You and your team need great software to manage your work. But great project management software needs to keep up not only with your team but also with market changes. Over the past five years, a new method of project management, called Agile, has responded to the demand for a more adaptive and evolutionary project management process. It does little good to adopt the Agile method while still using a software that bogs down or complicates your projects.

From the building of ancient pyramids and industrialization of the 19th century to modern-day developments such as the Gantt chart and Critical Path, project management has always existed in some form. Today, project management has evolved one step further – with improved processes and technology providing more flexibility, more accountability and ultimately, more successful outcomes.

Agile marketing is an approach to planning, managing and evaluating market activity, based on the principles of the agile work methodology. The agile methodology was developed by software developers in the 1990s and early 2000s, and it remains strongly associated with development work. Teams at Google, Microsoft and Electronic Arts have been among its many advocates. Agile has since been adopted by teams working in other fields such as governance, civil engineering and marketing.

Leading a project management team is not for the faint of heart. Between coordinating your team in focusing on the actual work, things can get overwhelming pretty quickly. Luckily, there are many different project management styles and approaches, so everyone can find their ideal workflow. One approach that has become popular in recent years is an Agile methodology that has expanded from its original use in software development to a wealth of other industries.

We’re many weeks into the COVID-19 crisis and, I don’t know about you, but things still feel chaotic to me. Part of it is trying to work from home while also homeschooling a 6-year old and 9-year old. Part of it is trying to keep up with all the recommendations and requirements from our public health officials. The big reason things feel chaotic to me, though, is all the uncertainty.

Major crises like our current situation is a real-life test of agility for many of us. As we look around at governments grappling with mitigation and businesses of every size pivoting their strategies, we see all of them dovetail back to this mantra: “Responding to change over following a plan.” While everything may feel hopeless at times, there are also inspiring examples of people and organizations who have shown resourcefulness and resiliency in their responses.

When it comes to managing your work, there are dozens and dozens of project management methodologies to choose from. But as you begin your research into which methodology is right for you, you’re probably going to see one particular word show up over and over again: Agile. It seems to shimmer in your peripheral vision like some sort of project management mirage. Is it real? Can all the avowed benefits of agile project management really be true?