StanÂdarÂdiÂzed, OverÂarÂching ProÂject Organization
The UniÂverÂsiÂty of KonÂstanz has introÂduÂced the PLANTA proÂject manageÂment softÂware to improÂve its proÂject orgaÂnizaÂtiÂon. StanÂdarÂdiÂzed proÂcesÂses and modern techÂnoÂloÂgy optiÂmiÂze the planÂning and manageÂment of proÂjects, alloÂwing resourÂces to be manaÂged more effiÂciÂentÂly and straÂteÂgic objecÂtiÂves to be achieÂved more effectively.
The UniÂverÂsiÂty of KonÂstanz, one of the leaÂding eliÂte uniÂverÂsiÂties in GerÂmaÂny, has sucÂcessfulÂly introÂduÂced the PLANTA proÂject manageÂment softÂware to optiÂmiÂze its interÂnal proÂject and portÂfoÂlio manageÂment proÂcesÂses. The KarlsÂruÂhe-based softÂware manuÂfacÂtuÂrer is now proÂviÂding a pracÂtiÂcal insight into the initiÂal situaÂtiÂon, the objecÂtiÂves and the soluÂtiÂon approaÂches of this project.
PriÂor to the introÂducÂtion of this softÂware, the university’s cenÂtral sciÂence supÂport faciÂliÂties workÂed in a decenÂtraÂliÂzed manÂner and used difÂfeÂrent approaÂches and tools to manaÂge their proÂjects. TheÂre was no stanÂdarÂdiÂzed proÂcess for the planÂning, conÂtrolÂling or moniÂtoÂring of proÂjects, which led to inefÂfiÂciÂent proÂcesÂses. This resulÂted in insufÂfiÂciÂent conÂtrol over the university’s entiÂre proÂject portÂfoÂlio, which in turn led to resourÂce conÂflicts, overÂloaÂding of proÂject manaÂgers, delays and a lack of transÂfer to lineÂar proÂcesÂses. The uniÂverÂsiÂty also faced chalÂlenges when it came to transÂpaÂrent reportÂing and the assessÂment of the sucÂcess of impleÂmenÂted projects.
ObjecÂtiÂves of the ImpleÂmenÂtaÂtiÂon of PLANTA
With the introÂducÂtion of PLANTA, the UniÂverÂsiÂty of KonÂstanz wanÂted to achieÂve straÂtegy-comÂpliÂant and prioÂriÂtiÂzed planÂning and manageÂment of proÂjects. A data-based preÂsenÂtaÂtiÂon of the proÂject portÂfoÂlio should ensuÂre that all proÂjects are in line with the institution’s straÂteÂgic objecÂtiÂves. FleÂxiÂbiÂliÂty and dynaÂmic reacÂtions to chanÂges — espeÂciÂalÂly in resourÂce planÂning — were defiÂned as key requiÂreÂments for the soluÂtiÂon. The impleÂmenÂtaÂtiÂon of the softÂware should also ensuÂre stanÂdarÂdiÂzed and transÂpaÂrent reportÂing so that the proÂgress and perÂforÂmance of the proÂjects can be conÂtiÂnuousÂly moniÂtoÂred and communicated.
Using PLANTA sinÂce 2023
AccomÂpanyÂing StrucÂtuÂral Changes
In the courÂse of the softÂware introÂducÂtion, new steeÂring comÂmitÂtees were also set up, incluÂding the proÂject counÂcil, working groups and steeÂring comÂmitÂtees, in order to improÂve the coorÂdiÂnaÂtiÂon of the various proÂjects in the cenÂtral sciÂence-supÂportÂing instiÂtuÂtiÂons. AnoÂther important approach was the estabÂlishÂment of stanÂdards for reportÂing, for examÂpÂle for proÂject outÂlines, staÂtus reports, chanÂge reports and proÂject final reports. ParÂtiÂcuÂlar attenÂtiÂon was also paid to traiÂning employees, who were insÂtrucÂted in various proÂject manageÂment methods. The traiÂning courÂses were supÂpleÂmenÂted by keyÂnote speeÂches on topics such as KanÂban and retrospectives.
More EffiÂciÂent ProÂject Work
In addiÂtiÂon to theÂse important strucÂtuÂral chanÂges, the introÂducÂtion of the PLANTA ProÂject and PLANTA pulÂse softÂware soluÂtiÂons at the UniÂverÂsiÂty of KonÂstanz brought about signiÂfiÂcant techÂniÂcal supÂport. The softÂware enables a clear visuaÂlizaÂtiÂon of the proÂject portÂfoÂlio, wherÂeby proÂgress and delays are disÂplayÂed transÂparÂentÂly. StrucÂtuÂred task proÂcesÂsing takes place via KanÂban boards, which proÂmoÂtes effiÂciÂent colÂlaÂboÂraÂtiÂon in the proÂject groups. The preÂsenÂtaÂtiÂon of mileÂstoÂnes and depenÂdenÂciÂes is parÂtiÂcuÂlarÂly helÂpful and enables preÂcise proÂject planÂning. Thanks to the stanÂdarÂdiÂzed proÂcesÂses, proÂgress can be traÂcked in quarÂterÂly and final reports, which improÂves proÂject manageÂment. DanieÂla KariÂpiÂdis, conÂsulÂtant for proÂject and proÂject portÂfoÂlio manageÂment at the UniÂverÂsiÂty of KonÂstanz, emphaÂsiÂzes that the introÂducÂtion of the softÂware has signiÂfiÂcantÂly increased the transÂpaÂrenÂcy, effiÂciÂenÂcy and quaÂliÂty of proÂject work. The uniÂverÂsiÂty can now plan and manaÂge proÂjects betÂter and impleÂment its straÂteÂgic objecÂtiÂves more effectively.
The UniÂverÂsiÂty of KonÂstanz has impleÂmenÂted proÂject manageÂment and introÂduÂced proÂject and portÂfoÂlio manageÂment softÂware PLANTA to betÂter aliÂgn proÂjects with their straÂtegy. (Image source: UniÂverÂsiÂty of Konstanz)
