In today's fast-paced business environment, completing projects on time is crucial for organizations to stay competitive. However, one common roadblock that can hinder project completion is the lengthy and convoluted approval process. In this article, we will explore strategies for refining approval processes to achieve faster project completion, increased team productivity, and improved overall efficiency.
Understanding the Current Approval Process
The current approval process is a critical component of any organization's workflow. It ensures that important decisions are made by the right people and that all necessary checks and balances are in place. However, like any process, it is not immune to inefficiencies or obstacles that can hinder productivity and delay progress.
Identifying Bottlenecks in the Approval Chain
One of the first steps in understanding the current approval process is to identify the bottlenecks in the approval chain. These bottlenecks can arise from unnecessary approval steps, lack of clear communication channels, or stakeholders who are overloaded with approval requests.
Unnecessary approval steps: Slow down the entire process, causing frustration and delays for all parties involved. By carefully examining each step in the approval chain, we can determine if any steps can be eliminated or streamlined without compromising the integrity of the process.
Unclear communication channels: When stakeholders are unsure of where to send their approval requests or how to communicate their decisions, it can lead to confusion and unnecessary delays. By establishing clear guidelines and providing stakeholders with the necessary tools and information, we can ensure that communication flows seamlessly throughout the approval process.
Stakeholders who are overloaded with approval requests: When individuals have too many approvals on their plate, it can lead to delays as they struggle to prioritize and complete their tasks. By understanding the workload and constraints of each stakeholder, we can distribute approvals more evenly and prevent any one person from becoming overwhelmed.
The Role of Stakeholders in the Approval Process
Another aspect to consider is the role of stakeholders in the approval process. Understanding their responsibilities and constraints enables us to streamline the process by assigning appropriate approvals to the right stakeholders.
Recognize that each stakeholder has a unique perspective and specific expertise: By identifying the specific areas in which they excel, we can assign approvals accordingly, so that decisions are made by those with the most knowledge and experience in each particular area.
Understand the constraints of each stakeholder: Some stakeholders may have limited availability due to other responsibilities or time constraints. By taking these constraints into account, we can adjust timelines and allocate approvals in a way that minimizes delays and maximizes efficiency.
Streamlining approval processes has a direct impact on project timelines and team productivity. By eliminating unnecessary steps and optimizing the flow of approvals, projects can be completed in reduced timeframes.
Impact on Project Timeline
Delays in approvals often result in project delays. When a project is dependent on multiple approvals, any hold-up in the process can cause a ripple effect, pushing back the entire timeline. This can be frustrating for both the project team and stakeholders.
Therefore, refining approval processes helps minimize the time spent waiting for approvals and will keep the project on track. This means identifying bottlenecks and unnecessary steps in the approval chain and finding ways to eliminate or streamline them. For example, implementing automated approval systems or setting clear deadlines for each approval can help expedite the process.
What's more, streamlining approval processes can improve communication and collaboration within the project team. When everyone is aware of the approval requirements and the expected timeline, it becomes easier to coordinate tasks and oversee a smooth project execution.
Enhancing Team Productivity
A streamlined approval process reduces the burden on teams and improves their overall productivity. It allows them to focus on their core tasks rather than waiting for approvals or chasing stakeholders. When approval processes are convoluted and time-consuming, it not only affects the project timeline but also hampers the productivity of the team. Employees may find themselves spending excessive time on administrative tasks, such as preparing and submitting approval requests, rather than focusing on their primary responsibilities.
By streamlining approval processes, teams can allocate their time and energy more effectively. They can dedicate their efforts to tasks that directly contribute to project success, such as brainstorming innovative ideas, executing project plans, and delivering high-quality work.
Additionally, a streamlined approval process fosters a sense of empowerment and autonomy among team members. When they can easily navigate the approval chain and receive timely responses, they feel more confident in their ability to make decisions and move the project forward.
Strategies for Refining Approval Processes
Now that we understand the importance of streamlining approval processes, let's explore some strategies to achieve this.
