Dec 20, 2021

Published Dec. 20, 2021 SPONSORED CONTENT BY The official countdown to 2022 is right around the corner. As a change leader, what have you pledged to do to help boost your company's effectiveness in the new year? Now is the time to evaluate your current plan, and a great place to start is by examining the project management efforts across your organization. According to independent software discovery comparison resource SaasList, project management challenges typically cost companies $109 million for every $1 billion invested. What's more, one in six IT projects have a cost overrun of 200 percent. And while you may have a standardized project management system in place, such as best-of-breed software application Smartsheet®, there are still challenges that can occur and have a major impact on your business. The key to tackling them is first to understand their cause and then to equip yourself with the tools you need to both manage the challenges and optimize the solution. The challenges The successful adoption of a project management software system can allow your company to unlock its full potential, but oftentimes the journey to that outcome can be difficult and frustrating. And even though you know you've chosen the right software solution, you may be left wondering why it's not living up to your expectations. Fortunately, Brainstorm, Inc . has pinpointed why things go awry during the often arduous process. Creatures of habit: Many employees are resistant to change and would prefer to maintain the status quo. Getting comfortable with new technology takes time and effort, and employees often already feel overwhelmed with their workload. They also might be a bit fearful of trying something new. Leading the way: When you don't have change leaders within your organization who are willing to adopt the tech solution you've chosen, as well as model that behavior for others, employees at all levels will balk at the change too. Encouraging technology adoption requires willing champions. Effective training: Software adoption and implementation requires personalized training that is digestible and thorough. While many systems have built-in training and support, it may not be as extensive as you need or allow you to customize it to your workforce's varied needs. Beyond the basics: Often, project management software can do so much more than you realize. You simply may not know how to maximize the solution and get the most out of your investment. And if you don't take a novel approach, then you could be missing opportunities to do just that. An innovative solution Project management software providers do a great job of giving you the fundamental information you need to implement their solutions. However, that support is typically focused on the implementation team, while end-users rely on static training resources. This is precisely where BrainStorm can help. For Smartsheet users, BrainStorm recently added new content to QuickHelpTM, a training platform that delivers content in a variety of formats to provide individuals with the ability to learn the software in their own way. The intuitive platform, which features everything from videos and live events to documents and practice scenarios, covers a myriad of Smartsheet features and use-cases. QuickHelp delivers easy-to-digest lessons that encourage and reinforce learning with bite-sized videos and hands-on practice. What's more, as the learning progresses, users are introduced to out-of-the-box methods for using Smartsheet so they can go beyond its most recognized services. This transforms the software into a truly customized and comprehensive resource. Additionally, QuickHelp provides leadership with reporting so they can see how their learning and adoption efforts are received. To help your company remain adaptable through 2022 and beyond, QuickHelp also supports Microsoft 365 and Microsoft Teams, enabling a more unified training approach that creates even more value. With things moving so fast these days, it can be hard to keep up with the software adoption needs of employees across your organization. However, working to understand the intricacies of change management can make a huge difference, as employees respond to that type of effort. And as 2022 gets underway, there is no better time to bring in new support services and applications to take your project management endeavors in a the right direction in the new year.