Project management is an all-encompassing term that’s only growing. While project management used to be limited to IT, it’s now affecting the entire world of business. Roles are changing and hiring trends are changing, and we’re all left to adapt with them.

Companies nowadays need to be aware of these changes to stay ahead of the competition. Those who fail to adapt will simply be left behind. To keep projects from going off the rails, we need to remember that technology is on our side. There shouldn’t be any hesitation to try new, efficient methods for getting things done. So what trends are shaping 2018? Let’s explore the 5 biggest project management trends you’re probably already seeing today.

1. Privacy and Data Security

We all know how detrimental data breaches can be on a company’s reputation. Every day there’s a new media story of another business that’s failed to protect consumer information. Hacking is a still a major problem no matter how advanced our technology gets.

No matter how big or small your company is, you’re not immune to attacks. Cybersecurity can’t be an afterthought of project managers today. It needs to be a vital part of the project every step of the way. This year we saw big changes in privacy laws, as well, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in Europe. We can expect to see more laws like these popping up in the near future.

2. Data Analytics

Big data is here to stay. If you’re not measuring your current data, you have no way of knowing how successful your projects are. As a project manager, whether you’re managing marketing or software development, you need to stay on top of your metrics. Luckily, it’s easier than ever to maintain your data today thanks to new analytic platforms and cloud-based systems like AWS CloudWatch.  

3. Monitoring

Another trend that ties into the rise of big data is monitoring. Today, you can’t afford to make any mistakes. If your website is down for even a few minutes, this can be detrimental to your entire business. The same is true if you’re working on a web application or mobile app. That’s why monitoring is becoming a new reality.

By monitoring your app, program, or server in real-time, you can anticipate problems before they occur. While you’ll never be able to prevent 100% of problems, you can greatly reduce the number of issues faced by your users through monitoring. Try the log analyzer by Papertrail to see for yourself why this technology is so valuable.

4. Remote Teams

Finally, the rise of remote work is the latest trend in project management. Many projects today are no longer managed entirely in-house. Instead, there’s an emphasis on finding talent from around the world, whether they’re full-time remote workers or freelancers. Remote work comes with its own limitations and benefits, but it does open project managers to more talent and resources beyond office borders.

5. Social Responsibility

The new generation of workers entering the workforce today has a new set of expectations. Millennials, in particular, look for companies that focus on giving back instead of just on profit. Sustainability and social responsibility are the new names of the game, and this extends to project managers as well. In the next few years, we can expect to see project managers looking for new ways to broaden their social and environmental reach within their projects.

As you can see from the trends above, we’re in the middle of a shift in the world of project management. There’s so much changing today, and it’s hard to keep up if you don’t stay on top of the trends. However, many of these changes are for the better. Thanks to new technology and a generation of new workers entering the professional landscape, things are becoming safer, more effective, and socially responsible.