Implementing Automation
Establish predefined approval workflows, so that each approval request follows a standardized path. This eliminates the need for manual intervention at each step, saving time and reducing the chances of errors or bottlenecks.
Allows for the integration of approval processes with other systems, such as document management or project management tools, further enhancing efficiency.
Set up notifications and reminders for pending approvals, so that stakeholders are aware of their responsibilities and can take timely action. By reducing the time spent on administrative tasks, employees can focus on more value-added activities, contributing to overall productivity.
Prioritizing Approvals for Critical Project Phases
Not all approvals carry equal weightage. It is essential to identify critical project phases and prioritize approvals accordingly. By doing so, organizations ensure that crucial decisions are made promptly without unnecessary delays.
Consider the impact of each approval on the project timeline and overall success. For example, approvals related to project initiation or key deliverables should be given higher priority than those related to minor tasks or non-critical activities.
Implement expedited approval processes for urgent or time-sensitive requests. By having a separate pathway for such approvals, you can expedite decision-making and prevent project delays.
Training and Communication for Effective Approval Processes
Refining approval processes involves more than just implementing technology. Proper training and clear communication are equally important aspects.
Role of Training in Process Improvement
During the training sessions, stakeholders will learn about the different stages of the approval process, including the submission of requests, the review and evaluation of those requests, and the final decision-making. They will also be introduced to the various roles involved, such as the requesters, approvers, and administrators.
Also, the training will cover the specific criteria and guidelines that need to be followed when assessing requests. They will complete practical exercises and learn about case studies to apply their knowledge and develop their skills in handling different types of requests. This hands-on experience will enable them to become more efficient and effective in their roles, ultimately contributing to a smoother and faster approval process.
Ensuring Clear Communication Channels
Clear communication channels play a crucial role in refining approval processes. By establishing transparent communication channels, stakeholders can easily seek clarifications, provide feedback, and ensure that the approval process flows smoothly.
Implement a centralized communication platform, such as a project management tool or a dedicated email thread. This platform will serve as a hub for all communication related to the approval process, allowing stakeholders to easily access and track the progress of requests.
Regular meetings and updates can be scheduled to discuss any issues or concerns that arise during the approval process. These meetings can provide an opportunity for stakeholders to share their experiences, suggest improvements, and address any bottlenecks or challenges they may be facing.
Clear communication channels should include a feedback mechanism, where stakeholders can provide their input on the approval process. This feedback can be collected through surveys, feedback forms, or even informal discussions.
Monitoring and Improving the New Approval Process
Refining approval processes is an ongoing effort. Once the new process is implemented, it is crucial to continually monitor and improve it further.
Define key performance indicators (KPIs) specific to these processes. These KPIs can help track important metrics such as average approval time, number of rejected approvals, and overall process efficiency.
Encourage stakeholders to provide feedback and suggestions on how to enhance the approval processes. This fosters a culture of improvement, where everyone is actively involved in making the processes more efficient and effective.
Here are several ways to continuously improve the approval process.
Implement automation: By automating repetitive tasks and reducing manual intervention, organizations can expedite project completion and enhance team productivity. Automation can also help eliminate errors and ensure consistency in the approval process.
Prioritize approvals: By categorizing approvals based on their urgency or impact, you can ensure that critical approvals are expedited, while non-essential ones are given appropriate attention. This helps in optimizing the overall efficiency of the approval process and prevents unnecessary delays.
Invest in training and communication: By providing comprehensive training to all stakeholders involved in the process, businesses can make sure that everyone understands their roles and responsibilities. Clear communication channels should be established to facilitate effective collaboration and timely decision-making.
Refine Approval Processes with Wrike
Refining approval processes is key to achieving faster project completion. With Wrike, you can easily manage and refine your approval processes. Wrike allows you to create individual folders for each project, serving as a central hub for all relevant information and updates.
