Many modern companies advocate a flat hierarchy. And although that makes it sound almost like there isn’t one, organizations and projects always have some sort of hierarchy.
When you unfold the different styles and ways to structure projects, you prevent them from turning into a hot mess. With the right project management structure, everyone in your team—and the teams around you—will know exactly who is what.
It’ll be so much easier to control work and make the best decisions for the project and, ultimately, the business.
In this article, you’ll learn what defines a project management structure and how to choose one. But more importantly, we’ll give you directions on how to easily create those structures in ClickUp !
Keep reading!
What Are Project Management Structures Used for?
A project management structure is used to clarify the hierarchy and, consequently, the report lines in a project. The structure outlines each project intervenient’s function and authority to supervise and make decisions.
These organizational structures take the shape of charts. And their value lies in being a reference for team members to go back to during the project’s execution .
After all, with employee attrition and turnover, project management structures change. And the same might happen during holidays and when you hire many new workers.
But the project might have just started, requiring the definition of its organizational structure. Or it might be so old that its organizational structure has changed over time.
It’s faster and more comfortable to check a chart in an accessible repository than bugging (sometimes various) colleagues asking whom to talk with to solve an urgent matter.
PROJECT MANAGEMENT OR PROJECT ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE? Some refer to these structures as “project organizational structures” instead of “project management structures.” That’s because they represent the organization of people around a project. And depending on the structure, the style of coordinating and managing the project team’s work and communication changes.
Nevertheless, any project management structure serves as a foundation for:
- Clear communication: Align all team members before and during a project on the expected kind of contribution each one will have to minimize conflictsEffective team collaboration options available on the market!
Using ClickUp Whiteboards to define project structures
Drag and drop shapes onto your canvas, connect your workflow together and work with your team at the same time in ClickUp Whiteboard
Whiteboards are especially suited for collaborating remotely and in real-time with managers and other executives while determining a project management structure.
The steps for creating mind maps still apply to designing organizational structures on Whiteboards. Yet, instead of creating a Mind Map on a Whiteboard, you can spice up your structures with other visual elements and diagramming restrictions.
In ClickUp Whiteboards, you can draw shapes and link them with connectors. You can also add sticky notes and text to your project management structures and upload image files, such as headshots or symbols, to distinguish positions.
Pro tip: Use ClickUp’s Introduction to Whiteboards template to get started.
Thoughts to Keep Top of Mind
When you pick the best organizational structure for your project, you’re optimizing talent and resources. And you’re laying out the foundation for efficient workflow management and high-performance teams.
Because without those two ingredients, clear project goals, and a vision, there’s no way you’d get the desired outcomes and quality. Connect with us ! And we’ll help you set up a project management structure that makes the best impact on your projects.