task assignment definition

how to effectively assign tasks to team members to increase productivity?

Picture this: It's Monday morning, and your team is buzzing with excitement, ready to take on the week. But wait! Who's doing what? Does everyone know their roles and responsibilities? Ah, the perennial challenge of assigning tasks . If this rings a bell, worry not. We've all been there. Have you ever felt the sting of mismatched roles? Like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole? Assigned tasks play a pivotal role in the smooth functioning of any team. And guess what? There are methods and tools that make this process easier. Let’s dive in.

As a leader in the workplace, it is essential to ensure that everyone in the team gets the appropriate amount of work. Sometimes, it's tempting to give an employee more tasks than others, especially if he/she finishes the tasks faster. But keep in mind that as managers, you must be fair. You must learn how to effectively assign tasks to your team members . 

Although it may seem like a simple management function, assigning tasks to your team is actually challenging. As said by Liane Davey, cofounder of 3COze Inc. and author of  You First: Inspire Your Team to Grow Up, Get Along, and Get Stuff Done , You are “juggling multiple interests” in the pursuit of optimal team performance.

Task distribution among various departments might vary from person to person. For efficient delegation, it is vital to consider guidelines while distributing duties to team members.

Tasks that are delegated effectively move your people, projects, and the entire business forward. It increases management and staff trust and accountability, helps in refining and teaching new abilities, enables personnel to become acquainted with various groups and areas of employment, and is an excellent foundation for performance reviews, etc.

How do you assign tasks to your employees? 

Assigning tasks is typically perceived as a time-consuming activity that focuses on removing items from task lists in order to keep the project moving forward. Task assignment, nevertheless, ought to be a more employee-focused procedure that calls for extra commitment and work, which produces excellent outcomes. 

Here are some tips to effectively assign tasks to your employees:

1. Delegate Positively

Don't just throw work at someone and expect them to deliver when they might not be qualified for that particular assignment. Maintain a mindset of doubting every assignment you gave and go over your personnel roster to see whether anyone else is capable of completing it as effectively as you can. They will be more likely to believe that they can do the assignment in the manner that the leader desires if they have a positive outlook. Employees won't feel inspired to start their assignment if you adversely assign them or have doubts about their competence. A little encouragement will make their day happier and encourage them to confidently do the tasks given to them.

2. Set Clear Goals and Objectives

To understand how your team performs, you should set clear goals and objectives before entrusting them with any responsibilities. When goals and objectives are not defined, it'll be harder for your team to see the big picture and perform tasks in a particular manner. 

3. Assign the Right Task to the Right Employee

This is the key to productivity. Who has the most expertise and experience should be given priority, but don't give that individual too much work. You should also think about who needs to develop their sense of responsibility. Also, take into account the passage of time and their eagerness to seize the opportunity. To do this, the manager should create a delegation plan that considers the various skill sets of each employee and assign tasks that are properly suited to each individual. On the other hand, when a task requires an extraordinary employee and there is a talent shortage, the leaders themselves should do the assignment in an emergency or without a workforce.

4. Obtain Inputs from Your Team and Set Up Meetings if Possible

Get suggestions from your team on what should be modified, who you could include, and how outcomes should be defined. Engage with the specific managers of the sub-teams if you are in charge of a large team or organization. A meeting with the entire team is necessary before assigning tasks to team members. You may obtain a clear picture of who is responsible for what and how purposefully they can do the assignment. Getting suggestions from your team members ensures that each of them will contribute to the task's accomplishment.

5. Conduct Training and Supervision

A project's completion necessitates the blending of various delegation techniques, a high degree of team member commitment, and effective planning and execution. It is essential to teach the team members and meet with the team every day in order to produce a skilled workforce. The training includes free access to resources for developing skills, such as courses from Upskillist ,  Udemy , or  Coursera . Following the training phase, the work must be supervised by a professional to ensure that the team learned from the training provided. Before and throughout the task assignment and execution among several team members, training and supervision are equally crucial.

6. Communicate Constantly

It doesn't mean that when you're done delegating the tasks, everything's good. No, it doesn't work that way. Constant communication is also the key to unlocking productivity. You need to collaborate with your team . Professionals at work must keep a close watch on their team members to learn about any challenges or issues they may be having.  For the task to be completed and the status of each team member to be tracked, communication is essential. Following up on tasks you assign to your employees helps them manage pressure and boost job productivity since problems like stress and pressure may tangle them and slow them down. Employee burnout is a result of micromanagement, which is not a good concept. It is best to let staff go free by following up casually.

7. Know who to Handover Authorization and Control

Decentralized power relieves employers of job management. Make sure to provide your staff some authority when you delegate tasks to them using management apps such as Trello , Asana , Edworking , Slack , and the like. Employees become empowered and responsible for completing tasks as a result of the control transfer. Giving them too little authority can cause issues because they lose interest in their work while giving them too much control might overwhelm them and cause them to forget basic responsibilities. The key to the team's success is giving each member the authority they rightfully deserve while also soliciting input.

8. After the project, assess the results

Ask yourself how you as the manager could support the success of your team members more effectively. Give constructive criticism and accept it in return.

The most vital phase in job completion is assigning tasks to team members. Due to the frequent mistakes made while delegating duties, it is imperative to use management tools when giving your team responsibilities. Project management solutions provide better work allocations by incorporating features like marketing automation. Employee development and time tracking are made easier by the task assignment guidelines, which also help keep workers interested. 

Allocating Vs. Delegating Tasks 

Now that you've learned about some tips to properly assign tasks, you may also have questions like, "what's the difference between allocating and delegating tasks?" 

As stated by Abhinav in a published article on LinkedIn, "The imbalance of responsibility and accountability is the main difference between Delegation and Allocation." What does it mean? Delegation gives a real opportunity for your team to upskill, grow, and develop. Allocating tasks is merely assigning tasks without the goal of helping your team grow.

Although assigning tasks has its merits, delegating tasks offers significant advantages in terms of employee growth and engagement. Because delegation when done well delivers diversity and other intrinsic motivational incentives that make work so much more meaningful, it will be even more rewarding for the manager and team members.

Task Tips and Best Practices 

In order to accomplish our objectives and SMART goals, we define a particular number of tasks that we must do each day. We frequently take on more than we can handle in the fight to remain at the top of our game and maintain our competitive edge.

Even while everything appears to be of the utmost importance, something is off in your struggle to finish everything while maintaining your composure. Some of us have a lengthy list of things we want to get done before a given age or period. Others devote so much effort to honing a particular skill that by the time it shines, it is no longer relevant.

Time management and balancing workload are not just skills of project managers or superiors. In reality, these abilities should be embraced at every level, particularly when working in a team. Research by Cornerstone found that when workers believe they don't have enough time in the day to do their jobs, work overload reduces productivity by 68%. What tips and best practices should you do so you don't only allocate tasks but delegate them effectively?

1. Prioritize. Make a to-do list according to the order of priority

Even if to-do lists are classic, they are still more efficient and effective than ever. People used to keep handwritten notes for ideas and tasks back in the day.  There are smart to-do lists apps and software that provide notifications and reminders prior to the task's due date. 

2. Maximize productivity and minimize procrastination

To start, delegate the tasks to the right people. Don't do it tomorrow or the next day. Do it today. Having a lot to accomplish may be stressful, which is sometimes worse than the actual task. If you struggle with procrastination, it's possible that you haven't come up with a good task management strategy. You might express your lack of starting knowledge by procrastinating. It could not be laziness, but rather a matter of setting priorities.

3. Be motivated

Procrastination and a lack of motivation are closely correlated. When you lack motivation, you tend to get distracted. If you want to meet milestones and deadlines, be motivated.

4. Delegate and be involved

The reality of being overburdened can have a negative impact on productivity if it is not properly managed. At the end of the day, we're still just humans. When it comes to having patience, resilience, working under pressure, or finishing a task quickly, each one of us possesses a certain set of skills. So, delegate the right tasks to the right person in your team, and don't just stop there. Be involved. Leaving the stadium just because you're done delegating is a big no. Keep in touch with them and follow up on the progress of the tasks assigned.

Task Vs. Subtask 

Tasks and subtasks are quite similar. The only difference is that a subtask should be completed as an element of completing a larger and more complex task.

For example, the task is to increase your company's social media presence. So, what should you do to accomplish those tasks? That's when you have subtasks such as creating optimized posts and content on various social media platforms, scheduling them, interacting with your audience in the comment section, etc. 

The additional stages that make up a task are called subtasks. They are essential while working on large projects with a wide range of tasks. In some task management tools, You may create as many subtasks as you need in the task view, but you must first choose the parent task before you can create a subtask.

Why You Should Assign Tasks Effectively to Team Members

Enhance team productivity.

Efficient task assignment can work wonders for your team's productivity. When each team member knows their role and is well-suited for their tasks, they can focus on delivering high-quality results. Imagine a well-oiled machine, with each cog spinning smoothly and in harmony - that's your team at peak productivity!

Consider these points:

• Match tasks to individual skills : Ensure tasks align with your team members' unique abilities and expertise.
• Set clear expectations : Be transparent about deadlines, deliverables, and objectives.
• Foster collaboration : Encourage communication and collaboration among team members.

Nurture a Sense of Ownership

Assigning tasks effectively helps to in still a sense of ownership and responsibility within your team. When individuals understand their role in a project, they are more likely to take pride in their work and strive for excellence. It's like planting a seed - with proper care and attention, it'll grow into a strong, thriving tree.

Key elements to foster ownership:

• Encourage autonomy : Allow team members to make decisions and take charge of their tasks.
• Provide feedback : Offer constructive feedback and celebrate successes.
• Support development : Invest in your team members' growth through training and development opportunities.

Reduce Work Overload and Burnout

Nobody wants to be buried under an avalanche of tasks. By allocating work effectively, you can prevent team members from feeling overwhelmed and burned out. Just as we can't run on empty, neither can our team members - so, let's ensure they have a manageable workload.

Strategies to avoid overload:

• Balance workloads : Distribute tasks evenly and consider individual capacities.
• Encourage breaks : Promote a healthy work-life balance and remind your team to take breaks.
• Monitor progress : Regularly check in with your team members to assess their workloads and stress levels.

Boost Employee Engagement

An engaged employee is a happy and productive one. When you assign tasks effectively, you're laying the groundwork for increased engagement. Think of it as a dance - with the right choreography, everyone knows their steps and performs in harmony.

Steps to enhance engagement:

• Align tasks with goals : Ensure tasks contribute to the overall goals of your team and organization.
• Offer variety : Mix up tasks to keep things interesting and provide opportunities for growth.
• Recognize achievements : Acknowledge hard work and accomplishments.

Improve Overall Team Morale

Finally, effective task assignment can lead to a happier, more cohesive team. When everyone feels valued and supported, team morale soars. Imagine a choir, each voice blending harmoniously to create a beautiful symphony - that's a team with high morale.

Ways to uplift team morale:

• Empower decision-making : Encourage team members to contribute their ideas and be part of the decision-making process.
• Foster a positive atmosphere : Cultivate an environment of open communication, trust, and support.
• Celebrate successes : Acknowledge both individual and team achievements, and celebrate them together.

Tools to Simplify Task Assignments in Teams

Microsoft outlook: not just for emails.

Yes, you heard that right. Beyond sending emails, Outlook has task features that allow managers to assign work to team members. You can set deadlines, prioritize, and even track progress. Think of it as your digital task manager. How cool is that?

Google Docs: Collaboration Made Easy

A favorite for many, Google Docs allows real-time collaboration. Need to distribute tasks ? Create a shared document, list down the tasks, and voila! Everyone can view, edit, or comment. Ever thought of using a simple shared document as a task distribution board?

Trello: Visual Task Management

For those of us who are visual creatures, Trello is a game-changer. Create boards, list assigned duties , and move them across columns as they progress. Remember playing with building blocks as a kid? It’s pretty much that, but digital and for grown-ups!

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Assigning tasks effectively is a skill that every leader must master to ensure team productivity and employee satisfaction. While the tips provided earlier can help you get there, being aware of common mistakes in task assignment is equally crucial. Avoiding these pitfalls can save you from derailing your projects and hampering your team's morale.

1. Overburdening Skilled Employees

It's tempting to give the bulk of the work to your most skilled team members, but this can lead to burnout and decreased productivity in the long term.

2. Lack of Clarity in Instructions

Vague or unclear instructions can result in misunderstandings, leading to poor quality of work or project delays. Always be specific and clear about what is expected.

3. Micromanaging

While it’s essential to oversee the progress of tasks, hovering over your team members can undermine their confidence and create a stressful work environment.

4. Failing to Prioritize Tasks

Not all tasks are created equal. Failing to prioritize can lead to poor allocation of resources, with less important tasks taking away time and energy from critical objectives.

5. Ignoring Team Input

Ignoring suggestions or feedback from your team can result in missed opportunities for more effective delegation and stronger team cohesion.

6. One-Size-Fits-All Approach

Remember that each team member has unique skills and limitations. Assigning tasks without considering these factors can lead to ineffective results and frustrated employees.

7. Neglecting Follow-Up

Assigning a task is not the end but part of an ongoing process. Failing to follow up can result in delays and could indicate to your team that the task wasn’t that important to begin with.

8. Fear of Delegating

Sometimes managers avoid delegating tasks because they feel that no one else can do the job as well as they can. This not only increases your workload but also deprives team members of growth opportunities.

A significant aspect of a leader's duties is delegating assignments to team members effectively. The secret to a manager's team functioning like an efficient machine is wise delegation.

Because of delegation, you won't have to spend hours on work that someone else can complete more quickly. Trying to handle everything on your own can quickly wear you out, regardless of your knowledge or expertise. Effectively delegating tasks enables you to keep on top of your own work while assisting team members in acquiring new abilities and developing a sense of comfort with taking ownership of tasks. 

Proper delegation of tasks also provides managers and team members with a learning opportunity since it enables everyone to build trust and become accustomed to exchanging comments and showing each other respect and appreciation.

Less is more when attempting to boost your team's output. Your team may become burned out if you try to increase their production too rapidly. In contrast, if you're too aggressive, your team can lose interest in their work and productivity might drop. Keep in mind that everyone will be more productive if they are part of the decision-making and execution process.

If you want to delegate tasks with ease and convenience, go for Edworking . This management tool lets you assign tasks and oversee your team's progress in a specific task. You can also conduct meetings to meet your team.`

Know that productivity greatly matters. With the right knowledge of assigning tasks to your team members, you can maximize productivity. Thus, achieving the goals and objectives of your organization.

