What is Enterprise Project Management?

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Enterprise project management (EPM) involves managing different projects simultaneously – on a companywide scale. Large businesses normally run multiple (and complex) projects at the same time. While these projects may not necessarily be related, they still all have an effect on the company’s profit and performance.

But what are the main elements of EPM? And which companies actually need it? We’ll explain everything you need to know in this article. We’ll also offer advice on which types of project management software for small business that you can use to help with your EPM.

Specifically, we recommend monday.com. This platform combines an intuitive interface with powerful features, making it much easier for you to juggle (and successfully deliver) your large-scale projects.

What is Enterprise Project Management?

Enterprise project management (EPM) is a useful method for large businesses managing multiple projects. Unlike traditional project management, EPM isn’t necessarily concerned about completing each project – it focuses on achieving the organization’s top-level, long-term goals. EPM generally involves implementing strategies designed to streamline your project management efforts on a large scale.

According to the Project Management Institute (PMI), EPM initiatives can include:

  • Using a project management software, such as monday.com, to give you more control and visibility over your project.
  • Creating a project management department.
  • Following ‘stages of growth’ models.

The actual process of EPM includes seven elements:

  1. Risk analysis
  2. Structured estimating
  3. Reviewing projects
  4. Project management coaching
  5. Escalated issue management
  6. Time accounting
  7. Information system management

The elements of EPM are similar to that of regular project management processes, especially risk analysis and time accounting. However, the main difference is scale. EPM is carried out on a far larger scale than regular project management, normally requiring a dedicated project management department with strong leadership. On the other hand, startups and SMEs might usually focus on one, relatively small project at a time.

What are the Goals of Enterprise Project Management?

Unlike traditional project management – which aims to complete projects with measurable objectives – EPM doesn’t focus on one particular project. Instead, EPM’s primary concern is managing all of an organization’s projects together, ensuring that each project aligns with the company’s top-level goals.

Essentially, EPM’s end goal isn’t necessarily a completed project, but rather a project that brings long-term benefits. This approach allows big companies to maximize resources.

The PMI says there are many other benefits to EPM, including:

  • Boosted productivity
  • Reduced impact of skills shortage
  • Higher-quality output
  • Reduced risks
  • More reliable delivery

Without EPM, delivering multiple projects within a large company can feel like a juggling act. However, with regular reporting from project managers on things like issues, risks, and overall progress, EPM managers can make responsive decisions that benefit the company’s top-level goals.

For example, EPM enables project managers to identify underfunded projects, or projects that are duplicating efforts. In short, it allows you to cut wasted resources.

In fact, research by Villanova University shows that organizations that employ an EMP system can potentially increase profits by 20%.

How Much Does Enterprise Project Management Cost?

So, now we know EPM can increase profits. The next question is clear, how much will it set you back? As shown in our handy comparison table below, most software platforms work with tier-pricing ranging from $5 – $25.

However, with some of the more basic plans, you may encounter limitations on features such as number of users, allowance for simultaneous projects and data caps. For larger projects with more to keep track of, you may be better suited to a dedicated “Enterprise” plan, with more advanced capabilities.

Most software platforms, including monday.com, ClickUp and Smartsheet provide designated enterprise plans. Contact providers directly for bespoke quotes depending on your specific needs. Let us reiterate that using software can lessen wasted effort, duplication and missed opportunities, which means that you’ll certainly see a return on your investment.

You don’t need any specific equipment to run project management software, just a laptop or computer. Mac lover? Find out our top software recommendation for Mac.

What Kind of Company Needs Enterprise Project Management?

Any business – particularly in the software industry – dealing with multiple projects would benefit from EPM. Sure, large businesses are more likely to run different projects at once, but companies of all sizes may want to consider the EPM system if they want to hit overarching targets.

Unlike traditional project management, EPM’s primary purpose is to help your business achieve its top-level goals. Rather than focusing on completing individual projects, EPM aims to maximise multiple projects at once in order to bring long-term benefits. To do so, many companies enact their EPM strategy with a methodology such as Waterfall or Agile.

As we said, EPM would benefit nearly every business, particularly large software companies that run multiple product tests and projects. Things can get even easier, though.

Project management software enhances the overall benefit of EPM. If you or your project manager is struggling to stay on top of things, project management software can help you streamline workflows and boost productivity, helping you track time, budget, who’s in charge, and where projects are going. They take away all the guesswork, giving you full visibility of your multiple projects.