Beyond just refining approval processes, Wrike offers a comprehensive suite of tools designed to foster collaboration, and drive productivity. From real-time communication to intuitive task management features, Wrike provides everything you need to refine approval processes for faster project completion.
Ready to refine your approval processes and achieve faster project completion? There's no better time to start than now. Get started with Wrike for free today.
Note: This article was created with the assistance of an AI engine. It has been reviewed and revised by our team of experts to ensure accuracy and quality.
Wrike Team
Occasionally we write blog posts where multiple people contribute. Since our idea of having a gladiator arena where contributors would fight to the death to win total authorship wasn’t approved by HR, this was the compromise.
Dark Matter of Work: The Cost of Work Complexities in The PMO
Efficiency is everything for organizations – especially as we face a possible recession and mass layoffs continue. Plus, the way we work continues to evolve and become more complex, causing efficiency to suffer even more.
Over the past few years, modern work complexities have been eating away at your bottom line through an invisible yet powerful presence in your organization — what we call the Dark Matter of Work. Just as CERN identified Dark Matter as the “invisible” content that makes up 95% of the mass of the universe, the Dark Matter of Work represents activity and details that we can’t immediately see but that have a significant influence on everything around it.
From the tools we use to conduct our work to where and when we execute it, work complexities have truly exploded in recent years and will only become more complicated over time — making it increasingly difficult for employees and business leaders to get visibility into work and truly understand work in progress.
Wrike is focused on shining a light on the Dark Matter of Work. That’s why we recently commissioned research to investigate its impact on PMO leaders, employees, and organizations as a whole. We wanted to understand to what extent Dark Matter exists and discover the financial cost of Dark Matter affecting us all. The results are staggering and can point PMOs towards key ways they can increase efficiency to endure the unknown economic future.
Let’s explore the results.
Impact on the PMO
While we cannot “see” the Dark Matter of Work, we can identify where it exists. It lives in synchronous applications and unstructured work, such as instant message threads and video calls, as well as the gaps between systems and applications that aren’t integrated. Without a single work platform that is powerful and versatile enough to track, manage, action, and align all work to goals across an organization, there exists a dangerously low level of visibility amongst knowledge workers and leaders.
At present, most project managers and PMO leaders generally have little visibility into the work their teams are doing and cannot track the progress of much of that work in real time. And if we ask knowledge workers, they say employer visibility into their work is even lower — suggesting there may be more Dark Matter of Work than we think.
Wasted time
Time wasted on activities such as repeating work that’s already been done, attending unproductive meetings, or following up on actions and statuses costs the average enterprise millions.
The cost of the Dark Matter of Work
The total cost of Dark Matter for PMOs and project managers is quite substantial and will continue to increase exponentially unless addressed.
Low visibility
For business and PMO leaders, visibility into work has only increased slightly since 2020 — from 48% to 51%. And other project managers are struggling to view their assignments and expectations.
More human costs
Amid the Great Resignation, the mass layoffs, and the continuing remote work environment, PMOs must work to address the human costs of the Dark Matter of Work, as well.
Too many applications
As hybrid work continues, PMOs rely more and more on applications to stay connected. But many of these tech tools do not integrate with each other, decreasing visibility, increasing wasted time, and resulting in duplicative work. Plus, app integration is also moving at a slow pace from 2020 (43%) to now (49%).
Looking ahead
If left unchecked, Dark Matter will increase by 42% in the next five years. According to the survey, the projected cost of Dark Matter in 2027 looks to be:
How can you minimize these costs? A single source of truth is essential. PMOs need a solution that is robust enough to manage and orchestrate complex workflows and simple enough for team members to use. The organization with full visibility into these workflows and applications and the data they create at all levels will be best equipped to overcome the impacts of the Dark Matter of Work and come out on top.
For more on the Dark Matter of Work, its costs, and the solutions, check out the full report here — and usher in a new age of digital collaboration. Or start a free two-week trial of Wrike today to see how our work management solution can centralize work and increase efficiency for your PMO!