What is the best way to assign tasks to team members?

Recognizing and understanding each member's unique strengths and expertise is paramount. Instead of assigning tasks randomly, it's always better to match each job with the individual’s skill set. Consider open dialogue, seek feedback, and ensure the assigned tasks align with both team and individual goals. It's a bit like giving everyone their favorite role in a play; wouldn't they shine brighter?

How do you assign tasks to a team in Teamwork?

In Teamwork, tasks can be assigned effortlessly. Start by creating a task list, then add individual tasks. Within each task, there's an option to 'Assign To.' Simply choose the team member you wish to assign the task to. Think of it as passing the baton in a relay race – each person knows when to run and when to pass it on!

Why is it important to assign tasks to your team members?

Assigning specific tasks helps in streamlining the workflow, ensuring accountability, and reducing overlaps or gaps in responsibilities. It also empowers team members by giving them ownership of their work. Have you ever seen a football team where everyone runs after the ball? Without clear roles, it's chaos!

How do you politely assign a task?

Start by acknowledging the individual's capabilities and expressing confidence in their ability to handle the task. Then, clearly explain the job's scope, expectations, and its importance in the overall project. Think of it as offering a piece of cake, not dumping a plate on their lap!

How do short term goals differ from long term goals?

Short-term goals act as stepping stones towards achieving long-term goals. While short-term goals focus on immediate challenges and tasks (think weeks or months), long-term goals look at the bigger picture and can span years. It's like comparing a sprint to a marathon. One's quick and intense, the other's about endurance and the long haul.

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• Performance

Assigning Tasks: How to Delegate Effectively

There are certain projects that could never be completed if they weren’t broken down into individual tasks, especially those of a certain size and complexity. As soon as your team grows bigger than one or two people, you need to make use of the ability to assign tasks to achieve your goals. 

Last updated: December 21, 2022

8 mins read

There are some customer service superheroes out there who seem to be able to complete all the tasks themselves. But the reality is that most of us need to learn the skill of assigning tasks to others, especially if we are in positions of responsibility in busy customer service teams. This is to ensure that no single person is burdened with the workload, or high-performers are being unfairly assigned a larger proportion of the work available. 

Assigning tasks is essential for high-performing customer service teams that must juggle multiple priorities. 

Anyone who has any experience working in a customer service team understands task assignments, which helps you to get projects completed, customer queries solved and objectives fulfilled. It’s naturally much quicker and more efficient to have multiple employees working on different tasks that make up a project, utilizing their unique skills and experiences to come up with creative solutions. 

Without assigned tasks, projects would never get completed because teams are not working to their full capacity. Some customer problems could never be resolved because they require the contributions of different customer service representatives . Assigning tasks needs to be deliberate since it requires the coordination of multiple members of a team. 

What is task assigning?

Task assigning means allocating and delegating tasks to members of your team for effective project management. The task assigner is aware of the various strengths and weaknesses, skills and experience of individuals and can assign them tasks in pursuit of greater productivity. 

You need to be able to break down projects into component parts so that each individual may contribute to the greater whole. Usually, you will use task tracking or project management tools that can help your team manage their assigned task, and can even offer customer service automations that make assigning tasks easier. 

When assigning tasks is implemented effectively, each team member knows who is responsible for what and when tasks are due. This helps prevent conflicting priorities. Each task must come full circle, with each assignee receiving constructive feedback on how well they have completed the task. 

Even if you assign a task to another team member, they are still reporting into the task owner for approval. 

The importance of efficient task assignments

Efficient task assignment means that customer service teams can work to their full productivity, since each team member understands what they are responsible for. Your task description can break each task down so service reps fully understand the steps they need to take to complete the task, and have access to the resources they might need to be successful. Employees perform better when they are trusted with tasks that help them stretch and grow. 

The entire purpose of a team is to enable different employees to work together effectively and create outcomes that are greater than the individual contributions. Customer service teams that have a plurality of perspectives from multiple people are more creative. A diversity of perspectives contributes to more creative solutions as people with different backgrounds collaborate together. 

Projects are completed much more quickly when you have multiple team members handling all your employee tasks, instead of one person trying to do everything on their own. Task assignment means team members who have both the time and experience necessary to complete the task can all have a role to play. 

Effectively assigning tasks to individual team members gives them a chance to stretch themselves and engage in more professional development. New tasks give more junior customer service reps the opportunity to step outside of their comfort zone, and complete different types of work that may otherwise not come across their path. 

There are many benefits to task assignment, not least because it allows the entire team to share the workload. 

The difference between assignment and delegation

While they might at first glance seem to be similar, there is a big difference between task assignment and delegation. Assignment means you assign tasks to a team member and explain exactly how you want things to be done, with clear-cut instructions. Delegation means you are transferring responsibility for the task to your assignee and giving them more autonomy for how that task gets completed. 

Assigning tasks is often repetitive but it nevertheless contributes to the overall completion of the project. A delegated task is more free and gives your team members the opportunity to grow as they figure out how to produce the desired results. Task delegations are based more on outcomes than specific instructions, with the employee figuring out how to complete the task on their own. 

Although task delegation is more autonomous, it nevertheless still requires support from the manager to ensure that the employee has adequate direction. Delegating a task doesn’t mean the manager no longer has anything to do with it, but simply that they are trusting their assignee to take ownership. 

Choosing whether or not to assign or delegate a task means understanding the complexity of the task to be assigned. 

How to assign tasks to team members

Try to remove yourself from the approval process.

When a supervisor assigns tasks to employees, they themselves can become a bottleneck as service reps turn to them for approval during every stage of completing the task. When multiple team members are waiting for sign-off from the same customer service manager, you find that you haven’t actually reduced your workload and you end up micromanaging your assignees. 

When managers are too involved, projects lose momentum as the individual contributors end up waiting around for approval when they could be spending their time on more productive tasks. Customers are kept waiting as individual queries can’t progress without the authority of a manager. 

In order to avoid this problem, you can select a group of dependable people who are responsible for the approval process. Delegating responsibility means that you can be more hands-off in the task completion process, while being assured that the work is being completed to a high standard. Schedule regular team meetings to go over the progress of each task and keep your eye on the ball. 

Effective teamwork only happens when customer service supervisors feel secure enough to let the task go.  

Make your expectations explicit

Unfortunately, we can all fall into the trap of assuming that other people are mind-readers. In reality though, if you don’t give clear instructions to your team members then you’re unlikely to get the result you want. You need to look at your task titles and outlines from the perspective of an outsider in order to formulate clear instructions. 

If you want to better formulate tasks for your team members, break the task down into steps and give time estimates for each step. The more information the better, if you want to empower employees to complete tasks on their own. When employees are informed, they don’t have to waste time referring back to you for more clarity. 

There’s a fine line between clarity and micromanaging. Once you have assigned the task, don’t keep pestering your service rep to check whether they are doing it right. If you’ve given clear instructions, they should be able to complete the task to the best of their ability. 

At the same time, ensure that your employee knows they can always turn to you for help during the task, to guard against failure. 

Set an objective time frame for completion

When employees are assigned tasks, they need to be made aware of the deadline for completion or the task could run on forever. It’s not enough to vaguely say “As soon as you get to it” because some critical customer issue is bound to come along. 

It’s best to actively involve your customer service reps in their time frame for completion, since they are the ones who know best how long it will take them to finish certain tasks. When employees are involved in setting their own deadlines, they are more accountable and more likely to make an effort to meet it. 

If an employee is aware of a deadline, they can let you know if competing priorities have materialized and whether the deadline may need to be reevaluated. It’s best to flag these issues as soon as possible, before they affect the overall progress of the project. 

Without hard deadlines, projects will never get finished as every step gets continually put off until tomorrow. 

Hold your employees accountable

When assigning tasks to employees, make sure that they can account for their working hours somewhere that is publicly accessible to the team. You can use time tracking software that will help other team members understand exactly how someone is progressing with their task and hold that individual accountable. 

If employees are held responsible for their tasks, the project is much less likely to get derailed since you as the customer service manager can become aware if someone is falling behind. If your employee’s current progress looks like they might not meet their deadline, then you can ask them if they need extra help or support. 

Tracking your team’s performance can also help you identify the high-performers and who might be available for extra work. You might also see when team members are spending time on unnecessary tasks that don’t contribute to the progress of the project. Teams will be more efficient when they know exactly where time is being spent. 

If you don’t track your team’s hours, you won’t have visibility into your projects and their rate of completion. 

Assign tasks to the right person

There are several reasons why you might choose a particular person to assign a task to, starting with their relevant skills and experience. When assigning tasks to someone, you want to know that they have the right capabilities to complete the task without too much support from the manager. 

Secondly, you want to know that the person you assign the task to has enough time to complete the task. It’s no good assigning tasks to someone who is already overburdened with customer tickets and won’t be able to give your task the due care and attention. 

Thirdly, you might consider assigning tasks to someone who is in need of development opportunities. Perhaps there might be someone more skilled for the task out there, but you want to give this service rep a chance to learn new skills. In this case, you can assign the task while offering extra support for their professional development. 

Multiple factors come into play when it comes to deciding which person to assign a task to, so make sure you give each one enough consideration. 

Relate each task to a wider perspective

When an employee is assigned a task, it might seem insignificant and menial which will cause them to lose motivation. In order to keep employees excited about completing tasks, relate it to the wider perspective and explain how it helps to meet overall objectives. No task is too small or you wouldn’t be including it in your project in the first place. 

Showing employees how their work has an impact influences them to become more committed to the task. Employees are more engaged and happier at work when they understand how their contribution has a place, and that they are improving the lives of others in their team or of their customers. 

If you can’t see how each task fits into the bigger picture, then perhaps it shouldn’t be included at all. Every task should advance your goals and contribute to the progress of the project. 

If it’s not clear how a task fits into the broader picture, try to imagine what would happen if that task was left incomplete. 

Offer feedback on tasks

Every customer service rep needs to understand their performance, whether the feedback is positive or negative. If an employee has no feedback, they have no idea how their work has impacted the team or whether their task has been successful. Without feedback, employees can’t improve and become more productive members of the team. 

Providing your service reps with feedback means they can move onto progressively harder tasks that help them with their development. Even negative feedback can provide motivation to improve as the employee understands exactly what they did wrong with the task. 

While providing feedback does take some time on the part of the customer service manager, it’s the only way that your team members can become more effective, able to take on more complex tasks that would normally go to more senior members of the team. 

Be sure to phrase your feedback constructively to avoid demoralizing the team. 

Wrapping up

Customer service teams that master the art of effective task assignment are more productive, more creative, and have better solutions than their counterparts who can’t assign tasks. In an efficient customer service team, everyone should know what is expected of them and how their work contributes to the whole. 

Task assignments should be clear, detailed and accountable, with hard deadlines for completion. 

Effective teamwork means you can accomplish more than you could as individuals, and assigning tasks is a big part of working together. With transparency and accountability, managers can monitor how everyone is adding to the project. 

Catherine is a content writer and community builder for creative and ethical companies. She often writes case studies, help documentation and articles about customer support. Her writing has helped businesses to attract curious audiences and transform them into loyal advocates. You can find more of her work at https://awaywithwords.co.

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What is a task? and how to get more of them done

While the word “task” might bring about feelings of despair related to chores or undesirable actions, this is usually related more so to the way you have to manage your time than the task itself.

In this article, we’ll do a deep dive into tasks, show you the best ways to break down larger projects into them, while covering efficient approaches to manage and distribute tasks.

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What is a task in a project?

In project management, a task is a work item or activity with a specific purpose related to the larger goal. It’s a necessary step on the road towards project completion.

For example, it could be something as complex as a mobile app bug fix.

Or it could be something as simple as photocopying the latest brochure for distribution.

Single tasks are typically assigned to a single person or team, while the larger project could be a company-wide endeavor.

The task may or may not include a start and end date or a series of subtasks—this all depends on the complexity of the project at hand, which could be related to industry.

How do you break down a project into smaller tasks?

Even long term Scrum projects that last  11.6 weeks on average make use of task management to get their work done efficiently and effectively.

Part of task management includes creating manageable workloads, considering task dependencies, and of course, communicating across teams to avoid double work or roadblocks.

To avoid these issues, you need some way to break down the high-level project deliverables and goals into tangible tasks.

In the next section, we’ll show you two of the most popular methodologies, Waterfall, and Scrum.

Work Breakdown Structure

The work breakdown structure (WBS) is the official method of breaking down projects in the PMI Guidebook.

To figure out how to break the entire project into tasks, you first need to divide it into the actual deliverables required to hand over the final product or result to the client.

For example, if you’re planning to make a mountain bike, you can break that down into the frame, handlebars, pedals, wheels, chains, and so on.

( Image Source )

You also need to work out the dependencies of the project (aka which deliverables require another one for completion).

If we were to simplify the WBS, the section on manufacturing the bike frame might look something like this.

Of course, each item contains multiple tasks such as sourcing vendors, reviewing designs, picking materials, and more.

But if you assign these tasks to teams who have the necessary skills to complete all of them, that’s what the top-level plan might look like.

If you use an Agile framework, like Scrum, you won’t bother breaking down the entire project into detailed tasks at an early stage. Avoiding this large-scale exercise in prediction is one of the primary principles of Agile.

Instead, you’ll focus on planning out a deliverable increment of your product in Scrum sprints . These are 2–4 week periods of focused work dedicated to delivering a working product version of the final deliverable.

The basis for planning out these iterations is a backlog of features or user stories (functionality from the user’s perspective). You may also have a product roadmap to outline the long-term product direction as well.

The product backlog is continually pruned and optimized before, during, and after sprints. Even if you’re not planning software projects, you can often single out elements that you can deliver in increments.

Before each Sprint, you meet with your team and stakeholders (invested parties) to discuss which user stories are the most important. You select a few items and create a dedicated sprint backlog.

Each user story is then further divided into tasks, and team members take ownership of the specific tasks they can handle.

It’s not ideal for all organizations or projects, but it’s an antidote against micromanagement in complex projects.

What size should a project task be?

So how granular should you get? What should the scope and length of the task in your project be?

It depends on the size of your project and your PM framework, but here are some rules of thumb.

The 8/80 rule for WBS

In traditional project management, a rule of thumb is that no task should be shorter than 8 hours or longer than 80 hours in the WBS.

