Try to avoid skipping a scheduled task, or procrastinating, since this will only delay your plan.

It is important to keep in mind, that time is essential. When we waste time, we are wasting money. After you have laid out a suitable Schedule Timetable, you will soon learn that your motivation has increased, while your progress is moving ahead. In addition, you will soon find that your stress level is at a normal state. When you are not focused, or do not have a time management plan, you are only hurting yourself in the long run.

Most people without a time management plan often suffer with poor health, insomnia, and other discomforting issues. Some people even find themselves in court waiting for the judge to say “You are now divorced.” So you can see that time management is important since it affects everyone around you, but most of all, it affects you.

A final tip: Exercise and eating right plays an essential role to time management, since when you feel good, you work well under a management plan.

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Returns Management Challenges for the Modern Day Supply Chain

Management blogger

A company’s supply chain is a vital component for managing both short term and long-term cash flows and cost savings. However, the lack of inventory planning, ineffective techniques and inefficient supply chain processes has a major effect on the company’s profitability. Nevertheless, the current business scenario with its globalized environment and widespread offices demands organizations with critical strategies to ensure a smooth flow of products and services to the customers. Under such tight circumstances, managing the reverse flow of products becomes a bigger issue to be dealt with.

Viewing critically, the reverse flow of products can be a source of opportunities for organizations to wade through during difficult times. Effective returns management can positively impact the financial condition of the organizations and pave way for stronger customer relationships. From the financial viewpoint, returns are negative adjustment of sales. Organization needs to consider the operational cost of the returns as unlike the case of forward logistics, this incurs more transportation costs, inventory carrying costs and warehouse space, all leading to higher cost of returns besides impacting customer loyalty and relationships.

Today’s global business environment with all the legal compliances has placed returns management as a challenge for effective supply base management. Since in the supply chain, the product can be returned from any member of the value network, the supply chain consulting organizations work towards understanding the cause of returns. This will pave way for improved decision-making in the supply chain process. The leaders in the industry sector have designed and developed integrated return product management system that would help enterprises with efficient management of the returns process.

Returns management being a cross-functional process, the major ground rules for its effectiveness include,

* Considering returns management as a strategic point under the broader strategies of supply chain solutions.

* Developing appropriate policies to enhance profitability and strengthen customer relationships.

* Develop effective quality control and gate keeping policies so as to ensure that the products don’t enter the return flow.

* Develop operational procedures to handle returns, including policies to resell returns products through the forward logistics chain.

Aligning performance metrics of returns management with the forward logistics strategies.

The common procedures used by most organizations in managing return goods include destruction of the retuned materials, warranty assessment, testing and repair, try to upgrade the software or hardware of the products in question, refurbishment and even repackaging. However, the returns management services developed by the leaders in the industry are world-class. It tends to remove the pitfalls that result in return and rework. Further, to maintain customer loyalty, the returns management service provides customers with a hassle free return system with returns materials authorization support, warranty returns, testing and debugging, repackaging and refurbishment along with web based reporting.

Read more on : Rack And Stack, Reverse Logistics

Time Management Techniques 3 Effective Techniques To Manage Your Time

Management blogger

Just think about the various things an average person would have to do in a day and compare that with what the average person would rather do in a day. In order for you to achieve balance in your work and personal life, you must use good time management techniques. Not having any could result in total chaos.

Time Management Technique # 1: Find Out Where Your Time Is Wasted.

If you spend 4 hours in the bathroom, an hour to put on makeup and another hour to choose what to wear, but complain the whole day about not having enough time, your time management routine is a big mess.

Spending too much time on an activity to the detriment of other tasks is the most obvious sign that you are indeed wasting a lot of time.

For you to be able to correct this, think of what things you need to do throughout the day and how long each task is supposed to take you. Being aware of your activities would allow you to be more conscious of your limited time; and thus, would help you schedule the things to do for the day.

Time Management Technique # 2: Set Objectives.

Time management, by nature, is geared towards the objective of finishing all the activities you have to do in just 24 hours. You will never be able to change how much time you have (we all have 24 hours to spend), but the objective here is to change your attitude towards how you budget your limited time.

First, try to think about where you waste most of your time and work slowly to eliminate each of them. Not having any of them would make you more productive and would give you a lot of more free time. While working on this, also keep track of your improvement over the coming days. You should see a big difference in a short time.

Time Management Technique # 3: Set Time Limits.

Another reason why people would waste a lot of time is that they ignore the fact that time is limited. They lose the pressure that would naturally propel them to work at their own pace.

In order for this to be corrected, set time limits for each given task. Give yourself a healthy number of minutes to finish a task, rather than give yourself the whole day for it and later complain about not getting things done.

To recap, the 3 time management techniques you need to apply are: 1) Know where your time is being wasted; 2) Set objectives; and 3) Set time limits. Its time to manage your time effectively.

Green Data Centers – Ecofriendly Data Management

Management blogger

No matter which part of the word we talk about, computers have become a way of life for most of us. Adding to this, globalization of internet services has made it inevitable for businesses to maintain a notable web presence. Almost every company uses computers to facilitate its functions and improve its products and services. Considering the reliance we have on computers, it becomes safe to say that the need for efficient data management solutions is here to stay. When it comes to high performance data storage solutions, not every company can afford to have them in-house. Keeping this in mind, facilities dedicated to housing and leasing data storage solutions called data centers came into existence. However, due to the high emission level of these power hungry data warehouses, they have always been a threat to our planet’s ecological balance. To address these issues, Telecommunications Industry Association or TIA for short (the body governing data center architecture) revised the architectural norms of these data centers.

Data centers built under the revised norms are referred to as green data centers as they are much more ecofriendly than their traditional counterparts. While retaining old features such as redundant power and cooling, round the clock technical help, and highly secure data storage environment, the guidelines for the architecture of green data centers also require the providers to use lead free construction material, catalytic converters on power generators, solar panels for reducing dependence on conventional power generation methods and ecofriendly cooling system.

When looking for a data center provider, you must ensure that the data center you choose is built as per the new guidelines prescribed by TIA. Opting for traditional data center would do nothing but increase your company’s carbon footprints and contribute towards hampering the ecological balance of our dear planet. Furthermore, due to green data centers relatively newer than their traditional counterparts, chances are that you will find superior data storage solutions at these newer facilities.

If you think it is your duty to save the planet from the atrocities of rising pollution, you can easily find a suitable green data center provider using any web search engine. However, before you close a deal, always consider factors such as the facility’s record uptime, vulnerability of the area to natural calamities and their past record. To help you make up your mind, it is recommended to go through reviews written by viable providers’ existing clients.

The author is an experienced Content writer and publisher on the topics related to green data centers and data center providers.