When comparing project management in construction vs. software development, the differences in planning, execution, and resource management are quite significant:
Planning:
Construction: Detailed, long-term planning with fixed timelines, budgets, and physical resources. A lot of focus on legal permits, safety regulations, and site logistics.
Software Development: Planning is much more iterative with an ease of change and quick pivots. Agile methodologies are often drivers for planning, using user feedback and iterative development cycles.
Execution:
Construction: Execution includes physical tasks, and relies highly on managing contractors, materials, and equipment. Delays most often come from external factors like weather or supply chain issues.
Software Development: It is more execution-oriented with coding, testing, and bug fixing. Collaboration among developers, designers, and product managers can be involved to ensure continuous progress with quality.
Resource Management:
Construction: Resources are tangible in terms of people like laborers, materials, and machinery. Usually, resource management is also wrangled with logistics, schedule, and cost constraints.
Software Development: Resources are mainly human, including developers, testers, and project managers. The key is managing people, skills, and time, with a focus on maintaining team morale and productivity.