That’s why the PMI recommends keeping tasks between 20–80 hours in the WBS.

Your individual teams can then have more granular task boards to manage their own to-do lists and/or break 2-week tasks down into daily sub-tasks.

Task length in Scrum

While user stories generally have no specified length, they’re often broken down into manageable chunks, usually one workday or less.

The official Scrum Guide doesn’t use the word tasks, but instead uses the term work unit:

“ Work planned for the first days of the Sprint by the Development Team is decomposed by the end of this meeting, often to units of one day or less. ”

On a Scrum board , you can use story points (at monday.com, we equate 1 SP to a workday) to estimate the length of the task.

Tasks shouldn’t require more than one resource

When you break down deliverables into individual tasks, time isn’t the only consideration. The best approach is to make sure the person (or resource) who’s assigned the task can complete it from start to finish.

For example, a graphic designer could create a wireframe for an app, but wouldn’t be able to create a working prototype.

So you should split the larger deliverable of a working feature prototype into wireframe/design and development (at the very least).

For larger companies, a resource could be an entire team that includes designers, developers, and software testers. In which case, you don’t have to get as granular when planning and assigning tasks.

Accurately estimating task durations

The best way to predict the duration of tasks is to involve the actual resources who will handle the task in the planning process.

You don’t need to switch to Agile or Scrum to make this happen. You just need to involve the actual project implementers in the planning process, not just management.

Not only can they help with task durations, but they can also help with dependencies and expecting potential bottlenecks.

What is the best way to organize project tasks?

There are hundreds of different frameworks and methods for managing projects and breaking them down into tasks.

A few stand out because of their efficiency and ease of adoption and have become popular as a result.

Let’s take a closer look at these industry-leading options.

Waterfall refers to the traditional “predictive” project management approach. It’s called predictive because you plan every phase of the project from start to finish before even getting started.

The reason it’s called waterfall is that the projects are planned to follow a sequential order.

First, you start out by figuring out the requirements of the project. What deliverables do you need to deliver a finished product?

Then you move on to designing and creating (implementing) it. Finally, you verify that the product works as intended, and launch it. The last stage includes the long-term maintenance of the product.

While berating waterfall is a popular pastime among younger management professionals, it has its place.

For physical products with a lot of dependencies and high costs associated with actual production time, mapping out the entire project in detail can be the best approach.

Instead of a specific methodology, Agile outlines a core set of values and principles to apply to your projects. As a result, Agile is an umbrella term that covers many different methodologies and frameworks .

The most famous principle is to deliver working iterations of your project frequently. That’s in contrast to planning out an entire product from start to finish like with waterfall.

Lean, like Agile, is not a specific framework that details a project management approach. Instead, it refers to a management philosophy with a core set of principles.

The focus of Lean is eliminating waste in processes throughout each stage of production. The execution is what controls the outcome, after all.

Fixing bottlenecks between departments to speed up the final assembly is a good example.

Not to be confused with Agile, which is more about high-level concepts and principles, Scrum is an actual framework for project management.

It outlines clear rules, meetings (ceremonies), and deliverables (artifacts), not just values.

For example, Scrum teams should only include a maximum of 9 regular team members. Daily Scrum meetings should only last 15 minutes.

The entire process of designing and completing a sprint is laid out in detail. That’s what makes the Scrum framework so useful for teams that want to implement more Agile principles into practice.

How to use a project management platform for effective task management

Instead of slowing down your managers and teams with an inefficient process, take advantage of the latest task management software .

monday.com is a digital workspace with all the functionality a project manager could ever want, wrapped in a package that’s actually easy to learn and use.

Pick the framework or methodology you want to work with

If you want to reach a completely new target level of productivity, basic task management won’t cut it. You need to introduce a project management framework that goes beyond daily tasks.

Luckily, monday.com makes it easy to make the switch. We offer dedicated templates for everything from WBS to Scrum.

Develop the high-level project roadmap

For consistent results, you should develop a high-level project roadmap. It will help guide all decisions and priorities as the project progresses.

Get more granular with a WBS and other task boards

This is where you break the larger goals into smaller deliverables and start to establish the workload for each team or department that’s involved.

It should outline the overall process but may not specify every activity or task, depending on the scale of the project.

But it’s not the best for planning individual tasks within the involved teams or departments.

Which is why monday.com also offers more basic task boards that these teams can use to manage the day-to-day.

You can easily divide larger items into smaller subtasks and assign them as well.

Use integrations and automations to automate menial tasks

If you want to perfect your workflow , it’s not enough to create some new task boards. You also need to eliminate repetitive menial tasks.

For example, with our smart integrations, you can automatically update a card or create a new task when you receive an email or message.

It’s a useful feature for a wide variety of teams and use-cases. For example, your software team could get a new task with every bug report.

By automating menial tasks, you give your managers and team the time and space to focus on crucial high-level decisions.

Keep managers up to speed with dashboards and reports

Want to see at a glance if tasks are being completed on schedule, or which people (or teams) are available for last-minute work?

You can easily create and customize a dashboard that will give your managers instant access to all the information they need.

Master your tasks

Breaking down a project into tasks and assigning them effectively requires a bit of balance.

Finding the framework that works best for your industry and internal workflows and pairing them with the tips above can help you find the happy medium of management and autonomy that will allow your teams to thrive.

Whichever you choose, monday.com has the right templates and tools to help your projects succeed.

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Task Management: Importance, Best Practices, & Tools

Struggling to understand how your project tasks contribute to larger project goals? This comprehensive guide will help you understand how to plan, prioritize, and manage tasks. Plus, how to track progress and keep the project team in the loop.

Task management bridges the gap between the goals you documented in your project charter and what work needs to happen for your fledgling project to get off the ground. 

It tends to be a glossed-over capability in project management because, while it sounds simple in theory, it can be trickier to execute in practice (although it’s made much simpler through the use of task management software rather than Excel spreadsheets).

What Is Task Management In Project Management?

Task management is a critical aspect of project management that involves:

• Identifying the tasks necessary to fulfill project goals : Break down project objectives into smaller, more manageable activities that can be assigned to individual team members. Ensure each task is clear, specific, and achievable, with a well-defined purpose and deadline. Unclear guidance may compromise timely, quality task completion.
• Assigning those tasks to team members : Consider the relative priority of each task or deliverable and assign it to the appropriate team member based on their skills and availability. 
• Monitoring and tracking progress towards completion : This involves identifying potential roadblocks, removing impediments to execution, and making adjustments to the project timeline, as necessary.

The ultimate goal of task management is to ensure that each task is completed on time, to the required standard, and within budget.

Task Management vs Project Management

While task management and project management are related, they are not the same thing. Project management involves overseeing the entire project from inception to completion with a focus on key milestones, while task management focuses on the individual tasks and activities that make up the project.

Task management breaks down high-level project goals into smaller, more manageable tasks. Creating a project plan that outlines each task and its associated deadline (and inputting that information into your task management platform) makes it easier to track task progress and identify any potential roadblocks that may arise.

Why Is Task Management Important?

Task management offers several benefits, including:

• Increased efficiency and productivity. By having a clear understanding of what needs to be done and when, your team members can focus their efforts on completing their tasks rather than wasting time trying to figure out what they should be doing. This means faster turnaround times, increased output, and, ultimately, greater profitability.
• Improved communication and team collaboration. Through the process of breaking down projects into smaller, more manageable tasks, team members share ideas and insights with one another about their work. Gathering cross-functional perspectives leads to better decision-making and more innovative solutions to problems.
• Clearer understanding of project goals and objectives . When team members know what is expected of them and understand how their work impacts project and organizational goals, they are more likely to stay motivated and focused.
• Greater visibility into project progress. By tracking team tasks and monitoring progress, project managers can quickly identify potential issues and take corrective action before they become major problems. This can help to reduce the risk of missed deadlines and scope creep , which can be costly and damaging to a project's success.

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How To Manage Tasks

Here’s a closer look at each step in the task management process:

Step 1: Identify Tasks

The first step in task management is to identify the set of tasks that need to be completed to achieve project goals.

To generate this list, brainstorm what steps you would need to take to execute against project goals and organize those tasks into categories. Consult the project plan, statement of work, and other foundational project documents to help you. 

For example, if you’re building a website, you would probably include steps for design, development, and QA. You can categorize tasks based on priority, complexity, or the team or individual responsible for completing them.

Validate the task list with subject matter experts and other project team members and compare against prior projects that you or your organization has completed to be sure you don’t miss anything.

Once you have a list of tasks, you can further break them down into sub-tasks to make them more manageable. This will help you to identify any dependencies between tasks and ensure that you have a clear understanding of the work that must be accomplished.

Step 2: Schedule Tasks

Scheduling involves determining the start and due dates for each task and creating a timeline for the project. To do this, you can use a project management tool that allows you to create a Gantt chart or provides a timeline view.

When you are scheduling and prioritizing tasks, consider any task dependencies or recurring tasks. For example, if Task A needs to be completed before Task B can start, you need to ensure that Task A is scheduled before Task B. You also need to consider any constraints, such as internal or external deadlines, resource availability , or budget limitations.

Step 3: Assign Tasks

Effectively managing resources and assigning the project tasks to team members involves understanding each assignee’s skills and abilities and allocating tasks based on team workload and availability.

You can use a project management tool to assign tasks and track their progress. This will make it more interactive and help you to ensure that each team member knows what they need to do and when they need to do it. It will also help flag any potential bottlenecks or issues that may arise during the project.

Step 4: Track Progress

This involves monitoring the status of each task and making any necessary adjustments to the schedule. Task management software can help streamline how you monitor and report progress.

Effective task tracking requires regular communication with your team members. Building trusted relationships with your team gives you insights into any issues or challenges they may be facing when it comes to their project tasks. You can use this knowledge to help remove any blockers they may be facing and ensure tasks are accomplished more efficiently.

Step 5: Complete Tasks

The final step in task management is to ensure that each task is completed successfully. This involves reviewing the work to ensure that it meets the required quality standards and approving the task for completion.

To do this, you can use a checklist or a quality assurance process to ensure that each task meets the project requirements.

At the end of the project, don’t skip the opportunity to collect lessons learned . You can implement these findings to improve your task management process on future projects.

Task Management Best Practices

Best practices for task management include:

• Don’t work in a vacuum! Consult subject matter experts, your project sponsor, and other project managers to validate the activities that you’ve identified, what the work entails, their duration, and how you’ve allocated workload across the team. The better your planning, the smoother things will go in execution.
• Verify that completion of the tasks you’ve identified will help further your project objectives . If a task doesn’t help you do that, be wary of adding it to your project plan, as it may be a sign of scope creep.
• Schedule tasks realistically based on project constraints , like budget, timeline, and resource availability. If your stakeholders want a task completed by a certain date, but there’s just no way, don’t create a schedule that promises delivery by that deadline. Instead, meet with the team to formulate a workaround—whether that’s adjusting the deadline, adding resources, or reducing scope.
• Align team member motivations, capabilities, and availability with assigned tasks , where possible. This reduces the risk that you’ll fail to meet deadlines and/or quality thresholds.
• Document and communicate progress . Make sure you keep your stakeholders apprised of project progress and potential issues along the way, so you can course correct, as needed.

Common Pitfalls Of Task Management

While task management can lead to success, there are also common pitfalls that you should try to avoid:

• Micromanagement , which can lead to decreased motivation among team members. Instead, give team members the information they need to complete tasks but don’t be overly prescriptive about how they execute the work. Set up regular check-ins that you both agree upon at task outset to monitor interim progress
• Failure to prioritize tasks , which can result in missed deadlines
• Failure to provide sufficient detail when assigning tasks, which can lead to confusion and mistakes
• Overloading team members with too many tasks , which can result in burnout and decreased productivity. Instead, consider resource availability and workload when assigning tasks
• Failure to track progress , which can lead to missed deadlines and scope creep.

Benefits of Task Management Software

Task management software is an essential tool for large and small businesses, teams, or individuals that are looking to organize their tasks and projects efficiently. Benefits of task management systems include:

• Easier schedule management with calendar views
• Intuitive designs and templates that align with agile methodologies and sprint schedules
• User-friendly drag-and-drop functionality to reprioritize tasks on the fly
• Customizable task management features based on organizational needs and desired pricing (whether paid plans or free plans)
• Ability to adjust user permissions
• Integration with customer relationship management (CRM) systems.

Here’s a list of the 15 best task management software tools available on the market right now.

• 1. Wrike — Best task management tool with built-in templates
• 2. monday.com — Best for visual project planning
• 3. Connecteam — Best for remote teams
• 4. QuickBase — Best for customizability
• 5. Zoho Projects — Best for resource management
• 6. Miro — Best for visual collaboration
• 7. Nifty — Best for milestone tracking
• 8. Forecast — Best for project forecasting
• 9. Paymo — Best for freelancers
• 10. Kintone — Best for custom workflows

Different Types Of Task Management Tools

Task management tools can help you stay organized when it comes to work management, increase productivity, and foster teamwork. Examples include:

• To do lists. To do lists are an essential tool for managing tasks and keeping yourself organized. Ranging from sophisticated mobile apps like Todoist to analog lists, there are a variety of ways to keep track of tasks, master your workload, and improve efficiency.
• Kanban boards. Kanban boards are a type of task management tool that provides teams with a visual system to manage projects, workflows, and communication. They consist of columns representing different stages of a team’s workflow and cards representing individual tasks. As cards move through the workflow, teams use the board to spot inefficiencies in task progress, limit work in progress, and enhance collaboration.
• Project management software. Project management software (which is slightly different from task management software ) helps plan, organize, and manage projects. Tools typically include features such as task lists, calendars, and project timelines. Some popular project management software includes Asana , Wrike , monday.com , Clickup , and Trello .
• Task management software. Task management solutions help manage individual tasks and to-do lists. It typically includes features such as task lists, notifications, reminders, and progress tracking. Some popular task management apps include Todoist, Wunderlist, and Any.do, which are available for iOS and Android devices.
• Collaboration tools. Collaboration tools are designed to help teams work together more effectively. These tools typically include features such as task lists, project timelines, and communication tools , and are particularly useful for geographically dispersed or remote teams. Some popular collaboration tools include Trello, Asana, and Slack.
• Time tracking software and integrations. Time tracking software tracks how much time you spend on different tasks, and is useful for individuals or teams who need to invoice clients based on hours logged or automate their tracking of project expenses. It can also help you identify areas where you may be spending too much time (read: budget) and make adjustments to your workflow.

