Project Management Tools
Posted by Brad EgelandThe length of time we’ve been project managers probably says something about the type of software we’ve used to help us do our jobs. Personally, I started performing project management and program management duties more than 18 years ago.
Early Project Workbench Usage
At that time, I was using ABT’s Project Workbench to setup project schedules for the large government proposals I was working on. Project Workbench was still just a DOS-based application, but it seemed to do the trick. And at that time we were not using it to actually manage the project – we were only using it to put together a massive 2000-3000 task project schedule with resources loaded to show the US Department of Education that we understood the requirements and that we had the personnel available to get the work done. And it worked – we won nearly every large government contract we went after.
Although I did end up teaching a class to one company on using the Windows version of Project Workbench, I never used it in a project management-type setting professionally. After using the DOS-based PW, I moved straight into MS Project and, like many of you, I’ve been using it ever since.
Move to MS Project
I’ve used MS Project to win contracts, to just manage the overall timeline on projects (when detailed resource management wasn’t really necessary) and to manage resource usage and overload to a very detailed level. It has definitely served most all of the needs I’ve had managing projects as well as my client’s needs.
However, I am always on the lookout for useable low cost solutions that I can recommend to my clients. One recent client had a definite need for collaboration among their internal project managers and I was working with them on a potential MS Project 2007/MS Project Server solution, but the cost was too high, the implementation too detailed and the learning curve too long for that group – it was more than they needed or could handle.
Low-cost Web-based Tool
I am now beginning to look at the web-based ProjectOffice.net offered by Seavus (www.projectoffice.net). Some of you may already be familiar with this product, but I’m guessing a majority of the readers on here are using MS Project. What I know so far about ProjectOffice is that it is a very low-cost solution and it does work and play well with MS Project.
In the coming weeks, I’m going to be learning and utilizing ProjectOffice. And, along with my other PM articles here, I’m going to be writing separately in this space about my experiences with learning and using ProjectOffice. I will share findings with you and I ask that those of you using it share things with me through comments to my posts.
Also, if any of you are curious about ProjectOffice and have not yet used it, feel free to ask me questions about the product and it’s functionality. I’ll do my best to answer your questions, track down answers, or use your questions in a coming article to investigate that particular need or functionality.
I will also continue to contribute my normal project management tips and experiences articles here as well, and look forward to your continued readership and comments. Thank you.
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Johnsen says:
Checked now ProjectOffice – its very good and progressive, but I remain faithful to http://www.5pmweb.com
Katja Markin says:
My company searches for a web-based pm tool for 2 months now. We have tested about 15 tools and it seems that ProjectOffice.net will be the winner. I personally like it very much.
@Johnsen: 5pm is one of those 15 tools, but it appeared too childish for us. :)
Eric says:
Isn’t this blog sponsored by ProjectOffice.net? Kind of kills the point if every second commend would be about it (from “existing clients”).
Katja > I check 5pm and ProjectOffice, (right now on Basecamp). Didn’t find anything “childish” about 5pm. The product looks solid and works very well, from what I can tell (I’m into web development). If you are referring to the fun-style website – I prefer it to corporate sites with hand shaking stock pictures and big words. I can appreciate their humor and the references to the “Office Space” movie (if you didn’t see it – you missed a lot).
In any case, the product is what really matters to me. And but what I see, there are no kids developing 5pm – outstanding interface (not to criticize others, including ProjectOffice). Let’s be a bit more open here.
Brad Egeland says:
You’re right…it is sponsored by ProjectOffice.net. Up to this point, I’ve only written about my experiences in PM and those have involved first Project Workbench and then MS Project. Most of my articles have been about PM, not the tools. However, I’m now going to be exploring ProjectOffice.net and writing about it hoping that it will help individuals and companies looking for either a low-cost solution, a web-based solution or both some and provide them with some insight into the product. I’m interested in it because one of my clients is considering it and could benefit greatly from it – they are a smaller non-IT shop and don’t want to spend alot on a PM tool but need the collaboration. I have no bias at this point either way and if I feel it is lacking somewhere, I’ll likely write about it and suggest changes to the software creators.