projektime

Projektime is a project time management methodology that helps teams plan, track, and optimize how time is spent on project work. The name combines "projek" and "time" to stress time as a central resource. The approach blends timeboxing, explicit time budgets, and regular review, and it is designed to be adaptable to software development, product design, construction, and other knowledge-based tasks.

Origins and development: Projektime originated in the early 2010s among European practitioners seeking greater predictability within lean and agile contexts. It spread through open templates, case studies, and community discussions, allowing teams to tailor budgets and cadences to their specific contexts.

Core concepts: Time budgeting and fixed-length execution blocks are central. Work items receive a projekt budget (time budget) and are organized into cycles with a defined cadence. At the end of each cycle, teams compare planned versus actual time, investigate variances, and adjust estimates or processes. Lightweight dashboards provide visibility into planned time, actual time, cycle time, and utilization.

Implementation and tools: Projektime can be implemented within existing project management tools using templates, checklists, and automations. It supports integration with kanban boards, sprint backlogs, and other agile artifacts, while maintaining a distinct emphasis on time as a primary metric.

Reception and critique: Advocates argue that projektime improves focus, reduces drift, and enhances delivery predictability. Critics caution that time tracking can add overhead if not applied pragmatically.

See also: Timeboxing, Agile, Kanban.