Project management at konzepthaus - Virtuoso juggling of plans and resources!

Katharina Messmer is the person at konzepthaus Web Solutions where many threads come together: As a project manager in the software development department, she acts as the interface between customers and developers. From the planning and execution to the monitoring and completion of a project, many individual steps, large and small subtasks and a multitude of decisions run across her desktop every day.

How would you describe your daily routine?

Katharina: "Checking the news, daily meeting, meetings, working on projects!"

What does that mean in concrete terms? How do you organize the different requirements?

Katharina: "I check the various communication channels to see what's going on in the respective projects, where there are current requests or demands and what action is needed. This is done via emails, but above all via tickets. (In ticket systems, tasks are set, assigned to team members and checked for progress). In order to make the best possible use of our resources and those of our customers, we coordinate very precisely and flexibly within the CMS team at daily meetings.

I also have regular meetings with clients about an ongoing project or as part of a subsequent support project.
as part of subsequent support. An essential part of my day is also the content-related work on individual projects: I formulate technical requirements into technical descriptions, create budgets and schedules, coordinate personnel resources or carry out quality controls. Who does what and when, in what order do our software developers work through the tasks at hand, what are their priorities, how can their time be used most efficiently, are we on schedule and within budget? - These are the questions I keep asking myself."

That sounds like a day of 100 decisions with a wide range of tasks...

Katharina laughs: "Yes, that's often the case! Juggling resources and constantly making new decisions are the biggest challenges for me in project management. But agility is the be-all and end-all, especially in software development. The HubSpot CRM platform can only be developed in an agile way, so we can actually implement customization requests in a tailored way.

At the same time, I love how much self-determination I have and how my work influences the success of a project. I also know that there is a backup: every project can come to a standstill. That's not a problem if a) someone has an overview, namely me (smiles), and b) there's a team at the start that works flexibly and looks for constructive solutions together.

And yes, my day is very varied! I like communicating with customers and the development team, my interface function and the overarching view. I'm where the threads come together!"

You joined konzepthaus in 2018 - three years after the company was founded. What has changed since then?

Katharina: "First of all, our range of services: initially, we also offered website and store development. Now, as a HubSpot partner, we specialize in this one CRM platform. We've also been able to build up a large team of 37 employees and have access to experts in various areas. This reduces the pressure. If a developer is unavailable, for example, we can compensate for this.

I would also say that we are working in even more professional structures. The move to the new office space in particular has reinforced our sense of professionalism. Nevertheless, we have managed to retain the charm of the very personal atmosphere from the early years: At konzepthaus, we know each other and are in good contact. I very much hope that this and the flat hierarchies can be maintained, even if konzepthaus continues to grow."

What makes it appealing for you to stay at konzepthaus even after six years?

Katharina: "Definitely the team. Of course, there have been personnel changes over the years, but the basic atmosphere, the open and respectful interaction, has remained the same over the years: We work together and with each other!

I also always have the opportunity to develop myself further here. In the beginning, for example, I also worked in accounting and administration. When I wanted to work in fewer different areas and focus purely on project management, I communicated this to Thorsten and Monika, the management. My wish was heard! - I really appreciate that.

The company's path is also inspiring: it makes me proud to be part of such an amazing development. And for the future, I think, cool, there's more to come: I want to experience that, I want to get more involved!"

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