Project Management Software Recommendations?
WBA Consulting
Posts: 2,935
I am finding it necessary to come up with a much better way to manage the projects under my responsibility. With some recent changes in my position at work, I now have 4 more Engineers' worth of projects that I need to manage effectively. While perusing the internet looking for project management software, I am struggling to find something that isn't either extremely expensive or isn't geared for major projects involving multiple people/companies (like construction of a hotel).
Anyone have any recommendations on software, project templates, etc, for effectively managing projects that utilize 1 or 2 people and last 1 to 3 weeks.
Anyone have any recommendations on software, project templates, etc, for effectively managing projects that utilize 1 or 2 people and last 1 to 3 weeks.
Comments
http://basecamphq.com/
Regards,
Kevin
http://www.google.com/#sclient=psy&hl=en&safe=off&site=&source=hp&q=pert+chart&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=&pbx=1&fp=652e0df67dbfff88
Here is Gantt chart...
http://www.google.com/#sclient=psy&hl=en&safe=off&q=Gantt+chart&aq=f&aqi=g5&aql=&oq=Gantt+chart&gs_rfai=&pbx=1&fp=652e0df67dbfff88
http://trac.edgewall.org/
As khd00 mentioned, Basecamphq is fairly intuitive. A lot of larger customer-facing projects I have been a part of recently have used it.
Bill190: I am very familiar with Gantt charts, but haven't heard of the PERT chart. I will be checking that out. When I was at PBNEC, I managed a 12 cell laptop manufacturing move using Microsoft Project. I moved all 12 cells from one building to another, during normal work hours, across 3 weeks, while maintaining full production capacity for NEC's 3 laptop product families. Without everyone utilizing my gantt charts, it would have never happened.
Trodoss: TRAC looks rather nice, but from first glance, it appears geared to software design proejcts?
To give everyone a bit more detail, I am the Engineering Manager for a Contract Electronics Manufacturer. I am trying to improve how my staff's projects are managed, so that, by effect, I am a more efficient manager. Currently I am using a basic project management/tracking template in excel, but I need to step it up a notch.
That was a "management system" is a "system" and a system does not necessarily need to be on a "computer system"!
Sometimes a simple system might be best on paper, a calendar, 3 x 5 cards, or maybe a whiteboard on a wall.
I don't think this applies to this situation as it sounds complex, but keep this in mind for other systems.
I am about to get to grips with "OnTime" by Axosoft. Think its targetted more towards software development, but seems pretty advanced.
The latest version of MindManager also has Gantt built in (for years it was an add on package JVCGantt).
GANTT charts are a simpler bar chart that doesn't show clearly logical dependencies of tasks. For projects of a week or two, I don't quite see why PERT would be needed.
SVN is a huge overhead and very involved with a companies network resources. I looked at it and it really again is intended for big projects with lots of people. There are better alternatives for having software projects with 6 or so people that don't become a major computer project in and of themselves. (Right now, the name of the one I liked escapes me. I'll try to find it.)
In other words, be careful not get involved with software that requires more maintenance that your team really can provide.
The GANTT charts can be done in Excel by someone that understands Excel, you don't need an expensive application.
Similarlly, the version tracking software can be gotten free from the Linux world and be even installable and usable on Windows.
The first is TraxTime by Spud City Software. Its a straight time tracker that allows multiple projects and task time tracking along with a diary feature. Takes almost no overhead or personnel time to make entries. It also allows multiple folks to be assigned to a single project and provide their respective inputs.
The second is Turbo Project which is similar to most project management software but at the lower cost end. Tracks and reports schedules, conflicts, overall time frame, etc, etc.
There is a noticeable, but reasonable learning curve. Certainly much easier to use than the big, all-singing, all-dancing products.
Cheers,
For smaller projects, I use a combination of Excel and PowerPoint.
Basecamp is also a great alternative. It's a simple and friendly web-based tool that helps to manage small and medium scale projects. It's a great software for people who does not want to waste their time learning about the tool since Basecamp is easy to learn. For more software alternatives, you can also check some here: http://www.timedoctor.com/blog/2011/02/02/43-project-management-software-alternatives It consists of more than 40 project management software with features compared with each other.
Features:
For desktop project management software packages, I recommend OpenProj and Latitude. Desktop applications run faster and has more functionality. OpenProj is open source so you might need to hire developers to develop and improve it. On the other hand, Latitude is a payware tool so it has more features and bugs are fixed in a short period of time.