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Q: Our project management process needs to be updated to increase efficiency. We’ve been down this road before, and instead of getting more productive, we wasted both time and resources as we struggled to implement the new process, and eventually we went back to the way things were before. Any tips?

A: We have worked with many clients over the years with similar questions. Project management tools, like all organizational processes, are not a stand-alone feature of how your team works. Instead, these processes work hand-in-hand with your structure and your culture. We tend to run into problems when we don’t take into account how a new process will affect roles, responsibilities and cultural norms. The key to a smooth transition into new processes is to plan ahead; get you team engaged before implementing a new process to discuss what shifts or refinements need to be made to who does what, and to how the team’s interactions, communication, or accountabilities will need to change. And then be ready to be agile, aware, and open to feedback as you learn how to seamlessly incorporate this new process into your day-to-day workflow.