Finding the Perfect Level of Project Management Support

How to Determine the Optimal Level of Project Management Support for Your Marketing Team

Project managers serve as the backbone of marketing teams. They help to orchestrate tasks and ensure projects stay on track. But what's the optimal level of marketing project management support?


The answer lies in understanding the unique needs of each marketing team and harnessing the power of a robust marketing project management tool.

1. 100% Full Management: Guiding Projects to Excellence

At the pinnacle of project management support lies the 100% full management approach. Here, project managers take charge of every facet of the project's life cycle. They meticulously assign tasks, monitor progress, and offer weekly updates to sponsors.


Creating strategic milestones for different stages of the project ensures a clear path forward. This high-touch approach instills confidence in the marketing team and ensures everyone is aligned towards shared objectives.

2. 50% Bi-weekly Check-ins: Balancing Direction and Autonomy

For marketing teams seeking a blend of autonomy and guidance, the 50% bi-weekly check-in model strikes the right chord. Project managers set up high-level tasks, establish key milestones, and provide crucial guidance.


Bi-weekly check-ins offer opportunities for feedback, course correction, and alignment with project goals. This level of support empowers marketing teams to take ownership while benefiting from expert oversight.

3. 25% Monthly Check-ins: Navigating with Precision

In scenarios where marketing teams thrive on a higher degree of independence, the 25% monthly check-in model provides a delicate balance. Project managers ensure tasks are well-defined and establish a broad project framework.


Monthly check-ins serve as touchpoints for clarifications, updates, and addressing potential roadblocks. This approach respects the team's autonomy while maintaining a safety net of support.

4. 10% Project Creation and Closure: Streamlined and Efficient

In fast-paced environments, some marketing teams prefer a lean approach. The 10% project creation and closure strategy optimizes resources by involving project managers primarily at the project's inception and conclusion.


While limited in continuous oversight, this approach capitalizes on the team's self-sufficiency. It's ideal for teams accustomed to handling day-to-day operations independently.

5. 0% Self-supported: Nurturing Independence

In mature marketing teams, where processes are well-defined, such as automation blueprints of projects and tasks have been successfully implemented, the 0% self-supported model aligns with their capabilities. Here, project managers step back entirely, allowing the marketing team to take charge of every aspect with support from the project managers available based on requests.


The self-support model can be used in projects that are run frequently or are simple in structure. This approach is a testament to the team's prowess in project management and self-sufficiency.

Leveraging Technology: The Role of Marketing Project Management Tools

Irrespective of the level of support chosen, the real game-changer is the implementation of a strong marketing project management solution. This software empowers project managers to enhance their support capabilities, no matter the chosen level. From task assignment and progress tracking to communication and reporting, a well-designed tool centralizes information, streamlines processes, and fosters collaboration.


With features like customizable project templates, real-time dashboards, and automated notifications, these tools ensure that project managers can allocate more time to strategic decision-making and fostering collaboration. Data-driven insights further enable continuous improvement, making it possible to adapt and pivot as the project evolves.

Finding the Optimal Project Management Support for Your Marketing Team

The optimal level of project management support for marketing teams varies based on their maturity, complexity, and desired autonomy. By leveraging a robust marketing project management tool, project managers can elevate their support capabilities across all levels. These tools become the conduit for seamless communication, streamlined processes, and efficient collaboration, ultimately leading to marketing success that resonates in the competitive landscape.


But as a solid reminder, and as National MarTech Project Manager, Muxiang Pajerski from Marsh McLennan Agency notes, "People are the linchpin of project management success. No matter how advanced our support models or tools, effective and open communication is the most critical element in optimizing resources and tools."


The right balance of support, coupled with the right tools, is the formula for unlocking the full potential of your marketing endeavors.

Tenon, Marketing Work Management for Enterprise Teams

Tenon is a work management solution developed exclusively for marketers. We provide a single space for marketing teams to organize and collaborate on campaigns, projects, and tasks so everyone stays in the loop from start to finish. Built on ServiceNow, we're powered by a platform already used by IT, HR, Finance, and Customer Service, so your company can collaborate and get work done like never before.

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