What’s Next?

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How To Improve Workflow Efficiency & Tips To Boost Productivity

How to create an effective workflow in 7 simple steps, how to manage a project team: 9 tips for every team member.

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The Ultimate Guide to…

Task Management

Brought to you by projectmanager, the online task management tool used to plan over 2 million projects..

What Is Task Management?

• Why Manage Tasks?

Common Task Management Tools

What is task management software, benefits of task management software, how to manage tasks in projectmanager, how to manage your team’s tasks.

• What You See On a Task Management System
• How To Track Task Progress

How Often Should You Update Your To-Do List?

Should you share task lists, how to save time with task management tools, next steps for task management.

Projects are made up of tasks, and knowing how to manage your tasks and team members is the secret to getting your projects completed on time. At its simplest, task management is having a to-do list, but you’ll soon find that to-do lists aren’t going to cut it for managing project workloads.

Task management is a process where a project manager identifies, monitors and progresses the work that needs to be done during the day. In terms of project management, task management is how the workflow is efficiently organized. It’s task-oriented, detailed and part of the larger scheduling of a project.

Tasks come in all shapes and sizes, and so should task management software. ProjectManager is online project management software that helps teams manage their tasks in real time. Assign and prioritize tasks, set up recurring tasks and give teams a collaborative platform to share files and comments. More than a mere to-do list, our tool also helps track your tasks in real time to keep you on track. Get started for free today.

A task, just like a project, has a life cycle. It starts when the task is ready, then it’s assigned, started, finished and verified. It can also be terminated, expired, paused or failed. Some tasks can be dependent on others to start or finish. The process of monitoring them is known as task tracking and it’s an important aspect of project management.

Task management is a complicated discipline, one that requires great attention to detail, flexibility and the right project management tools.

Why Should You Use Task Management Tools?

You can’t be efficient if all you do is react to whoever shouts the loudest at work. You can’t be efficient purely by answering the next email in your inbox. And data from the Pew Research Center points to another reason that you might not be as good at managing your tasks as you think: 70% of Facebook users spend time on the app every day.

You have to manage your tasks as a group because what comes in next might not be the most important. You have to manage your time to spend the right amount of time working on the priority tasks.

To keep things organized you’ll need a task management tool to help you prioritize tasks, track progress and collaborate with your team. Our free Related: task tracking template is a great place to start monitoring your project tasks.

Task management tools let you stay on top of all your work and help your team hit their deadlines too. The benefits of task management are:

• You can see everything you are working on at once
• You know what your priorities are
• You know how much time you’ve got to do those tasks
• You can group tasks together to work on similar things at the same time

Some project management tools also offer resource management, time tracking, and team collaboration features so that you can manage your projects.

Above all, you can keep a balanced workload so that you can adjust or delegate tasks and deadlines⁠—preventing you from being overworked.

There are lots of project management tools for managing your tasks. We’ll outline a few of the more common tools below.

To-Do Lists

At the simplest, you’ve got a notebook and pen and you can write down your to-do list. The downside of this simple approach is that it’s hard to move tasks around to group them and prioritize them. Today most task management apps come with a to-do list feature that helps you better track, prioritize and assign tasks.

Online Task Lists

The online task list is a step up from a to-do list. Since it’s online, it can be accessed from anywhere, and it can be updated and edited easily.

ProjectManager’s online task list lets you have complete control over your tasks. Add due dates, priority levels, attachments, notes and even tags for easy sorting. Plus, you can set recurring tasks so you don’t have to keep adding them to the project. If you’re working on a team, you can assign tasks to other team members to help carry the workload.

Online Kanban Boards

If task lists just don’t do it for you, try using kanban boards to manage tasks. Kanban boards are a popular project management tool that provides a visual means to manage your project tasks. Tasks are created using kanban cards, which are then placed in relevant columns.

Kanban board columns are typically labeled as “to do, doing, done,” but with ProjectManager you can customize your columns to say whatever you want. Plus, just like with the task list feature, you can add files, comments, priority levels and more to your tasks. The user-friendly interface allows you to quickly track progress levels for tasks, and where a bottleneck or overdue task might be lurking.

Task management software streamlines the process of managing tasks. It gives project managers more control over project tasks and teams the means to work better together to complete those tasks.

Comprehensive task management software , like ProjectManager, lets you use all of the most common task management tools in one software. Task management is more than just making a to-do list and crossing out those tasks once they’re complete. It’s controlling your work, prioritizing tasks, collaborating with team members and tracking progress.

Watch the video below to learn more about task management, and how a well-organized task list can set you up for success.

Powerful task management software can offer a path for your teams to work more productively. A task management tool that is integrated with other project management features is even better and can help you better manage tasks and projects.

Here are some key benefits to look out for when choosing the best task management software to manage your work.

• Track time spent on work
• Collaborate with teams
• Organize, prioritize and assign tasks
• Monitor progress in real-time
• Update status of tasks online
• Attach notes, files, links and make comments to tasks
• Share tasks with the team
• Create personal to-do lists within tasks

Must-Have Task Management Software Features

Prioritize Work & Set Recurring Tasks

More than a to-do list, you need project management software equipped with a task list where you can assign tasks, track progress, set priorities, attach files, share comments and list due dates. Set recurring tasks for repeated work to save time. You want the ability to create your own private task lists and migrate them to Gantt charts too, so you can organize your work.

Visualize & Customize Workflow

Kanban boards visualize workflow and should be easy to use with drag and drop cards. Your kanban board columns need to be customizable so you can align the tool to your project’s production cycle. They can be great to organize tasks, collect product backlog items and plan sprints.

Stay Updated on All Changes

Staying updated with everyone’s work facilitates team collaboration and gives project managers real-time data to make better decisions. Changes to tasks can trigger email alerts to keep everyone on the same page. In-app notification is even better.

Work Better Together

Give your team a collaborative project management platform and they’ll be more productive. Online task management software connects teams anywhere and at any time, to let them comment on their tasks and attach relevant files to foster teamwork.

Get Real-Time Data on Task Progress

To stay on schedule you need to keep an accurate time tracking record of your team’s logged hours on tasks. There are also the costs associated with resources, which must be tracked to stay on budget. An online task management tool can monitor progress and track performance.

Find Tasks Quickly & Easily

Projects have many tasks and you want to be able to find the one you need when you need it. That’s where tags come in. By tagging tasks by priority, department or deliverable, you can quickly filter your work and see just what you want when you want it.

ProjectManager gives you all the task management tools you need to collect, assign and track tasks through every phase of their life cycle.

Here’s a step-by-step list of how to manage your tasks in ProjectManager. Sign up for a free trial and follow along to take control of your project tasks.

1. Import Task List or Start a New One

Tasks are the small jobs that lead to the final deliverable. You break down the larger project into these more manageable tasks, which is called a task list.

In ProjectManager, you can easily import your task list from any spreadsheet or even from another project management software, once it’s been exported. Or you can open a new project and start your task list in the software.

ProjectManager allows you to visualize your task list using multiple project views such as Gantt charts, kanban boards, project calendars or the task list view.

2. Prioritize Tasks

Tasks can be overwhelming unless you first determine what must be done, what’s important and what can be ignored if there’s no time. That’s called prioritization.

ProjectManager has a pulldown menu that can indicate priority. There are preset priorities with symbols and color codes. Now you can filter your task list to see what to work on next.

3. Add Task Descriptions

Tasks should come with directions. Teams shouldn’t be micromanaged, but there is usually project management documentation that clarifies expectations. That frees up both the manager and the team member.

Our project management software has unlimited file storage, so managers and team members alike can attach as many documents and images that they need to the task. Team members can even manage their own tasks by adding to-do lists or comments.

4. Assign Work

No task gets done unless there’s someone assigned to it. Assigning work is what triggers that task’s execution. No amount of direction or organization is going to overcome a lack of accountability.

ProjectManager’s task management tools make assigning tasks easy. Once you’ve invited the team into the project, they’re all collected in the dropdown menu on the task. Simply select one or more team members and they’ll be alerted by email.

5. Switch to Kanban View

Not all team members are going to work the same way. Managers and stakeholders tend to respond to the timeline view of a Gantt chart. Team members, however, want a project view that helps them track tasks and manage their work. Kanban boards are a great task management tool to visualize production cycles and automate workflows .

ProjectManager has a kanban board view that’s fully customizable. Team members can organize their tasks into columns, such as to do, doing and done. Then they can just drag and drop their task card to the appropriate kanban board column. This helps them stay focused on what’s high priority, while providing transparency into what everyone is working on.

6. Set Up Filters

On big projects, tasks are going to need more identifiers than just priority levels, or else they’ll fall through the cracks. Plus project managers will want their team to update their statuses with notes and progress levels.

With ProjectManager’s task tracking features, team members can indicate their status on a progress bar, noting how much work they’ve done. Managers can filter by progress to see what work has been started. You can set custom tags for better categorization, too.

7. Stay Productive with Collaboration Features & Email Alerts

Team collaboration is what makes projects more productive. Getting team members to work better together leads to greater efficiencies and quality deliverables. Being able to give teams collaborative tools is essential to any successful task management.

ProjectManager’s task management tools facilitate collaboration at the task level by giving teams a project management platform to communicate. When a comment is added to the task, an email notifies the other person. If that person isn’t assigned to the task, you can still bring them into the conversation by tagging them in the task list, kanban board, Gantt chart or project calendar view. While it can be difficult to search out these dialogues on email, they’re all tethered to your task and easy to find on ProjectManager.

8. Track with Dashboard

Managing tasks means tracking progress. If your tasks aren’t performing as planned, then your project is in trouble. A task tracking dashboard collects project metrics to give you a high-level view of the project.

ProjectManager has a real-time project management dashboard, so the data collected isn’t from yesterday, but as current as the most recent status update. It then takes all that information and crunches the numbers, displaying the results in user-friendly graphs and charts that can be shared with stakeholders.

9. Get Detailed Reports

Dashboards are good for broad strokes, but managing tasks means getting into the weeds sometimes.

ProjectManager has easy reporting features that can be filtered to show just the data you want. Get reports on tasks, seeing due dates, milestones summary and more. There are also project management reports on variance, workload, availability and others.

ProjectManager gives you much greater flexibility than paper to-do lists and task management apps, and it’s not only about making sure everyone has access to the ‘master’ list of tasks. You can:

• Use kanban boards, Gantt charts, task lists and project calendars.
• Turn task lists into projects
• Export and import lists from Excel or MSP
• Define custom kanban board views
• Filter lists by day/week/month
• Drill down into the details of a task from the task list
• Manage dozens (and even hundreds) of tasks from multiple projects easily with only a few clicks.

If you need a task management software that lets you manage tasks in multiple ways, and roll those tasks up into full-blown projects with resource management, task tracking and reporting tools, then sign up for a free trial of ProjectManager .

One of the big challenges for project managers is making sure that tasks are done by others. When it’s your responsibility, you know that you will get around to it, but when you need to delegate tasks—let’s face it, they probably need a little chase every now and then, even if it is an action that has been recorded in the minutes of a meeting.

When other people take an action in a meeting, make a note of it and add it to your task management app. Assign it to the right person and it will show up in their personal to-do list. Then they won’t forget!

With a project management software like ProjectManager, you’ll be able to monitor progress and see how your team members are doing. Filter the project’s task list by resource to see what work everyone has got on: this gives you an at-a-glance view of the workload for each person. You can then remind them from time to time about what they agreed to do, making sure it is completed before the deadline.

The cool thing here is that it means your simple to-do list is linked to resource management reporting. You can pull up details of who has too much to do and who has some capacity to take on more work, using the information in your task list, Gantt chart or kanban board. It saves a lot of time and duplication of effort.

ProjectManager lets you see your team’s workload at a glance with our resource management tools. Our colorful resource chart indicates if any team member is over or under allocated, and then lets you reassign tasks with just a few clicks to balance the workload.

How to Use a Task Management Software

The main things you’ll see in your task management tool are – obviously! – the tasks. Make the Tasks page of your project management tool the first place you go every day.

You’ll see the work you have assigned to you that day, their percent complete , and the upcoming tasks so you can check that the priorities align to what you feel you need to work on and make any changes to your task list as necessary.

Click any task and you will see the details about that piece of work. In ProjectManager you can go even further, sequencing tasks , sharing status updates, adding links, uploading files and audio messages to your task. It’s a great way of keeping everything to do with that activity in one place.

Tasks that are overdue will be highlighted automatically by the task management app. This is helpful to see what you should have completed by now but haven’t. You can either agree with your team that the due dates for completion needs to be changed or get cracking on making sure that work is finished off. It’s a very visual reminder of what needs to be done!

Pro Tip: Don’t let a long task list overwhelm you. Stay focused and avoid multitasking .

How To Use Task Tracking Features

On your task management tool you’ll see a column for ‘Progress’. This is an indication of how far through you are with the work. Anything that is greater than 0% means the task has started and when it gets to 100% the task life cycle will be considered complete.

In ProjectManager, your team members can update their tasks’ life cycle manually by expanding the task and updating the progress timeline. The task tracking data flows through to the timesheets and updates your project schedules to reflect how the team is getting on with the tasks allocated to them.

The easiest way to stay on top of your deadlines and tasks, and those of your team, is to update your to-do list once any individual item on it is completed. If that sounds like too much to remember, check your to-do list at the end of every day and mark the tasks you finished that day as complete. Mark anything that you started as ‘in progress’.

It will take you a minute or two and it means that tomorrow you’ll be starting work with a clear idea of what you are in the middle of and what should be your next priority.

Pro Tip: Book a 15 minute slot in your calendar at the end of every day to update your task list. If you are using timesheets (and you should be) then you can fill them in at the same time.

Yes! Task management works best when everyone can see what needs to be done. Online task management software makes this easy because your project task list can be shared with the team. Don’t worry about people getting confused about what they personally need to do: each task will be allocated to an individual so you get the whole picture for the project while still knowing what you are personally responsible for.

The exception to this rule is that you will probably want to keep your personal tasks separate from project tasks. Items like completing your expenses, that meeting with HR you’ve been meaning to organize or providing a reference for someone who has just left are tasks that you don’t need to share with your team.

Managing your tasks, and those of your team, takes up valuable time in the day. You may be wondering if it’s worth it. When time is money, are you really going to get a return from spending so much time on managing your workload?

