It takes many people to deliver a project, the practice of collaboration and teamwork is often necessary in order to complete a project, there is a downside. There could be times when team members who are sharing the same project management software, delete information that wasn’t meant to be deleted. Could be something as innocuous as change in dates without consultation, or otherwise make mistakes that can set a project back.
To ensure project management goes smoothly, then, it’s a smart idea to use project management software that comes with an activity feed. An activity feed tracks data in project management software, allowing teams to monitor real-time updates and therefore negating the need of sending emails to ask questions. Activity feeds let teams see what changes have been made, who made them, and whether the changes were made correctly or in error.
The specific data an activity feed tracks vary according to the exact software, but they generally track the following:
• Project creation.
• Task creation.
• Folder creation.
• Changes in project dates.
• Changes in assignees.
• Tags removed or added.
• Labels removed or added.
• Checklist items added.
• Checklist items completed.
• Time logged.
• Comments changed.
In order for a project to be successful, it needs to be successfully managed. This can only happen if everyone in the team is on the same wavelength. If tasks are being changed or even deleted without approval of the other team members, it can cause delays.
This is where an activity feed comes in. An activity feed is the quickest way for teams to learn about the latest updates and changes. It can highlight things such as when a change was made, as well as who made the modification. This then allows teams to open up communication so that they can learn whether a mistake was made, and if it was, rectify it as quickly as possible.
Moreover, each change is stored in the same location, which means that the team is able to respond to changes efficiently. An activity feed provides an overview of changes made within a task so that it can stay on track and up-to-date.
When selecting project management software, here are some activity feed features to be considered;
One of the most important features to look out for is the filtering option. A filtering option is beneficial because it allows the team to filter updates according to important tasks. This ensures that the feed is never clogged with information and tasks that aren’t a priority at the moment. Instead, only a notification when a change is made to a followed task is received.
Feed according to comments and changes on tasks that are assigned to particular team members, as well as tasks that have been created or commented on previously.
All in all, filtering options mean that team members aren’t distracted by constant updates that are largely irrelevant, but instead have personalized feeds.
Real time updates are important because they allow a reaction to changes as and when they happen. This is opposed to checking for updates periodically, at which point there may be too many updates to track, and the damage is thus irreversible. As activity feed pattern soon as a change is made, there is advice from the feed.
As such, it’s a good idea to find activity feeds that provides track updates instantly without having to reload the page.
When checking an activity feed, there is an ability to switch to default view so latest changes are on top. This allows a response to items as a matter of priority and urgency. It also helps with organization and allows for rectification of any potential mistakes almost as soon as they were made. This improves efficiency and workflow.
With an activity feed, the team is able to stay on track with a project via timely updates to tasks, folders and more. When looking for an activity feed, make sure to find one that’s got all the key features, and which enhances project management, allowing the personalization of feeds, get real-time updates and open up the lines of communication so that nothing gets missed. Let us know your approach to activity feeds and which software works best for you.
All the very best on your project management journey.