In the interview with Dr. Hans-Georg Stambke, Managing Director of ibo Software GmbH

ibo Software GmbH, based in Wettenberg near Gießen, aims to help people and organizations organize themselves better and in a future-oriented way. The focus is primarily on bringing the new world of work 4.0 to life and ensuring efficient work and transparent team collaboration with high productivity. Among the references are companies and institutions such as bofrost, AOK Rheinland/Hamburg, Oldenburgische Landesbank, and Regierungspräsidium Gießen. These customers have one thing in common: they rely on digital project management using a sophisticated software solution when developing their digital strategies. Today, we speak with Dr. Hans-Georg Stambke about digital project management, the importance of efficient project management structures, and the establishment of holistic project management.

DIGITAL FUTUREmag: Mr. Dr. Stambke, to drive digital transformation in companies or organizations, many decision-makers rely on digital project management. What exactly does this mean and what are the advantages?

Dr. Hans-Georg Stambke: Digital project management primarily focuses on making work processes more effective and efficient through the use of software. This includes creating uniform processes as well as keeping track of all projects and their implementation. An important aspect that should not go unmentioned in this context: digital project management enables collaboration across departments and locations, connecting people regardless of their location.

DIGITAL FUTUREmag: This sounds like a fundamental decision and a strong support for implementing digital process workflows. How important are efficient project management structures in this context?

Dr. Hans-Georg Stambke: Efficient project management structures are becoming increasingly important in today's world. Employees are faced with growing workloads—while human resources remain the same or even decrease. Digitizing these work processes helps not only to carry out the work more economically but also to distribute the workload more efficiently across multiple people. For this reason, it is also essential to have an overview of which projects can actually be implemented given the available resources and to focus on the high-priority projects.

DIGITAL FUTUREmag: To map complex projects holistically and thus leverage the actual benefits of holistic project management, various prerequisites are necessary. What are these in your case?

Dr. Hans-Georg Stambke: Essentially, you need to connect work processes that are usually considered separately. This works best if you first outline the current state. How do projects arise within the company? Who is involved in the individual steps? What is reported to committees or management boards? What information do the respective interest groups need? This recording of the current state is conceived as a holistic process "from start to finish" and transferred to the software. This gradually builds up a coherent multi-project management system.

DIGITAL FUTUREmag: You mention multi-project management here: What does this mean and when is it used?

Dr. Hans-Georg Stambke: Multi-project management is primarily about evaluating and efficiently implementing all initiatives and projects in line with the company strategy. That's why it's so important at this point to keep an overview, to tackle the "right" projects based on evaluation criteria, and to be able to report regularly to committees and managers on the current project status. You can significantly more easily master the challenge of providing a detailed overall view with the help of software.

DIGITAL FUTUREmag: Organizations can vary greatly. Industrial companies, for example, differ significantly from municipal or local authorities in terms of communication and areas of responsibility. How well can your software accommodate an individual project approach?

Dr. Hans-Georg Stambke: An individual project approach is crucial not only for different industries but also from one authority to another. We often experience that the maturity level of project management varies and accordingly, specific priorities are set in general project business. It is therefore important for us to create a solution that meets these diverse requirements. We achieve this with ibo netProject by adapting workflows to individual approaches and functionalities to internal requirements.

DIGITAL FUTUREmag: What obstacles do you usually encounter when introducing your technology, and how do you ensure that all employees involved in the project are truly "on board"?

Dr. Hans-Georg Stambke: In fact, we often face the challenge that our software arouses desires regarding its functionalities that go beyond the current requirements profile. The challenge then is to focus on what is essential and to start simply and pragmatically. Our software also helps our customers gradually adapt or expand such workflows. At the beginning, we recommend to all our clients to keep it as simple as possible in order to best involve their staff.

DIGITAL FUTUREmag: Most projects are dynamic and often change as they progress. How can project managers use their tools to optimally support agile project development?

Dr. Hans-Georg Stambke: To respond appropriately to changing circumstances, it is first necessary to maintain an overview of the entire project. Project managers need to keep track of tasks, milestones, efforts, costs, and, if applicable, risks. The software supports this transparency, but also helps to efficiently create and maintain project documentation.

DIGITAL FUTUREmag: Finally, I would be happy if you could give our readers three tips on how organizations can best master digital transformation with the help of project management.

Dr. Hans-Georg Stambke: I’d be happy to do so.

Tip 1: Establish a dedicated expert for project management within your organization. This specialist should serve as the central internal contact for everyone.
Tip 2: Treat project management as a holistic process within your organization, from the inception of initiatives through execution and cross-project oversight.
Tip 3: Choose software that adapts to your current needs at any time and efficiently supports your holistic project management.

DIGITAL FUTUREmag: Thank you very much!