The answer is easy: Yes! Not managing tasks is a recipe for missing deadlines and feeling overwhelmed. You’ll spend more time working out your priorities every week and dealing with the fact you’ve spent time on the less important tasks while ignoring a looming deadline. Ultimately that will cost you money, time and stress.

You can still cut down the amount of time it takes to manage your tasks by using the right project management tools. Here are 5 tips for saving time on task management activities.

• Tip #1: Use Your Project Calendar What gets scheduled gets done. Use your project calendar or project schedule to add deadlines for your tasks. Then you can forecast when you might be busy and when you’ve got extra capacity.
• Tip #2: Stick With One Method Forget sticky notes on your monitor, a list on your tablet, scribbled notes on a piece of paper… you need one to-do list. Using online task management software or an app is the best way because you’ll probably always have your phone or laptop with you. You can quickly open the task management app on your smartphone or tablet and record the task.
• Tip #3: Prioritize your tasks We mentioned this earlier but it’s worth mentioning again. Creating one central list of tasks for you and the project team is a big help, but then you need to think about the right way to tackle that long work management list. Prioritize your tasks. There are two ways to do this: what’s urgent and what’s important. Of course, a task can be urgent and important at the same time and the priority of tasks can change from day to day!
• Tip #4: Track your time Using timesheets for time tracking is a great way to manage tasks. Why? Because it helps you see exactly where you are spending your time during the day and this information lets you prioritize effectively.
• Tip #5: Delegate Finally, look at what you can delegate. You don’t have to do everything on the project yourself. Projects are a great development and learning opportunity for your team members too, so think about what you can delegate to others. Not only can you pat yourself on the back for helping develop their skills, it is also work off your to-do list that you don’t have to do!

If you haven’t already found the task management app that works for you, now is the time to test drive a few products and find one that suits your style.

ProjectManager is easy to use, quick to set up and lets you manage task lists with your team from wherever you are.

Start your free 30-day trial

Task management resources.

• How to Estimate Tasks and Dependencies
• 5 Ways to Improve Time Tracking
• 10 Tips for Better Task Management
• How to Link Tasks on a Project
• Project Management Trends (2022)
• How to Prioritize With Personal Kanban
• How to Schedule Different Project Tasks
• How You Can Manage Task Dependencies
• 5 Tips for Task Estimating
• What Is Batching and How Can I Use It to Get More Done?
• How to Make & Maintain a Project List

Deliver faster, collaborate better, innovate more effectively — without the high prices and months-long implementation and extensive training required by other products.

Synonyms of assignment

• as in lesson
• as in appointment
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Thesaurus Definition of assignment

Synonyms & Similar Words

• responsibility
• undertaking
• requirement
• designation
• appointment
• authorization
• installment
• installation
• destination
• emplacement
• investiture
• singling (out)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dethronement

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun assignment contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of assignment are chore , duty , job , stint , and task . While all these words mean "a piece of work to be done," assignment implies a definite limited task assigned by one in authority.

When is it sensible to use chore instead of assignment ?

While the synonyms chore and assignment are close in meaning, chore implies a minor routine activity necessary for maintaining a household or farm.

When is duty a more appropriate choice than assignment ?

Although the words duty and assignment have much in common, duty implies an obligation to perform or responsibility for performance.

When might job be a better fit than assignment ?

The synonyms job and assignment are sometimes interchangeable, but job applies to a piece of work voluntarily performed; it may sometimes suggest difficulty or importance.

When could stint be used to replace assignment ?

In some situations, the words stint and assignment are roughly equivalent. However, stint implies a carefully allotted or measured quantity of assigned work or service.

When can task be used instead of assignment ?

The meanings of task and assignment largely overlap; however, task implies work imposed by a person in authority or an employer or by circumstance.

Thesaurus Entries Near assignment

assignments

Cite this Entry

“Assignment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/assignment. Accessed 9 Jun. 2024.

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What is the difference between "task" and "assignment"? [duplicate]

Possible Duplicate: Task, project, assignment, job. Which one is correct in my case?

These words don't have exact matches in Portuguese, so sometimes I get confused about their usage. When is it more suitable to use task rather than assigment and vice versa?

• differences

Task is a piece of work to be done or undertaken.

Assignment is a task assigned as part of a job or course of study.

In short, assignment = task given to you.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged differences nouns or ask your own question .

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Look up a word, learn it forever.

/əˈsaɪnmənt/.

Other forms: assignments

Whether you’re an international spy with a new mission or a high school student with math homework — when you get an assignment , you’d better do it! An assignment is a task that someone in authority has asked you to do.

The word assignment is just the noun form of the common verb assign , which you use when you want to give someone a duty or a job. When you assign something, that something is called an assignment . The word can also refer to the act of distributing something. If you are distributing new office furniture at work, you might say, “ Assignment of the new chairs will begin tomorrow.”

• noun an undertaking that you have been assigned to do (as by an instructor) see more see less types: show 6 types... hide 6 types... school assignment , schoolwork a school task performed by a student to satisfy the teacher writing assignment , written assignment an assignment to write something classroom project a school task requiring considerable effort classwork the part of a student's work that is done in the classroom homework , prep , preparation preparatory school work done outside school (especially at home) lesson a task assigned for individual study type of: labor , project , task , undertaking any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted
• noun a duty that you are assigned to perform (especially in the armed forces) “a hazardous assignment ” synonyms: duty assignment see more see less types: show 10 types... hide 10 types... guard , guard duty , sentry duty , sentry go the duty of serving as a sentry fatigue , fatigue duty labor of a nonmilitary kind done by soldiers (cleaning or digging or draining or so on) charge , commission , mission a special assignment that is given to a person or group reassignment assignment to a different duty sea-duty , service abroad , shipboard duty naval service aboard a ship at sea shore duty naval service at land bases fool's errand a fruitless mission mission impossible an extremely dangerous or difficult mission martyr operation , sacrifice operation , suicide mission killing or injuring others while annihilating yourself; usually accomplished with a bomb secondment the detachment of a person from their regular organization for temporary assignment elsewhere type of: duty work that you are obliged to perform for moral or legal reasons
• noun the act of putting a person into a non-elective position synonyms: appointment , designation , naming see more see less types: show 6 types... hide 6 types... nomination the act of officially naming a candidate co-optation , co-option the act of appointing summarily (with or without the appointee's consent) delegacy the appointment of a delegate ordinance , ordination the act of ordaining; the act of conferring (or receiving) holy orders recognition designation by the chair granting a person the right to speak in a deliberative body laying on of hands laying hands on a person's head to invoke spiritual blessing in Christian ordination type of: conclusion , decision , determination the act of making up your mind about something
• noun the act of distributing something to designated places or persons “the first task is the assignment of an address to each datum” synonyms: assigning see more see less types: allocation , storage allocation (computer science) the assignment of particular areas of a magnetic disk to particular data or instructions type of: distribution the act of distributing or spreading or apportioning
• noun (law) a transfer of property by deed of conveyance synonyms: grant see more see less types: apanage , appanage a grant (by a sovereign or a legislative body) of resources to maintain a dependent member of a ruling family land grant a grant of public land (as to a railway or college) type of: transferred possession , transferred property a possession whose ownership changes or lapses
• noun the instrument by which a claim or right or interest or property is transferred from one person to another see more see less type of: instrument , legal document , legal instrument , official document (law) a document that states some contractual relationship or grants some right

Vocabulary lists containing assignment

The Dawes Act, or General Allotment Act of 1887, was a law that allowed the U.S. government to take Native American tribal lands and divide them into 40 acre lots for individual Native Americans. The goal was to break up communal tribal lands and speed the assimilation of Native Americans into American society. The Dawes Act caused great suffering with much of the land winding up in the hands of white settlers.

Learn these words from the autobiography by David Lubar (Inside: Level B, Unit 4). Here are our links to the selections of "Every Body Is a Winner": The Human Machine; My Fabulous Footprint , The Beat Goes On; All Pumped Up , Two Left Feet, Two Left Hands , How Coach Told Me; Bionics Here are our links to the units of Level B: Unit 1 , Unit 2 , Unit 3 , Unit 4 , Unit 5 , Unit 6 , Unit 7 , Unit 8 Here are our links to the Inside books: Level A , Level B , Level C Here is our link to a list of academic vocabulary for Inside: Academic Vocabulary

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Home » Assignment – Types, Examples and Writing Guide

Assignment – Types, Examples and Writing Guide

Table of Contents

Definition:

Assignment is a task given to students by a teacher or professor, usually as a means of assessing their understanding and application of course material. Assignments can take various forms, including essays, research papers, presentations, problem sets, lab reports, and more.

Assignments are typically designed to be completed outside of class time and may require independent research, critical thinking, and analysis. They are often graded and used as a significant component of a student’s overall course grade. The instructions for an assignment usually specify the goals, requirements, and deadlines for completion, and students are expected to meet these criteria to earn a good grade.

History of Assignment

The use of assignments as a tool for teaching and learning has been a part of education for centuries. Following is a brief history of the Assignment.

• Ancient Times: Assignments such as writing exercises, recitations, and memorization tasks were used to reinforce learning.
• Medieval Period : Universities began to develop the concept of the assignment, with students completing essays, commentaries, and translations to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of the subject matter.
• 19th Century : With the growth of schools and universities, assignments became more widespread and were used to assess student progress and achievement.
• 20th Century: The rise of distance education and online learning led to the further development of assignments as an integral part of the educational process.
• Present Day: Assignments continue to be used in a variety of educational settings and are seen as an effective way to promote student learning and assess student achievement. The nature and format of assignments continue to evolve in response to changing educational needs and technological innovations.

Types of Assignment

Here are some of the most common types of assignments:

An essay is a piece of writing that presents an argument, analysis, or interpretation of a topic or question. It usually consists of an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

Essay structure:

• Introduction : introduces the topic and thesis statement
• Body paragraphs : each paragraph presents a different argument or idea, with evidence and analysis to support it
• Conclusion : summarizes the key points and reiterates the thesis statement

Research paper

A research paper involves gathering and analyzing information on a particular topic, and presenting the findings in a well-structured, documented paper. It usually involves conducting original research, collecting data, and presenting it in a clear, organized manner.

Research paper structure:

• Title page : includes the title of the paper, author’s name, date, and institution
• Abstract : summarizes the paper’s main points and conclusions
• Introduction : provides background information on the topic and research question
• Literature review: summarizes previous research on the topic
• Methodology : explains how the research was conducted
• Results : presents the findings of the research
• Discussion : interprets the results and draws conclusions
• Conclusion : summarizes the key findings and implications

A case study involves analyzing a real-life situation, problem or issue, and presenting a solution or recommendations based on the analysis. It often involves extensive research, data analysis, and critical thinking.

Case study structure:

• Introduction : introduces the case study and its purpose
• Background : provides context and background information on the case
• Analysis : examines the key issues and problems in the case
• Solution/recommendations: proposes solutions or recommendations based on the analysis
• Conclusion: Summarize the key points and implications

A lab report is a scientific document that summarizes the results of a laboratory experiment or research project. It typically includes an introduction, methodology, results, discussion, and conclusion.

Lab report structure:

• Title page : includes the title of the experiment, author’s name, date, and institution
• Abstract : summarizes the purpose, methodology, and results of the experiment
• Methods : explains how the experiment was conducted
• Results : presents the findings of the experiment

Presentation

A presentation involves delivering information, data or findings to an audience, often with the use of visual aids such as slides, charts, or diagrams. It requires clear communication skills, good organization, and effective use of technology.

Presentation structure:

• Introduction : introduces the topic and purpose of the presentation
• Body : presents the main points, findings, or data, with the help of visual aids
• Conclusion : summarizes the key points and provides a closing statement

Creative Project

A creative project is an assignment that requires students to produce something original, such as a painting, sculpture, video, or creative writing piece. It allows students to demonstrate their creativity and artistic skills.

Creative project structure:

• Introduction : introduces the project and its purpose
• Body : presents the creative work, with explanations or descriptions as needed
• Conclusion : summarizes the key elements and reflects on the creative process.

Examples of Assignments

Following are Examples of Assignment templates samples:

Essay template:

I. Introduction

• Hook: Grab the reader’s attention with a catchy opening sentence.
• Background: Provide some context or background information on the topic.
• Thesis statement: State the main argument or point of your essay.

II. Body paragraphs

• Topic sentence: Introduce the main idea or argument of the paragraph.
• Evidence: Provide evidence or examples to support your point.
• Analysis: Explain how the evidence supports your argument.
• Transition: Use a transition sentence to lead into the next paragraph.

III. Conclusion

• Restate thesis: Summarize your main argument or point.
• Review key points: Summarize the main points you made in your essay.
• Concluding thoughts: End with a final thought or call to action.

Research paper template:

I. Title page

• Title: Give your paper a descriptive title.
• Author: Include your name and institutional affiliation.
• Date: Provide the date the paper was submitted.

II. Abstract

• Background: Summarize the background and purpose of your research.
• Methodology: Describe the methods you used to conduct your research.
• Results: Summarize the main findings of your research.
• Conclusion: Provide a brief summary of the implications and conclusions of your research.

III. Introduction

• Background: Provide some background information on the topic.
• Research question: State your research question or hypothesis.
• Purpose: Explain the purpose of your research.

IV. Literature review

• Background: Summarize previous research on the topic.
• Gaps in research: Identify gaps or areas that need further research.

V. Methodology

• Participants: Describe the participants in your study.
• Procedure: Explain the procedure you used to conduct your research.
• Measures: Describe the measures you used to collect data.

VI. Results

• Quantitative results: Summarize the quantitative data you collected.
• Qualitative results: Summarize the qualitative data you collected.

VII. Discussion

• Interpretation: Interpret the results and explain what they mean.
• Implications: Discuss the implications of your research.
• Limitations: Identify any limitations or weaknesses of your research.

VIII. Conclusion

• Review key points: Summarize the main points you made in your paper.

Case study template:

• Background: Provide background information on the case.
• Research question: State the research question or problem you are examining.
• Purpose: Explain the purpose of the case study.

II. Analysis

• Problem: Identify the main problem or issue in the case.
• Factors: Describe the factors that contributed to the problem.
• Alternative solutions: Describe potential solutions to the problem.

III. Solution/recommendations

• Proposed solution: Describe the solution you are proposing.
• Rationale: Explain why this solution is the best one.
• Implementation: Describe how the solution can be implemented.

IV. Conclusion

• Summary: Summarize the main points of your case study.

