The Art of Project Management: Lessons from the 2024 Digital Project Management Summit

The Iron Triangle: Budget, Scope, and Schedule

The Iron Triangle was introduced during a session on “How to Say No to Clients,” sparking an insightful discussion about its role in managing client expectations. Sophia Inman, the Savas Labs Director of Project Management, found the framework particularly valuable for framing constructive conversations with clients. By linking the triangle’s elements—budget, scope, and schedule—directly to project constraints, the session underscored how project managers can set realistic expectations while preserving trust and transparency.

A key takeaway for Sophia was that the Iron Triangle serves not just as a guideline for internal decisions but also as a powerful tool to educate clients on the trade-offs inherent in project work. For example, if a client requests additional features mid-project, referring to the triangle allows PMs to explain the potential impact on costs or timelines in a clear and collaborative way. This approach transforms saying "no" into proposing alternatives, such as prioritizing specific deliverables or phasing work to accommodate expanded scope without derailing the project. By keeping the conversation solution-focused, PMs can maintain alignment with both client goals and project realities, fostering stronger partnerships and more successful outcomes.

Tools That Strengthen the Workstream

In today’s digital world, PMs  rely on a suite of tools to streamline workflows, boost productivity, and maintain transparency into the project’s progress. For Matt Taylor, a Project Manager at Savas Labs, platforms like Teamwork, Asana, and Trello are invaluable for task tracking, while Slack and Microsoft Teams allow for teams to communicate fluidly and rapidly. Documenting the stages of projects in a centralized location, whether in Google Docs or a more focused tool, keeps everyone on the same page and ensures that relevant project information is widely available.

With the almost overwhelming variety of tools available, It’s important for project managers and organizations to consider what might enhance their workflows. This was never clearer than in the collaborative workshops that occurred throughout the DPM conference. Matt, along with the members of the Savas contingent, met with other PMs to discuss resourcing, documentation, communication, and more often than not, the tools that made up that framework for each of us.

There were many examples of tools being a bad fit, lacking buy-in from project teams, or even from company leadership. Misalignment can allow tools to become a burden to teams, forcing excess onboarding and even burnout. Selecting the right tools enable project teams to work more effectively, manage time and resources efficiently, and ultimately deliver on project goals in a way that drives organizational success.

AI in Project Management – Insights from Galen Low

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly becoming a part of the project management landscape and according to Galen Low, Co-Founder and Community Lead at The Digital Project Manager, who spoke at the DPM Summit, it’s already showing promise in automating repetitive tasks, providing data-driven insights, and even forecasting project outcomes. AI-powered tools can analyze historical data to predict potential delays or budget overruns, allowing PMs to take preemptive action. Jenn Dang, our newest member of the Project Management team, really enjoyed learning from this speaker. She felt that the addition of AI tools in her workstream has greatly increased her productivity, leaving less room for human error. Savas Labs’ use of Fathom, a notetaking AI tool, has given her the opportunity to focus more on conversations with stakeholders and be more present and engaging instead of worrying about capturing small details. While AI can improve efficiency, it cannot replicate the instincts and insights that a PM contributes to a project.

PM Structure for Success – Insights from Val Hinze

During the summit, Val Hinze, Vice President of Client Services at Mighty Citizen, discussed best practices in structuring project management to set teams up for success. She emphasized that clear roles and responsibilities are essential for efficiency and accountability. A strong PM framework not only provides clarity for the team but also establishes processes for handling changes or unexpected events effectively. At Savas Labs, we’ve adopted similar practices to support our project managers, ensuring they have the structure and tools needed to lead our teams successfully through every project phase. 

Luzia Bryant, along with the project management team at Savas Labs, found the framework discussion by Val Hinze insightful as we reevaluated our own growing team. The project managers at Savas work diligently with our clients early in our engagements to align on the project’s North Star, or strategic vision of the project and what we aim to accomplish, along with their business goals, to build a strong structure for the project. We are a well-oiled machine between business development handoff to the kickoff of a project because of the early structures we establish in a project. 

Similar to the kickoff many of our clients have experienced, we hold an internal kickoff for the project to align the Savas team for success. These early conversations open the dialogue up to success metrics and risks in a structured and focused way as well as roles and responsibilities on the project, allowing our team to be nimble and flexible when it comes to adapting to changes within a project. This early meeting keeps our team focused and organized on the project goals and North Stars while having a structured discussion on the path forward. This structure, combined with effective communication, empowers teams to adapt without sacrificing the project North Stars.