With increasing prevalence of globally distributed teams, having a central location for materials, tools and assets can be a huge plus when it’s not possible to be in the same room.

Worried about costs? If you’re on a tight budget, try the best free project management software first.

Testimonial

Typically, traditional projects are approached in isolation, with separate teams and resources. This can result in duplicated efforts, repeated errors (due to a lack of communication between project managers), inconsistent decision-making, and missed opportunities. EPM seeks to provide an umbrella of consistent project management in order to avoid the potential pitfalls of individual project management while keeping projects centered on overall business strategies.

David Farkas,
Founder & CEO - TheUpperRanks.com
Testimonial

Big organizations, such as VEM Tooling, with multiple projects require Enterprise Project Management (EPM). These projects have numerous stakeholders, intricate dependencies, and substantial resource requirements. Without an effective EPM system, it might be difficult to monitor project progress and resource utilization. 

David Reid,
Sales Director - VEM Tooling

What’s The Best Enterprise Project Management Software?

After extensive research into the software platforms out there, our researchers decided on monday.com as the top choice for enterprise project management. In close second, ClickUp and Smartsheet. All three offer designated “Enterprise” plans, specifically designed with the demands of EPM in mind, including unlimited project and user limits, generous (if not unlimited) data limits and impressive security features.

monday.com outshone the others with its seamless integration of marketing, data and finance tools as well as a broad range of features and a high customer satisfaction rate. Worth noting however, ClickUp fares slightly better in the customer support department as well as being a great affordable option. For a deeper insight, read more about the best project management software.

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monday.com

ClickUp

Asana

Wrike

Teamwork

Jira Software

Zoho Projects

Price

$9 – $19 per month

Price

$5 – $19 per month

Price

$7 – $25 per month

Price

$10.99 – $24.99 per month

Price

$9.80 – $24.80 per month

Price

$5.99 – $24.99 per month

Price

$10.20 – $30

Price

$7.75 – $15.25

Price

$4 – $9

Price

$5 – $17.50

Price

$22.50 – $25 per user, per month

Key features
  • Gantt chart
  • Over 200 templates for projects and items
  • Sub-task milestones and dependencies

 

Key features
  • Preset charts
  • Custom project templates
  • Custom automations
  • Gantt chart
  • Milestones
  • 24/7 live support
Key features
  • Email customer support
  • Gantt chart
  • Kanban board
  • Custom project templates
  • Custom automations
  • Team instant-messenger
Key features
  • CRM integrations
  • Kanban board
  • Custom project templates
  • Project message board
  • Task comments
  • Calendar
Key features
  • Email customer support
  • Kanban board
  • Milestones
  • Project message board
  • Task comments
  • Sub-tasks
Key features
  • Great collaborative features on every plan
  • Solid customer support
  • Gantt chart
  • Kanban board
  • Milestones

 

Key features
  • Comprehensive task management features
  • Solid customer service
  • Preset and custom project templates
  • Custom automations
Key features
  • Time tracking and turndown charts
  • Best support for Agile project management
  • Custom and preset templates and automations
  • Gantt chart
  • Kanban board
Key features
  • CRM integrations
  • Email customer support
  • Gantt chart
  • Kanban board
  • Issue log
  • Preset widgets
Key features
  • Robust automation builder
  • Nice, customizable interface
  • Easy-to-tweak systems
  • Kanban board and custom fields
  • Preset and custom project templates
Key features
  • Gantt chart, subtasks, milestones, and dependencies
  • Integrations with a lot of popular software
  • Preset and custom project templates
Free Plan
Free Plan
Free Plan
Free Plan
Free Plan
Free Plan
Free Plan
Free Plan
Free Plan
Free Plan
Free Plan
Try monday.com Try ClickUp Try Smartsheet Compare Try Wrike Try Teamwork Compare Prices Compare Try ZohoProjects Compare Prices Compare Prices
Verdict

EPM is the process of managing multiple projects at the same time, across the entire company. Unlike traditional project management, the aim of EPM is to achieve the top-level goals of your organization – it isn’t necessarily focused on completing individual projects. Instead of incremental objectives, EPM looks at long-term success.

Ideal for large companies, EPM can help you boost productivity, maximize resources, and reduce risks. Better yet, you can use project management software, such as monday.com, to help you track everything from time and resources to budget and task ownership. To compare different providers, check out our project management software comparison page.

Written by:
Dan’s a Senior Writer at Expert Market, specialising in digital marketing, web design, and photocopiers, amongst other topics.