Lab report template:

• Title: Give your report a descriptive title.
• Date: Provide the date the report was submitted.
• Background: Summarize the background and purpose of the experiment.
• Methodology: Describe the methods you used to conduct the experiment.
• Results: Summarize the main findings of the experiment.
• Conclusion: Provide a brief summary of the implications and conclusions
• Background: Provide some background information on the experiment.
• Hypothesis: State your hypothesis or research question.
• Purpose: Explain the purpose of the experiment.

IV. Materials and methods

• Materials: List the materials and equipment used in the experiment.
• Procedure: Describe the procedure you followed to conduct the experiment.
• Data: Present the data you collected in tables or graphs.
• Analysis: Analyze the data and describe the patterns or trends you observed.

VI. Discussion

• Implications: Discuss the implications of your findings.
• Limitations: Identify any limitations or weaknesses of the experiment.

VII. Conclusion

• Restate hypothesis: Summarize your hypothesis or research question.
• Review key points: Summarize the main points you made in your report.

Presentation template:

• Attention grabber: Grab the audience’s attention with a catchy opening.
• Purpose: Explain the purpose of your presentation.
• Overview: Provide an overview of what you will cover in your presentation.

II. Main points

• Main point 1: Present the first main point of your presentation.
• Supporting details: Provide supporting details or evidence to support your point.
• Main point 2: Present the second main point of your presentation.
• Main point 3: Present the third main point of your presentation.
• Summary: Summarize the main points of your presentation.
• Call to action: End with a final thought or call to action.

Creative writing template:

• Setting: Describe the setting of your story.
• Characters: Introduce the main characters of your story.
• Rising action: Introduce the conflict or problem in your story.
• Climax: Present the most intense moment of the story.
• Falling action: Resolve the conflict or problem in your story.
• Resolution: Describe how the conflict or problem was resolved.
• Final thoughts: End with a final thought or reflection on the story.

How to Write Assignment

Here is a general guide on how to write an assignment:

• Understand the assignment prompt: Before you begin writing, make sure you understand what the assignment requires. Read the prompt carefully and make note of any specific requirements or guidelines.
• Research and gather information: Depending on the type of assignment, you may need to do research to gather information to support your argument or points. Use credible sources such as academic journals, books, and reputable websites.
• Organize your ideas : Once you have gathered all the necessary information, organize your ideas into a clear and logical structure. Consider creating an outline or diagram to help you visualize your ideas.
• Write a draft: Begin writing your assignment using your organized ideas and research. Don’t worry too much about grammar or sentence structure at this point; the goal is to get your thoughts down on paper.
• Revise and edit: After you have written a draft, revise and edit your work. Make sure your ideas are presented in a clear and concise manner, and that your sentences and paragraphs flow smoothly.
• Proofread: Finally, proofread your work for spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors. It’s a good idea to have someone else read over your assignment as well to catch any mistakes you may have missed.
• Submit your assignment : Once you are satisfied with your work, submit your assignment according to the instructions provided by your instructor or professor.

Applications of Assignment

Assignments have many applications across different fields and industries. Here are a few examples:

• Education : Assignments are a common tool used in education to help students learn and demonstrate their knowledge. They can be used to assess a student’s understanding of a particular topic, to develop critical thinking skills, and to improve writing and research abilities.
• Business : Assignments can be used in the business world to assess employee skills, to evaluate job performance, and to provide training opportunities. They can also be used to develop business plans, marketing strategies, and financial projections.
• Journalism : Assignments are often used in journalism to produce news articles, features, and investigative reports. Journalists may be assigned to cover a particular event or topic, or to research and write a story on a specific subject.
• Research : Assignments can be used in research to collect and analyze data, to conduct experiments, and to present findings in written or oral form. Researchers may be assigned to conduct research on a specific topic, to write a research paper, or to present their findings at a conference or seminar.
• Government : Assignments can be used in government to develop policy proposals, to conduct research, and to analyze data. Government officials may be assigned to work on a specific project or to conduct research on a particular topic.
• Non-profit organizations: Assignments can be used in non-profit organizations to develop fundraising strategies, to plan events, and to conduct research. Volunteers may be assigned to work on a specific project or to help with a particular task.

Purpose of Assignment

The purpose of an assignment varies depending on the context in which it is given. However, some common purposes of assignments include:

• Assessing learning: Assignments are often used to assess a student’s understanding of a particular topic or concept. This allows educators to determine if a student has mastered the material or if they need additional support.
• Developing skills: Assignments can be used to develop a wide range of skills, such as critical thinking, problem-solving, research, and communication. Assignments that require students to analyze and synthesize information can help to build these skills.
• Encouraging creativity: Assignments can be designed to encourage students to be creative and think outside the box. This can help to foster innovation and original thinking.
• Providing feedback : Assignments provide an opportunity for teachers to provide feedback to students on their progress and performance. Feedback can help students to understand where they need to improve and to develop a growth mindset.
• Meeting learning objectives : Assignments can be designed to help students meet specific learning objectives or outcomes. For example, a writing assignment may be designed to help students improve their writing skills, while a research assignment may be designed to help students develop their research skills.

When to write Assignment

Assignments are typically given by instructors or professors as part of a course or academic program. The timing of when to write an assignment will depend on the specific requirements of the course or program, but in general, assignments should be completed within the timeframe specified by the instructor or program guidelines.

It is important to begin working on assignments as soon as possible to ensure enough time for research, writing, and revisions. Waiting until the last minute can result in rushed work and lower quality output.

It is also important to prioritize assignments based on their due dates and the amount of work required. This will help to manage time effectively and ensure that all assignments are completed on time.

In addition to assignments given by instructors or professors, there may be other situations where writing an assignment is necessary. For example, in the workplace, assignments may be given to complete a specific project or task. In these situations, it is important to establish clear deadlines and expectations to ensure that the assignment is completed on time and to a high standard.

Characteristics of Assignment

Here are some common characteristics of assignments:

• Purpose : Assignments have a specific purpose, such as assessing knowledge or developing skills. They are designed to help students learn and achieve specific learning objectives.
• Requirements: Assignments have specific requirements that must be met, such as a word count, format, or specific content. These requirements are usually provided by the instructor or professor.
• Deadline: Assignments have a specific deadline for completion, which is usually set by the instructor or professor. It is important to meet the deadline to avoid penalties or lower grades.
• Individual or group work: Assignments can be completed individually or as part of a group. Group assignments may require collaboration and communication with other group members.
• Feedback : Assignments provide an opportunity for feedback from the instructor or professor. This feedback can help students to identify areas of improvement and to develop their skills.
• Academic integrity: Assignments require academic integrity, which means that students must submit original work and avoid plagiarism. This includes citing sources properly and following ethical guidelines.
• Learning outcomes : Assignments are designed to help students achieve specific learning outcomes. These outcomes are usually related to the course objectives and may include developing critical thinking skills, writing abilities, or subject-specific knowledge.

Advantages of Assignment

There are several advantages of assignment, including:

• Helps in learning: Assignments help students to reinforce their learning and understanding of a particular topic. By completing assignments, students get to apply the concepts learned in class, which helps them to better understand and retain the information.
• Develops critical thinking skills: Assignments often require students to think critically and analyze information in order to come up with a solution or answer. This helps to develop their critical thinking skills, which are important for success in many areas of life.
• Encourages creativity: Assignments that require students to create something, such as a piece of writing or a project, can encourage creativity and innovation. This can help students to develop new ideas and perspectives, which can be beneficial in many areas of life.
• Builds time-management skills: Assignments often come with deadlines, which can help students to develop time-management skills. Learning how to manage time effectively is an important skill that can help students to succeed in many areas of life.
• Provides feedback: Assignments provide an opportunity for students to receive feedback on their work. This feedback can help students to identify areas where they need to improve and can help them to grow and develop.

Limitations of Assignment

There are also some limitations of assignments that should be considered, including:

• Limited scope: Assignments are often limited in scope, and may not provide a comprehensive understanding of a particular topic. They may only cover a specific aspect of a topic, and may not provide a full picture of the subject matter.
• Lack of engagement: Some assignments may not engage students in the learning process, particularly if they are repetitive or not challenging enough. This can lead to a lack of motivation and interest in the subject matter.
• Time-consuming: Assignments can be time-consuming, particularly if they require a lot of research or writing. This can be a disadvantage for students who have other commitments, such as work or extracurricular activities.
• Unreliable assessment: The assessment of assignments can be subjective and may not always accurately reflect a student’s understanding or abilities. The grading may be influenced by factors such as the instructor’s personal biases or the student’s writing style.
• Lack of feedback : Although assignments can provide feedback, this feedback may not always be detailed or useful. Instructors may not have the time or resources to provide detailed feedback on every assignment, which can limit the value of the feedback that students receive.

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Muhammad Hassan

Researcher, Academic Writer, Web developer

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• assignment (noun)
• My assignment was to clean the equipment. = They gave me the assignment of cleaning the equipment.
• The students were given a homework assignment .
• The reporter's assignment is to interview the candidate.
• The reporter is here on an assignment .
• The reporter is here on assignment .
• The article discusses the recent assignment of senators to some of the more powerful committees.
• her assignment to the embassy in India
• the computer's assignment of a number to each image
• the assignment of blame/responsibility
• the assignment of property
• She asked if she could change her seating assignment .

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Definition of assignment noun from the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

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• 2 [ uncountable ] the act of giving something to someone; the act of giving someone a particular task his assignment to other duties in the same company

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Meaning of assignment in English

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• It was a plum assignment - more of a vacation really.
• He took this award-winning photograph while on assignment in the Middle East .
• His two-year assignment to the Mexico office starts in September .
• She first visited Norway on assignment for the winter Olympics ten years ago.
• He fell in love with the area after being there on assignment for National Geographic in the 1950s.
• act as something
• all work and no play (makes Jack a dull boy) idiom
• be at work idiom
• be in work idiom
• housekeeping
• in the line of duty idiom
• join duty idiom
• undertaking

You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

assignment | Intermediate English

Assignment | business english, examples of assignment, collocations with assignment.

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at the same time

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• on assignment
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'; audChoice = audChoice.replace(/ selected=["']selected["']/gm, '');var audT = document.getElementById('audT');if ((audT) && (audPref)) { //Parse the content if(audPref.indexOf(':') > -1) { var audPrefAccent = audPref.split(':')[0]; var playbackRate = audPref.split(':')[1]; } else { var audPrefAccent = audPref; var playbackRate = 1; } var re = new RegExp('( UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/əˈsaɪnmənt/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/əˈsaɪnmənt/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(ə sīn mənt) | | | | | | | WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2024 as•sign•ment      n. [ ] WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2024 as•sign•ment   mənt),USA pronunciation n.  See assign, -ment 1350–1400 obligation, job. See    /əˈsaɪnmənt/ n ' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations): - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - , , , , , , , , a [position, work] assignment, is on [a special, an undercover] assignment, was [given, sent on] a special assignment, Forum discussions with the word(s) "assignment" in the title: Go to page and choose from different actions for taps or mouse clicks. In other languages: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

