Project Management

A project management consultant is a project manager or group of project managers who provide project management and project delivery expertise to an outside organization. Project management consultants typically have multiple years of experience in project management methodology, change management, and risk management and can help ensure a successful project.

Most project management experts consider the five steps of a project life cycle to be initiation, project planning, execution, monitoring, and closure. Generally, the project manager or management team will initiate the program by bringing in all stakeholders. Then, the project leader or project team will create a project plan that explains the timeline and roles. When the project kicks off, they’ll manage the project’s execution, monitoring for quality assurance. Finally, they’ll launch the project, reviewing what went well and what could be improved for the next project.

The definition of project services can vary by industry, but the term generally refers to an individual or team of project management professionals who are tasked with program management and ensuring that projects go off without a hitch.

There are numerous types of project management methodology, and preferred methodologies vary depending on the individual, industry, and project. Agile methodology, for example, is popular in software development or IT project management but less so in construction management, where it can be difficult to make last-minute changes. Scrum, Lean, and Six Sigma are examples of other popular project management processes.*

*Upwork is not affiliated with and does not sponsor or endorse any of the tools or services discussed in this section. These tools and services are provided only as potential options, and each reader and company should take the time needed to adequately analyze and determine the tools or services that would best fit their specific needs and situation.

Project management services are outside teams or individuals who can be hired on a project-by-project basis to help an organization ensure that complex projects are completed on time and to desired quality standards. Project management services—both individuals and project teams—can be found on Upwork.