Achieving predictable revenue through predictable project delivery constitutes multiple elements. Even the simplest things have to be fine-tuned to get this end result. Things like task lists which get scant attention in how they are designed in the normal course of project management have ramifications on whether the project gets delayed or not.

In I’m Productive, even the littlest elements are evaluated closely so that you get not just a user-friendly project management tool, but one in which everything facilitates timely project delivery.

This is evident in the case of our simplified task list view.

Key attributes that make a simplified task list powerful

Two significant attributes make the list a powerful ally for managing your tasks.

Task sorting

Task sorting is arguably the primary factor to simplify a tasks-list. The idea is to categorize tasks, either according to the project they fall under or based on who is performing them, or by priority. I’m Productive allows all these kinds of sorting. But in the simplified task list, you get the relevant tasks listed for a project, because that’s the view most project managers wish to access most in the course of running a project.

In the list, you would get each task listed alongside the name of the person to whom it is assigned.

Prioritized listing

Listing out and segregating tasks is only the beginning of creating an efficient task list. Unless the tasks are prioritized appropriately, the list wouldn’t serve its purpose. In I’m Productive, assigning priorities to tasks is only a matter of a few clicks.

In the simplified task list, you will be presented with the tasks in their sequential- that is, prioritized- order. You can see the progress you are making on a task. And if you attempt a task before tackling a higher priority task, you can see from the list flow that it is not probably the wisest decision.

The attributes you find on the simple task view

The task view may be simple but it brings you all the most important attributes you want. Let’s look at what they are.

• The name of the project- This would be mentioned in bold letters at the top of the task list, indicating the tasks that belong to this particular project.

• Task names- The task names are listed beneath the project name. Each task name is mentioned alongside the name of the team member to which the task is assigned.

• In progress or yet to start- This attribute is represented visually. While starting a task, the team member can hit the play button given against the task name. When the task is in progress, a pause button will be in place- and whenever you take a break, you can hit it.

• The average working hours for a task- This is given in a number of hours, against each task name.

• Progress bar- The progress bar for a task appears above the tasks list. This bar has the following attributes:

• Task name

• Team member to whom the task is assigned - His or her name and picture appear against the task name

• Total expected hours to finish the task

• The number of hours for which the team member has worked on the task so far

• The number of hours h/she worked on it today

• The status bar: You also get a visual representation of the progress in the form of a status bar. A horizontal white line represents the work that has been finished so far, and a grey line shows the work that is yet to be done.

Aside from these, you can view even more attributes using a dedicated side panel which you can access any time you wish to.

Why use a simplified task list?

A simplified task list has two main purposes.

Keep track of your tasks

I’m Productive delivers the most important attributes related to a task- like the number of hours it requires and the time you already spent on it- in a comprehensive, easy-to-understand view. This helps you get the lowdown on where you stand on the task in the shortest possible time.

Ensure both important tasks &immediate tasks are done

During the course of a project, it’s usual to lose sight of the tasks which are important but are not urgent. Without a list to keep such tasks in view, you may simply keep going from one immediate task to the next.

The important tasks may not be strictly urgent. But they demand you spend more time on them than the others. This makes it useful to tackle at least part of such tasks at the earliest so that when the point comes when they become both important and urgent, you would not be pressed for time. Maintaining a simple task list makes it easy to check the tasks that are lined up, and if any of them fall in the ‘important’ category.