Advertisements Advertisements use for the fastest search of WordReference. © 2024 WordReference.com any problems. TechRepublic Account information. Share with Your Friends 10 Best Free Project Management Software & Tools for 2024 Your email has been sent Best for simplicity: Trello Best all-around choice: Asana Best for client work and invoicing: Teamwork Best for scalability: monday work management Best for small teams: ClickUp Best for independent workers: Wrike Best for visual task management: MeisterTask Best for spreadsheet collaboration: Smartsheet Best for note-taking: Notion Best for customization: Airtable There is no doubt that project management solutions help streamline workflows and boost team productivity. However, not everyone needs advanced features. A basic or free version is enough for their needs. In some cases, business leaders or project managers want to try out the free version before upgrading to a paid plan. And in other cases, a small team on a budget may opt-in for the free version of a project management tool. This review highlights the best free project management tools, including who/what they are best for, their pros and cons, core features and the free tier limitations. You will also find information on the benefits and limitations of using free software for project management and our methodology for compiling this list. Top free project management software and tools comparison This table compares the top free project management tools in terms of relevant features, support and starting price for paid plans. Free forever plan (user limit) Starting price (per user, per month) Gantt charts Free plan storage 24/7 customer support Unlimited users $6 Not available Unlimited storage (10MB/file) No 10 $13.49 ​​Only with paid plans Unlimited storage (100MB per file) Yes 5 $13.99 Yes 100MB Yes 2 $12 Yes 500MB Yes Unlimited users $10 Yes 100MB Yes Unlimited users ​​$9.80 (billed annually) Only with paid plans 2GB per account No Up to 3 projects and 5 notes $8 Limited (Timeline feature) 20 MB per file Yes 1 user, up to 2 editors $9 Yes 500MB Yes Up to 10 guest collaborators $10 Limited (Gantt chart template) 5MB No ​​Up to 5 editors $24 Only with paid plans 1GB of attachments per base No Trello: Best for simplicity TechRepublic Rating: 4.5/5 Trello is this list’s most easy-to-use free project management software. The interface is based on kanban boards, making it easy to manage and visualize projects. The free plan includes unlimited cards, lists and up to 10 boards per team. This means that if you need less than 10 boards, you can use the free plan forever. The only major limitation of the free plan is that you only get to upload files that are 10MB or less. Standout features of the free version Team collaboration tools: Trello comes with a wide range of communication tools, including document sharing, comments and notifications. Users can configure the notifications according to their preferences. Powerful mobile app: Trello’s app is well-designed, allowing users to perform various project management functions through the mobile app with just a few clicks. ​​Integrations: Trello’s 190+ integrations, which they call Power-Ups, include Slack, Miro, Jira Cloud, Dropbox, Confluence, Salesforce, Microsoft Teams and Zapier. Pros and cons Pros Cons Flexible and customizable Difficult to track multiple projects at a time Unlimited cards and lists in the free plan Maximum limit of 50 automated command runs per month Drag-and-drop interface is easy to use When to use an alternative Alternative: ClickUp’s free plan includes all the necessary features you need to manage simple projects. It includes Gantt chart capability, time tracking via integration and basic resource management features. Alternatives: With the ClickUp free plan, you can have 50 active rules, 100 automation executions and multiple actions and conditions. Teamwork’s free plan also allows you to perform up to 100 automation actions per month. What you get when you upgrade to the paid pains The chart below includes the monthly and annual rates of Trello paid plans, as well as its core features and functionalities. Standard Premium Enterprise $6 $12.50 N/A $5 $10 $17.50 - Unlimited boards - Advanced checklists - Custom Fields - Unlimited storage (250MB/file) - 1,000 Workspace command runs per month - Single board guests - Saved searches - Views: Calendar, Timeline, Table, Dashboard and Map - Workspace views: Table and Calendar - Unlimited Workspace command runs - Admin and security features - Workspace-level templates - Collections - Observers - Simple data export - Unlimited Workspaces - Organization-wide permissions - Organization-visible boards - Public board management - Multi-board guests - Attachment permissions - Power-Up administration - Free SSO and user provisioning with Atlassian Access Why I chose Trello Strictly within the confines of free kanban boards, Trello is arguably the top tool. I chose Trello because of how straightforward and intuitive its kanban boards are. Trello also impresses with its Power-Ups, which are unlimited in the free version, although some may require you to pay. Asana: Best all-around choice TechRepublic Rating: 3.9/5 Asana is a flexible project management and collaboration tool offering multiple views, customization tools, automation and more. Asana’s free plan offers many features, including unlimited storage and team messaging tools. You also get various project views, including calendar, kanban, lists, workload and more. However, the free plan is limited to three views, no project timeline views and fewer admin controls. Unlimited use: What makes Asana’s free plan so outstanding is that you get access to many unlimited features, including activity logs, messaging, file storage and more. Agile and scrum support: If your business uses Agile philosophy , you would be glad to know that Asana’s free version supports Scrum and Agile project management. Three project views: List, board and calendar view. Pros Cons Scrum and Agile project management support The free plan lacks Asana intelligence capabilities Unlimited teams and projects in the free plan Limited time tracking Multiple project views Alternatives: Teamwork’s free plan includes a time-tracking feature, while the ClickUp free plan supports time tracking through integrations. Alternative: ClickUp allows you to connect natively with 50+ third-party apps, including Salesforce and Tableau. What you get when you upgrade to the paid plans When you buy any of the Asana premium plans, you will automatically get access to the available features that are lacking in the free plan. See the cost of Asana premium plans and their core features in the table below. Standard Premium Enterprise Enterprise+ $13.49 $30.49 Custom quote Custom quote $10.99 per month $24.99 per month - Five project views - Scaled security - Automated workflows - Asana Intelligence - Project reporting - Community support - Task dependencies - Project and portfolio views (20) - Advanced workflows - Advanced reporting Resource management - Community and personalized support - Unlimited portfolio views - Standardized workflows - Asana Intelligence - Advanced authentication and user management - Customization – custom branding, admin announcements - Data access and management controls - Security and compliance reporting - Advanced compliance solutions Why I chose Asana Even though it can take a while to adapt to Asana’s vast features, Asana is a thorough project management tool that constantly surprises you with the breadth of its feature set. You can use it to manage almost any kind of project. You get unlimited projects, tasks, storage, comments and activity logs in its free version, with List, Board and Calendar views, plus free integrations with everyday apps. Teamwork: Best for client work and invoicing TechRepublic Rating: 3.7/5 Teamwork is a free project management tool that is particularly well-suited for client work, which often involves marketing teams, creative teams, agencies, consultancies and more. It has a lot of features, ranging from customizable templates to milestone tracking, which makes it adaptable for many different types of projects. Milestones: You can add milestones to task lists to track progress in the free version. Client work essentials: Though some may be limited, Teamwork has most of the core project management features for client work, such as full time tracking, in its free plan. Integrations: Teamwork integrates with many tools, which include HubSpot, Slack, Microsoft Teams, Skyvia, Atarim, Stripe, Integrately and more. Pros Cons The free plan support t​​ask dependencies capability Limited reporting features in the free plan Offers unlimited task list templates The free plan’s customization is limited to color themes Has time tracking and timesheets features in its free plan Alternative: ClickUp supports an unlimited number of free plan users. Alternative: Consider Asana if you have high file storage demand, as the tool gives all its users — regardless of their plan — unlimited file storage with up to 100MB file limit. What you get when you upgrade to the paid plans: The following are the core features you will get when you buy Teamwork paid plans. Deliver Grow Scale $13.99 $25.99 Custom quote $9.99 per month $19.99 per month - Automations and forms - Project status reports - Teams management - Unlimited client users - Collaborative doc management (Spaces) ​​- Task dependencies - Workload and capacity management - Advanced budgeting - Powerful reports - Company timesheets - Project budget expenses - Resource scheduling - Unlimited retainer management - Unlimited custom reports - Resource scheduler - 500GB+ storage Why I chose Teamwork I chose Teamwork for its versatility. The platform offers a range of features that are particularly useful for agencies, consultancies and other client-focused teams. Its milestone tracking makes it easy to manage projects from start to finish, while its invoicing features make it seamless to export invoices based on logged billable hours from Teamwork to accounting software. monday work management: Best for scalability TechRepublic Rating: 5/5 monday work management often features on the best project management software lists, as it offers everything you expect from a top project management solution. The free version of monday work management features all the main dashboards, but the number of items you can create is limited. You also get a search function, team collaboration tools, file upload, kanban view and several other features on the free plan. That said, you won’t be able to invite clients or viewers on the free plan, making it ideal for individuals and small teams. Access to all main boards: In the free plan, you and your team get access to all of the main boards of monday work management. That said, you’re limited to three total boards, and there is a limit to the total number of items you can create. Files and forms: In the free plan, you can see all of the files you uploaded in preview or full mode. You can also convert any of the boards into custom forms to collect and track data. Templates: monday work management free plan gives you access to over 200 customizable templates, so you don’t have to start creating project boards from scratch. Pros Cons Clean and intuitive interface Default notification settings can be annoying Highly customizable Limited views in the free plan Access to all main boards Alternatives: ClickUp and Wrike allow unlimited free plan members. Alternatives: Asana offers you over 100 free integrations, including Microsoft 365, Google Workspace and Slack. Notion and Teamwork also allow you to connect with some third-party applications, including Zapier and Slack. monday work management offers four paid plans. Each plan caters to the needs of various users, depending on the features they need. In the chart below, I’ll outline the cost of each plan and its core features. Basic Standard Pro Enterprise $12 $14 $24 Custom quote $9 per month $12 per month $19 per month - Unlimited free viewers - Unlimited items - 5GB file storage - Prioritized customer support - Create a project dashboard based on 1 board - 1 week activity log - Project Timeline & Gantt views - Calendar View - 20GB file storage - Guest access - Automations (250 actions per month) - Integrations (250 actions per month) - Create a dashboard that combines 5 boards - 6-month activity log - Private boards - Chart View - 100GB file storage - Time tracking - Formula Column - Automations (25K actions per month) - Integrations (25K actions per month) - Create a dashboard that combines 10 boards - 1-year activity log Task dependencies - Enterprise-scale automations & integrations - Multi-level permissions - 1000GB file storage - Enterprise-grade security & governance - Advanced reporting & analytics - Tailored onboarding - Task dependencies - Enterprise support - Create a dashboard that combines 50 boards - 5-year activity log Why I chose monday work management I selected monday work management because of how intuitive and adaptable its free version is. The 200+ templates it offers will meet the needs of teams of all sizes, and its kanban boards are easy to set up and follow. The free version also offers up to three boards with up to two members. ClickUp: Best for small teams ClickUp is a popular project management tool known for its extensive features. Even the free version of ClickUp is loaded with useful tools for project management. This includes unlimited users, activity views and custom fields. The free plan allows you to create up to five spaces, one for each project flow. ClickUp Docs: You can create documents and connect them to workflows. You can also edit and share the documents in real time and set access permission rules for each document. ClickUp Goals: With this feature, you can create trackable objectives for each task or project. You can also assign various objectives to a single goal. Integrations: ClickUp boasts over 1000 tools, with some of the top native ones including ClickUp API, Slack, GitHub, GitLab, HubSpot, Toggl, Harvest, Google Drive, Figma and Microsoft Teams. Pros Cons Feature-rich free plan Maximum of 100 uses of custom fields Unlimited free plan users Free plan file storage is limited to 100MB Easy to create and customize reports Alternative: The Asana free plan gives you unlimited file storage with a limit of 100MB per file. The table below includes the core features you will get when you subscribe to any of ClickUp’s paid plans. Unlimited Business Enterprise $10 $19 Price available upon request $7 per month $12 per month - Unlimited storage - Unlimited integrations - Unlimited dashboards - Guests with permissions - Unlimited Gantt charts - Unlimited custom fields - Column calculations - Email in ClickUp - Teams (user groups) - Native time tracking - Goals & portfolios - Form view - Google SSO - Unlimited teams - Custom exporting - Advanced public sharing - Advanced automations - Advanced project dashboard features - Advanced time tracking - Granular time estimates - Timesheets - Workload management - Timelines & mind maps - Goal folders - White labeling - Advanced permissions - Conditional logic in forms - Enterprise API - Unlimited custom roles - Team sharing for spaces - Universal search - Default personal views - MSA & HIPAA available - Single sign-on (SSO) - Custom capacity in workload - Live onboarding training Why I chose ClickUp ClickUp is such a multifaceted project management tool, even in its free tier. It offers most views you’d expect from a great project management tool, but aside from the task List, Board, Calendar, Table, Doc and Chat views, all the other views have restrictions or are unavailable for free. It is highly customizable and has lots of integrations, and aside from views, you get a taste of workload management, dashboards, reminders, mind maps, whiteboards and custom fields in ClickUp’s free tier. Wrike: Best for independent workers TechRepublic Rating: 4.6/5 Wrike is an adaptable project management software suitable for all industries. It’s also highly customizable and offers robust collaboration tools. The free plan is ideal for solopreneurs and small businesses. Users get access to Kanban boards, tables, spreadsheets and 2GB of storage space. An advantage of Wrike’s free plan is that you can access artificial intelligence features, such as AI subtask creation. Kanban boards: Users can check the progress of different projects using Wrike’s Kanban boards. This feature also allows users to set up or edit the priority of tasks. Customized templates: There are prebuilt templates that can be customized for different types of projects, including project scheduling, complex project and professional service management. Integrations: With over 400 integrations, Wrike’s integrations include Google Drive, Box, GitHub, Jira, IBM Watson Workspace, Bitbucket and more. Pros Cons Variety of project templates Initial setup can be difficult Powerful tools for security Mobile app lacks functionality Customized reports and dashboards Alternative: Though limited, Teamwork offers basic resource management features, including workload capacity, time-tracking and timesheets. Wrike tries its best to make its free plan feature-rich but the features it offers may be insufficient for most teams. Hence, when you upgrade to the paid plans, you can expect to get additional features and benefits, such as: Team Business Enterprise Pinnacle $9.80 $24.80 Custom quote Quote available upon request 2-25 users - Storage space: 2GB per user - Personal work schedules - Custom fields, workflows & statuses 5-200 users - Storage space: 5GB per user - Project portfolio management - Real-time reports - AI Recommended Tasks - Resource Management 5-unlimited - Storage space: 10GB per user - Tableau integration - Business intelligence API - Advanced workflow automation - Folder & project permissions 5-unlimited - Storage space: 15GB per user - Advanced analytics & data visualizations - Advanced resource and capacity planning - Advanced proofing in HTML5 and Sharepoint - Power BI integration (native) Why I chose Wrike While Wrike’s features for the free tier are limited, its incorporation of generative AI for rapid content generation for its Work Intelligence solution saves lots of time that would’ve been spent on content, communication and workflows. Aside from the AI project risk prediction feature, all its Work Intelligence features are available in Wrike’s free plan. MeisterTask: Best for visual task management MeisterTask is a visually appealing project management tool that offers a Kanban-style approach to task management. It prides itself on simplicity, intuitiveness and security and is a worthy consideration for teams that find visual workflows and interactive task and project management appealing. Collaborative notes: Has up to five notes to allow teams to organize their content. Unlimited tasks: The free plan offers unlimited tasks for your team to create as many tasks as they need. Integrations: MeisterTask offers integrations like Slack, Trello, GitHub, Zapier, MindMeister, MeisterNote, Gmail, Spark, Microsoft Teams and Zendesk. Pros Cons Visually appealing interface that’s easy to navigate Community customer support Kanban-style boards for effective task management No security features in the free version Time tracking integration available Alternative: With Asana free plan, you can run and manage an unlimited number of projects. The following are the core features you will get when you buy MeisterTask paid plans. Team Business Enterprise $8 $14.50 Price available upon request $6.50 per month $12 per month - External Sharing - Unlimited Projects & Notes - Agenda - Unlimited integrations - Private projects - Automations - Statistics and reports - Subtasks - Timeline - Roles and permissions - Custom fields - Security restrictions - Priority email & phone support - Tailored pricing offer - Dedicated account manager - Personalized onboarding assistance - SAML Single Sign-On Why I chose MeisterTask There’s something about colorful designs and Kanban boards that just fits. MeisterTask has understood the need to deliver a visually appealing and intuitive interface that makes task management a breeze. With these vibrant Kanban boards, teams can enjoy a more interactive way to manage tasks. Smartsheet: Best for spreadsheet collaboration TechRepublic Rating: 3.8/5 Smartsheet merges the functionality of