Top Factors that Differentiate Project Management and Task Management

Nowadays, project management and task management terms are creating a buzz in the context of their similarities and differences. The project and tasks have a highly correlated relationship in the corporate world which is the key reason for confusion amongst people.  

Various teams handle many projects and tasks simultaneously in the office. It is imperative to monitor the task and project-related activities continuously to meet the deadline. But, here the question arises- what’s the difference between managing projects and tasks? And which software is most suitable for your team: project management software or task management software? In this blog, we will unfold the fact of how these two terms are different from each other.

Difference Between Project and Task

Managing projects and tasks is a cohere process. Almost every project manager admires Desmond Tutu for his clever thoughts. “There is only one way to eat an elephant. A bite at a time” is one of his quotes. Project managers follow it in the process of project management software.

They break down the entire project into smaller pieces that are tagged as “Tasks”. These manageable tasks act as a ladder to reach the final version of the product or outcome. Thus, we can say that the task is a smaller part of the project. 

The project has a specific deadline and it includes various milestones. In the end, it is delivered as an end product to the client. Whereas, a task is a single unit of work that is performed on an individual level.

Let’s understand it through an example. 

You need to organize a surprise birthday party for your friend. To make a party successful, you have to perform numerous activities such as ordering a cake, decorating venues, inviting other friends, and many more. In the whole process, your main objective is to organize a successful birthday party which we can tag as “Project”. And different activities we perform are known as “Tasks”.

It is time to understand project management and task management. 

What is Project Management?

Project management is a broad term. It includes managing everything that is associated with the project. Project management encompasses various stages as follows:

• Project planning
• Task management
• Document sharing
• Collaboration
• Calendars and contacts
• Bug management
• Time tracking

Under this process, the entire project is handled in a manner to deliver the expected solution/product under the constraint of scope, budget, and time.

The main objective of project management is to complete the project in a defined timeline while fulfilling all the requirements of the client. The project management life cycle starts when a project is initiated and ends when desired result is achieved. 

Also Read- Eight Top Tips for Effective Project Scope Management

What is Task Management?

One common misconception regarding task management is that it only entails completing a “To-Do” list. But, in fact, task management is more than just performing a particular task. It also includes handling various aspects such as:

• Set deadlines
• Scope 
• Prioritizing tasks
• Assigning task
• Identifying dependencies

The fundamental goal of task management is to monitor task progress and prioritize the right tasks at the right time to achieve more. The life cycle of task management is always shorter than that of project management.

How Exactly Project Management and Task Management are Different from Each Other?

The primary difference between project management and task management is the connection between the individual tasks. As we discussed above, the task that is undertaken works as a step toward achieving a wide project goal in a manageable way. Hence, task management is performed within the project management process. 

Task dependencies are another characteristic that sets project management apart from task management. Project management holds a bigger picture of process and goals compared to task management. Therefore, project management includes multiple tasks to carry out while some of those tasks are interdependent to be accomplished.

Which is the Most Suitable Software for Your Team: Project Management or Task Management

As per the gained knowledge on project management and task management, we can simply mention that project management software can act as a task management software. It offers a wide range of features and functionalities. Moreover, it allows the project manager to define the project scope, budget, and deadlines. Also, enable them to track the task as well as project progress. 

While task management software provides a ground to  individuals and teams to organize, manage and track day-to-day deliverables. It enables team members to create tasks as per the priorities and collaborate with teammates accordingly. 

Project management software and task management software come with their own benefits and features. It is not easy to declare which software is better than others. Both are designed for different uses. But still, project management software is a better option in regard to managing various projects simultaneously. Project management software combined with task management-related features like TaskOPad, a leading task management software in USA. It is the most suitable platform to productively manage your project along with its multiple tasks.

Final Thought

The difference between project management and task management is not significant, but choosing the right software as per your working environment and project is crucial. As experts say, as long as you have a small business and minimal things to handle in that context, task management is the right software for your team. While things get complicated then, you should start looking for a comprehensive solution like TaskOPad, a growing project management software in USA.