What do you do if your team is struggling to choose the right project management software?

Assess your needs Before you start browsing through different software platforms, you need to have a clear idea of what you need from them. What are the goals, scope, and requirements of your project? What are the roles, responsibilities, and skills of your team members? What are the communication, collaboration, and reporting methods you use? What are the tools, systems, and processes you already have in place? By answering these questions, you can define your criteria and priorities for choosing the right software.

With your criteria set, evaluate software platforms for features that match your project's needs. Look for tools that offer robust project tracking, resource management, and reporting capabilities. Ensure the platform supports your team's workflow and enhances collaboration. Prioritize software that integrates with your existing tools and offers scalability. The ideal software will streamline your processes, facilitate effective communication, and provide insightful analytics to guide your project to success, all while being user-friendly and cost-effective.

I think a great idea is to choose a “product champion” who is responsible for assessing fit to requirements. An entire team only has so much bandwidth to learn and assess a product or platform.

Involving your team ensures the software chosen aligns with everyone's needs and preferences. Encourage open dialogue about potential challenges and training requirements. This collaborative approach not only aids in selecting the most suitable software but also promotes a sense of ownership among team members. The right software should not only fulfill technical specifications but also resonate with the team's culture, ultimately leading to a more cohesive and productive work environment.

If the team is struggling then the requirements should be revisited. Remember that project management software all operate on the basic fundamentals of project management. So a core set of requirements should be quickly satisfied then. But if there specific requirements which aren't being met, then it may require customization and that I do not recommend that. Possibly brint in other stakeholders whom can share requirements or create a workgroup to refine the requirements.

Making a decision is the intended and desired outcome of such a project. The thought I want to offer is that, when a problem arises, it is presented to someone/s to solve. The appointed solving group receives the problem and 'owns' the problem collectively. Each person has part of a responsibility to contribute to the resolution. Here is the key. Set out the problems, let people claim a task or ask a particular person to handle something if need be. then leave them alone and let them solve their part of the problem. Applying this idea here means letting it happen at all levels as a project proceeds. You probably don't want robots for your staff.Build incremental decisions until you get there. Ask for a result. Don't give instructions.