There are two general approaches in project management software to planning and managing tasks and projects.
- One is a calendar based approach.
- The second is a task based approach.
As a quick rule-of-thumb, a calendar based approach is best suited to planning and managing small projects with a relatively few number of resources. Web based calendars and software offer a quick and intuitive way to see tasks over a period of time in a familiar format. Calendars themselves are so common that people generally have an easy time in using web based calendars to schedule projects, tasks and resources. Think of programs like Microsoft Outlook or BaseCamp.
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Read a recent post on some of the limits people are reaching with Basecamp. They seem to apply to the general “software should do less” approach many people associate with Web 2.0.
The philosophy of software that “does less” can actually create more work and aggravation once users, teams or projects scale up to a certain level of complexity. The approach starts to lose its usefulness.
At a certain level of scope or scale, people can benefit from project management software (and software designers) that “do more” in terms of details and thought out interface and functional architecture/workflow.
This applies to functionality contained in the project management software (like scheduling and project planning) as well as functionality which reaches outside to users or clients (like automatic email notifications and identity management or access level management). It also speaks to the value of more involved customer support and training, where the project management software company takes time to understand the work their customer does.
Web 2.0 is about useful tools. “Do less” type software can certainly be useful and has its place (just look at the growth of Basecamp’s project collaboration tool). But these types of software are not one size fits all solutions. There are project management software solutions that offer similar benefits as Basecamp and other first generation Web 2.0 tools, but which are built to handle projects of a larger scale.
Are you comparing or evaluating project management software? Are you looking for an alternative to Microsoft Project or software like Microsoft Project?
Are you thinking about waiting for Microsoft Project 2007 to be released before making a decision?
Based on initial ”sneak-peak” reviews of Microsoft Project 2007 project management software, doesn’t seem like much has changed.
In other words, if you like Microsoft Project project management software in general, and you’re using MS Project 1998 or 2000, this upgrade may be right for you. But if you’re waiting for some radical innovation in project management software or a reincarnation of MS Project in an easier to use, more web 2.0 type format, this misses the mark.
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Recent talk on the scalability of Ruby on Rails (RoR) to build a web application more advanced than Basecamp (by 37signals, the creators of RoR) e.g. this from AKuAKu coming back from the Ruby on Rails unconference Rails Camp:
“The performance and scaling session which lasted about 5 minutes when no one could advance the high water mark for rails apps past basecamp.”
Reminds me of some earlier posts by Ben Forta, ColdFusion guru and related CF posts on the advantages of using ColdFusion (and ColdFusion on Wheels) to build larger scale apps.
To see a difference: in the project management software space compare Basecamp to Vertabase Pro (you can request a trial off the site). Vertabase Pro is written in CF.
Project management software generally falls into three categories. This article provides an overview of these categories and a broad review of some of the leading project management software in these categories.
For the PM Specialist
There are a ton of project management software tools designed to assist the theoretician or to adhere to project management theory or to a particular project management body of knowledge or approach. Project management software solutions in this realm can measure risk factors against difference risk tolerances on a project, they can provide multiple baselines on different factors on a project, they can calculate the impact of deviations or variances, or earned value at different points of a schedule. They offer a ton of hard-core project management metrics and functionality. They are often used for large capital projects (like construction of a bridge, building a space shuttle or power-plant).
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Project planning and project scheduling can be valuable tools in business intelligence (BI) or business performance management (BPM).
On the solutions side, project management software, particularly easier to use online project management software tools can generate powerful business intelligence and process optimization conclusions.
A previous post discussed the three key variables used to set a realistic due-date.
1) A defined process
2) Defined task durations
3) Resource availability/performance
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A due-date separates a project from a goal.
A goal is something you’d like to accomplish. Once you put a due-date on it, it becomes a proejct. Once you put a due-date on it, you can begin to plan the steps necessary to accomplish that goal.
3 KEYS TO SETTING A DUE DATE
There are three keys to set a realistic due-date:
1) A well-defined process;
2) Clearly understood task durations and;
3) The availability of resources.
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