Project Management
10 min read
Scrum Master vs. Project Manager: Key Differences
When it comes to managing projects, Scrum and traditional project management are the two most commonly used approaches. Although both aim to deliver projects successfully, they differ in their processes and methodologies. In this article, we will explore the differences between a Scrum master vs. project manager and provide insights into their roles, responsibilities, and skill sets.
Take your project management skills to the next level with Wrike’s advanced features, designed to support both Scrum and traditional project management methodologies. Claim a 14-day free trial of Wrike to explore the differences and similarities in practice.
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The difference between Scrum master and project manager
Before we dive into the differences between the two, let’s first define Scrum and project management.
Defining Scrum
Scrum is an Agile project management methodology that enables teams to deliver high-quality products and involves regular reviews and feedback sessions. It is repetitive and focuses on delivering features in short sprints. Scrum teams typically consist of a Scrum master, product owner, and development team members.
Defining project management
On the other hand, traditional project management is a methodology that is more linear in nature. It aims to plan, control, and execute a project successfully, step by step. This involves defining goals, analyzing resources, developing timelines, and monitoring progress. Project managers are responsible for overseeing the project’s delivery and ensuring it meets the objectives.
Roles and responsibilities of a Scrum master
The Scrum master is a critical role in any Agile development team. They make sure the team follows the Scrum methodology and delivers high-quality work on time and within budget. Essentially, the Scrum master is a servant leader who collaborates with the development team. They also work with the product owner and other stakeholders to ensure that everyone is aligned and working toward achieving the project’s objectives.
Facilitate Scrum events
The Scrum master arranges and leads Scrum activities like sprint planning, daily standups, sprint reviews, and sprint retrospectives. During these events, the Scrum master ensures that the team stays focused and on track. Any issues or challenges that may be hindering progress are identified and addressed to boost the team’s overall productivity.
Sprint planning requires collaborating with the product owner and development team to create a sprint backlog that outlines the work to be completed during the sprint. Scrum masters clarify the sprint goals for the team, so that everybody knows what must be accomplished.
Daily standups involve ensuring that everyone on the team is following the Scrum framework and is aware of each teammate’s progress. Scrum masters identify any roadblocks and work with the team to remove them.
Sprint reviews require communication with the team to review all completed tasks during the sprint. The work must meet the definition of ‘Completed,’ so that the Scrum master can assist the product owner in updating the product backlog based on the team’s progress.
Lastly, sprint retrospectives involve identifying areas for improvement and assisting the team in developing a subsequent action plan. Scrum masters also ensure that the team is continuously learning and improving.
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Coach the team
The Scrum master is responsible for coaching the development team on Scrum principles and practices. The team must understand and follow the Scrum framework and continuously improve their processes and practices.
Areas for improvement are identified and addressed by the Scrum master alongside the team. They provide guidance and support to ensure that everyone is aligned and working toward achieving the project’s objectives.
Remove roadblocks
The Scrum master finds and removes obstacles that stop the team from delivering good features. They collaborate with the development team, product owner, and others to ensure the team has what it needs for success.
Teams are aided by the Scrum master to identify and address any issues or challenges that may be hindering progress. They work with the team to remove roadblocks that slow down productivity.
Ensure transparency and collaboration
The Scrum master is responsible for fostering transparency and collaboration within the team and between the team and stakeholders. They ensure that everyone is aware of the project’s progress and that the team is working toward achieving its objectives.
They also work with the product owner to ensure that the product backlog is transparent and that everyone understands the priorities and goals of the project.
Roles and responsibilities of a project manager
The project manager, in contrast to the Scrum master, oversees the entire project life cycle and works closely with stakeholders. Their key responsibilities include:
Define project scope and objectives
Defining the project scope means identifying the boundaries of the project and determining what is included and excluded. This step is important to make sure the project stays on track and the team members know what they have to do.
Outlining the objectives requires identifying the specific outcomes that the project is expected to achieve. This ensures the project matches the organization’s goals and that everyone is working toward the same outcome.