spreadsheets with the capabilities of a solid project management platform. It brings a much-needed approach to managing complex projects using powerful spreadsheets, making it particularly valuable for teams that are comfortable with spreadsheet-style interfaces but need more advanced project management features. Two Sheets: The free plan offers two sheets for project/task tracking and management. Multiple Views: Smartsheet’s free tier offers Grid, Gantt, Calendar and Card View to enable teams to view their programs and projects in the formats that matter most to them. Integrations: Smartsheet offers 90+ integrations across communication, data visualization, content creation, automation and security. They include Slack, Teams, Google Chat, Tableau, Power BI, DocuSign, Adobe Creative Cloud and Zapier. Pros Cons Free version include all views Only one user with up to two editors Unlimited dashboards Free plan lacks support User-friendly interface Alternative: Airtable free plan allows you to invite up to 5 editors. Alternatives: Airtable gives you up to 1GB of attachment storage per base, while Asana offers unlimited file storage with up to 100MB per file. The table below includes the core features you will get when you subscribe to any of Smartsheet’s paid plans. Pro Business Enterprise $9 $32 Price available upon request $7 per month $25 per month - Up to 10 editors (paid license required to edit) - Unlimited sheets - Unlimited free viewers - Unlimited dashboards, reports and forms - 20 GB attachment storage - 250 automations per month - Integrations with Microsoft 365, Teams, Google Workspace, Slack, Box and Dropbox - User Management - Email support - Unlimited free editors - User, group, license management Baselines - Forms with conditional logic - Publish sheets, reports and dashboards - 1 TB attachment storage - Unlimited automations - Access to integrate with Resource Management by Smartsheet, Brandfolder, Adobe Creative Cloud, Tableau and PowerBI - Activity log - Document builder - Proofing - Access to Smartsheet University instructor-led and on demand training - Access to Standard and Professional Support - Single sign-on/SAML - Directory integration - Enterprise Plan Manager - WorkApps: Curated experiences based on user roles - Work Insights: Instantly analyze your data - Unlimited attachment storage - Chargeback reports - DocuSign integration - Domain validation - Custom email domains - Standard Support and access to Professional Support Why I chose Smartsheet Through its unique blend of traditional spreadsheet layouts with modern project management features, Smartsheet simplifies complex projects and makes it natural to collaborate on tasks with a spreadsheet interface. The free version has all the automated workflow features, though automation triggers are limited to 100 per month. Smartsheet also feels easier to use than Airtable, the other spreadsheet-style project management tool on this list. Notion: Best for note-taking Notion is a free project management software tool that excels in note-taking and offers a layout whose customizability proves to be impressive. It is adaptable enough to be used by individuals, small businesses and enterprises across design, engineering, product and management teams. Teams that need a flexible workspace for both project management and documentation must consider Notion. Unlimited Blocks: For individual users, the free plan offers unlimited blocks; however, there is a limited block trial for teams. Guest Invitations: You can invite up to 10 guests to collaborate, be they friends, contractors, family or clients. Integrations: A few integrations included in Notion are Jira, Slack, GitHub, Asana, Zapier, Make, Tray.io, Slapdash, Miro, Figma, Google Drive and Webex. Pros Cons Very customizable layout for a tailored workspace Gantt charts are not natively available Specialized note-taking ability Limited pages and blocks for teams Impressive free plan with almost no restrictions for individual users Alternative : Asana’s free plan gives you unlimited file storage. Alternative: Airtable provides a generous limit of 1000 records per base, making it a suitable option for users who need to work with larger datasets or have more extensive databases. The following are the core features you will get when you buy Notion paid plans. Plus Business Enterprise $10 $18 Price available upon request $8 per month $15 per month - Unlimited blocks for teams - Unlimited file uploads - 30 day page history - Add collaborators external to your organization (like clients or contractors) to specific pages in your workspace. - Invite 100 guests - SAML SSO - Private teamspaces - Bulk PDF export - Advanced page analytics - 90 day page history - Add collaborators external to your organization (like clients or contractors) to specific pages in your workspace. - Invite 250 guests - User provisioning (SCIM) - Advanced security & controls - Audit log - Customer success manager - Workspace analytics - Unlimited page history - Security & Compliance integrations - Add collaborators external to your organization (like clients or contractors) to specific pages in your workspace. - Invite 250 guests Why I chose Notion I chose Notion for its unparalleled flexibility and specialized note-taking abilities. The platform allows you to create a workspace that’s as simple or as complex as you need it to be. Its free plan is especially generous for individual users, with tens of templates and almost no restrictions on blocks and basic integrations. Airtable: Best for customization TechRepublic Rating: 3.8/5. Airtable is a project management software that evolved from spreadsheets, but over time it has changed its interface to be more modern and streamlined. The excellent free version of Airtable offers a host of features and multiple views, including kanban boards, gallery view and grid view. With the free plan, you get limitations on revision history and file storage. Airtable apps and add-ons: There is an entire Airtable marketplace with a lot of options to choose from. Of course, only some of the apps and add-ons are available in the free version. Add views and commenters: The free plan allows an unlimited number of viewers and commenters in your workspace. You can upgrade this feature in the paid plans if you want the user to have editing capabilities. Integration: Airtable has some quality integrations, the most popular being Slack, Google Drive, Salesforce, Jira and Zendesk. Pros Cons Powerful customization capabilities Steep learning curve Multiple views Permissions for user access are a bit confusing Variety of Airtable apps and add-ons Alternatives: Notion and Trello are simple, straightforward and easy-to-use project management tools. They are ideal for individuals, startups and SMBs looking for a user-friendly PM tool to manage basic projects that don’t require a lot of setup or customization. Airtable free plan has many limitations and a very low file storage space of 1GB. If you want to enjoy Airtable’s top-tier features, which make it one of the top-rated project management software, you should subscribe to one of the company’s paid plans. Team Business Enterprise Scale $24 $54 Custom quote $20 per month $45 per month - 50,000 records per base - 25,000 automation runs - 20 GB of attachments per base - Standard sync integrations - Extensions - Gantt chart and project timeline view - Expanded color, formatting and calendar options - 125,000 records per base - 100,000 automation runs - 100 GB of attachments per base - Premium sync integrations - Verified data - Two-way sync - Admin panel - SAML-based single sign-on - 500,000 records per base - 500,000 automation runs - 1,000 GB of attachments per base - On-premises sync integrations - Enterprise Hub - Enhanced security and admin controls - Enterprise API - Extension and integration management - Audit logs and DLP Why I chose Airtable For spreadsheet-style project management, Airtable is highly customizable and has a great, user-friendly interface. You can use this free project management app to create databases without having to write a single line of code. Airtable’s free tier offers unlimited databases and all views except for Gantt chart and project timeline. For more information, check out our full Airtable review . Visit Airtable Other free project management tools Though they did not make it to our top 10 free project management list, here are two other free project management tools worth checking out: ​​Zoho Projects : Zoho Projects offers a comprehensive set of project management tools, including task tracking, reporting and collaboration features, all within a user-friendly interface. Jira Software : Jira’s free plan offers several top-rated capabilities, including unlimited projects, issues, and forms. It allows up to 10 users and supports up to 100 automations per month. What are the benefits of free project management software? The most significant benefit of free project management software is that you get to try the software without having to pay anything. The best project management software offers a variety of features in the free version, so for some businesses or users, the free plan will be all they need for their project management. In addition, the free version provides a feel for the user interface and overall functionality of the software, so if you want to upgrade, you have a good idea of what to expect from the software. What are the limitations of free project management software? The limitations of free project management software are specific to each solution. Some of the more common limitations may include: Most free project management app versions don’t offer integration capabilities with third-party applications. There are sometimes limits on the number of projects, users, file storage, activity log and other parameters. In most cases, there is a limit to the number of project views, reporting and analytics and other advanced features. How to choose free project management software When choosing the best free project management software for your needs, you must decide which features are most important. For example, if you need software with 24/7 customer support or Gantt charts , you must shortlist vendors offering those features. Once you have shortlisted a few solutions based on specifications, you need to dig deeper through expert reviews and customer ratings. You should also test out the software to make an informed decision about whether it is the right fit for your needs. Review methodology We used the software’s features, pricing, customer support, usability and other criteria to compile the best free project management software list. Each software’s popularity, user ratings, expert reviews and hands-on experience were evaluated. The evaluation was focused on the features offered in the free version of each software. This includes features such as file sharing, project views, collaboration tools and mobile app. Subscribe to the Project Management Insider Newsletter Subscribe to Project Management Insider for best practices, reviews and resources. From project scheduling software to project planning apps, stay up to date with the latest in project management tools. Delivered Wednesdays The 10 best project management software and tools for 2023 The best simple project management software of 2023 5 Best Project Management Certifications in 2023 Telephone interview cheat sheet: Project manager Create a TechRepublic Account Get the web's best business technology news, tutorials, reviews, trends, and analysis—in your inbox. Let's start with the basics. * - indicates required fields Sign in to TechRepublic Lost your password? Request a new password Reset Password Please enter your email adress. You will receive an email message with instructions on how to reset your password. Check your email for a password reset link. If you didn't receive an email don't forgot to check your spam folder, otherwise contact support . Welcome. Tell us a little bit about you. This will help us provide you with customized content. Want to receive more TechRepublic news? You're all set. Thanks for signing up! Keep an eye out for a confirmation email from our team. To ensure any newsletters you subscribed to hit your inbox, make sure to add [email protected] to your contacts list. Salesforce is closed for new business in your area. 380 IMAGES PPT OptaPlanner What is the Definition of Assignment? Top 10 Task Assignment Templates with Samples and Examples Task assignment approach Some research work in task assignment VIDEO English breakfast assignment "What is your definition of success?" What is Task Management? How To Assign Task Todoist Tutorial Day 5 SAP Easy Access and Definition and Assignment of 8 entities Ccode, Com, BA,CBA,CCA Considering the definition of vulnerable population in your textbook select a vulnerable population Week 09 Task Assignment How is your life on campus COMMENTS Assignment Definition & Meaning The meaning of ASSIGNMENT is the act of assigning something. How to use assignment in a sentence. Synonym Discussion of Assignment. What Is Task Assigning? (With Definition and Steps) Task assigning involves defining responsibilities and allocating resources for team members to complete a project effectively. While workplace leaders can assign tasks to team members in different departments, managers typically assign tasks to their department's members. Discovering each team member's strengths, potential, and expertise can ... How To Assign Tasks To Team Members Effectively? Our Full Guideline Open the desired task, click "Assignee", and choose the right team member (s). Keyboard shortcuts: Hover over the task and press "A" to open the Assignee picker. Press the space bar to assign yourself. This way makes assigning tasks easier and quicker! How To Effective Assign Tasks To Team Members? Assigning tasks effectively is a skill that every leader must master to ensure team productivity and employee satisfaction. While the tips provided earlier can help you get there, being aware of common mistakes in task assignment is equally crucial. Avoiding these pitfalls can save you from derailing your projects and hampering your team's ... Assigning Tasks: How to Delegate Effectively Task assignments should be clear, detailed and accountable, with hard deadlines for completion. Effective teamwork means you can accomplish more than you could as individuals, and assigning tasks is a big part of working together. With transparency and accountability, managers can monitor how everyone is adding to the project. ... What is a task? and how to get more of them done In project management, a task is a work item or activity with a specific purpose related to the larger goal. It's a necessary step on the road towards project completion. For example, it could be something as complex as a mobile app bug fix. Or it could be something as simple as photocopying the latest brochure for distribution. Task Definition & Meaning task: [noun] a usually assigned piece of work often to be finished within a certain time. something hard or unpleasant that has to be done. duty, function. ASSIGNMENT ASSIGNMENT definition: 1. a piece of work given to someone, typically as part of their studies or job: 2. a job that…. Learn more. Task Management: Importance, Best Practices, & Tools Task management is a critical aspect of project management that involves: Identifying the tasks necessary to fulfill project goals: Break down project objectives into smaller, more manageable activities that can be assigned to individual team members. Ensure each task is clear, specific, and achievable, with a well-defined purpose and deadline. The Ultimate Guide to Task Management The online task list is a step up from a to-do list. Since it's online, it can be accessed from anywhere, and it can be updated and edited easily. ProjectManager's online task list lets you have complete control over your tasks. Add due dates, priority levels, attachments, notes and even tags for easy sorting. assignment noun [countable] a task or piece of work that somebody is given to do, usually as part of their job or studies. Students are required to complete all homework assignments. You will need to complete three written assignments per semester. a business/special assignment ; I had set myself a tough assignment. ASSIGNMENT Synonyms: 97 Similar and Opposite Words Synonyms for ASSIGNMENT: task, job, duty, project, mission, chore, responsibility, function; Antonyms of ASSIGNMENT: dismissal, discharge, firing, expulsion ... ASSIGNMENT definition and meaning 7 meanings: 1. something that has been assigned, such as a mission or task 2. a position or post to which a person is assigned.... Click for more definitions. What is the difference between "task" and "assignment"? Task, project, assignment, job. Which one is correct in my case? These words don't have exact matches in Portuguese, so sometimes I get confused about their usage. When is it more suitable to use task rather than assigment and vice versa? Assignment assignment: 1 n an undertaking that you have been assigned to do (as by an instructor) Types: show 6 types... hide 6 types... school assignment , schoolwork a school task performed by a student to satisfy the teacher writing assignment , written assignment an assignment to write something classroom project a school task requiring considerable ... What Is Task Management? 10 Key Tools and More What is task management? Task management is the process of effectively and efficiently tracking, managing, and executing the life cycle of a task or many tasks within a project, from inception to execution. The purpose of task management is to improve the decision-making, communication, efficiency, and effectiveness of a task or project. Assignment Assignment. Definition: Assignment is a task given to students by a teacher or professor, usually as a means of assessing their understanding and application of course material. Assignments can take various forms, including essays, research papers, presentations, problem sets, lab reports, and more. Assignment Definition & Meaning 1. : a job or duty that is given to someone : a task someone is required to do. [count] My assignment was to clean the equipment. = They gave me the assignment of cleaning the equipment. The students were given a homework assignment. The reporter's assignment is to interview the candidate. The reporter is here on an assignment. Task Management Skills: Definition and Examples Here are some task management-related skills: 1. Efficient scheduling. Scheduling your tasks is an integral part of task management. It helps you arrange them productively. Having a clearly set schedule also helps you maximize your professional time, which may keep you from getting distracted. assignment noun Definition of assignment noun from the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary assignment noun. noun. NAmE / / əˈsaɪnmənt / / jump to other results. 1 [countable, uncountable] a task or piece of work that someone is given to do, usually as part of their job or studies You will need to complete three written assignments per semester. ASSIGNMENT Definition & Meaning Assignment definition: something assigned, as a particular task or duty. See examples of ASSIGNMENT used in a sentence. ASSIGNMENT ASSIGNMENT meaning: 1. a piece of work given to someone, typically as part of their studies or job: 2. a job that…. Learn more. assignment assignment - WordReference English dictionary, questions, discussion and forums. All Free. ... such as a mission or task; a position or post to which a person is assigned; the act of assigning or state of being assigned; the transfer to another of a right, interest, or title to property, esp personal property ... 10 Best Free Project Management Software for 2024 Our list includes free and freemium products that can manage most projects or introduce you to your next paid project management software. Best for simplicity: Trello. Best all-around choice ... What is Lead Generation? Guide & Best Practices Lead generation is the process of building interest in a product or service and then turning that interest into a sale. Lead gen makes the sales cycle more efficient because it focuses on the strongest and most valuable prospects. The result is greater success in new customer acquisition and conversion rates. There are three types of leads: assignment essay homework paper phd report resume review speech thesis