Identifying the resources required to deliver the project involves determining what people, equipment, and materials are needed. This makes sure the project has enough resources and avoids delays or bottlenecks caused by a lack of resources.
Develop a project plan
Developing a comprehensive project plan involves breaking down the project into smaller, more manageable tasks. This allows the team to keep track of tasks and deadlines. Creating timelines ensures that the project is completed on time and maintains a sense of organization.
Identify and manage risks and issues
This means anticipating potential problems that may arise during the project and developing strategies to address them. Doing this makes sure the project isn’t affected by surprises and the team is ready to deal with any problems.
The project manager must also work with stakeholders to address these and ensure that the project remains on track. This means tracking the team’s progress against the project plan and crafting solutions. This could include adjusting the project plan or allocating additional resources to address the issue.
Ensure quality
Project managers must confirm that their team’s work meets project requirements and the tasks’ criteria. Additionally, they need to make sure that it follows relevant standards or regulations. This may involve developing quality standards and processes, conducting quality reviews, and providing feedback to the team.
Comparing the skill sets of Scrum masters and project managers
Although both roles focus on delivering projects, they require different skill sets. Some of the key differences include:
Leadership styles
Scrum masters typically follow a servant-leadership style, where they lead by example, empower the team, and prioritize the team’s needs. They believe in serving the team members rather than managing them. They act as a coach, mentor, and facilitator, allowing the team to self-organize and make its own decisions. Scrum masters also encourage collaboration, continuous improvement, and innovation.
Project managers lead and make decisions for the team, using an authoritative leadership style. They are responsible for ensuring that the project is completed within the desired budget, scope, and timeline. Project managers have the power to give tasks, distribute resources, and make important choices. They also check task progress and update stakeholders.
Communication skills
Scrum masters need good communication skills to help teams work together and be open. They talk to team members, stakeholders, and customers every day. They also need to be good listeners, effectively understanding the needs and concerns of the team and addressing them promptly.
Although project managers also need strong communication skills, they often focus more on communicating project progress to stakeholders and addressing all of their concerns. Therefore, project managers must be good negotiators, effectively resolving conflicts and reaching agreements.
Problem solving abilities
Scrum masters need to be skilled problem solvers, as they often address issues that arise during the development process. They must be able to identify the root cause of the problem, propose solutions, and implement them. They also encourage the team to come up with creative solutions and experiment with new ideas.
As for project managers, they also need to have strong problem solving skills. However, they tend to focus more on risk management and identifying risks. They must be able to anticipate potential problems and develop contingency plans. They must evaluate the risks’ effect on the project and take suitable steps to reduce them.
Adaptability and flexibility
Scrum masters need to be adaptable and flexible to pivot their approach and adapt to changes as the project progresses. They must be able to embrace change and encourage the team to do the same. They also need to be able to adjust the scope, timeline, and budget of the project to accommodate changes.
Project managers must do the same, even though they tend to develop and follow a more rigid plan. They must be able to adjust the plan as needed while ensuring that the project stays within the scope, timeline, and budget. Project managers also must balance the needs of the stakeholders with the needs of the team.
Conclusion
Both project managers and Scrum masters play critical roles in delivering projects successfully. However, they differ in their methodologies, responsibilities, and skill sets.
If you’re looking to adopt an Agile methodology that focuses on iterative delivery, Scrum may be for you. But if you’re looking for a more structured approach to a project, traditional project management may be a better fit. Ultimately, it comes down to your team’s objectives, resources, and constraints.
Get acquainted with the unique roles and responsibilities of Scrum masters and project managers, and then watch your projects thrive with Wrike’s collaboration-focused platform. Begin your free trial now and amplify efficiency across your Agile-oriented organization.
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Note: This article was created with the assistance of an AI engine. It has been reviewed and revised by our team of experts to ensure accuracy and quality.
Project Management
10 min read
Workflow diagram examples for process management
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