Project Management 2.0
by Dave Garrett
New technologies, concepts, and Web 2.0 tools are popping up everywhere. How can you use them to help your project team collaborate, communicate - or just give your project an extra boost? [Contact Dave]
Recent Posts
Are You Prepping For The PMP 24/7?
Are You Just Too Darn Busy?
Eliciting Requirements... Creatively!
What To Expect When Your Stakeholders Are Expecting
8 More Templates to Save You Time
Categories
Advice,
Certification,
Collaboration Tools,
Decision Making,
Estimating,
Interviews,
Learning,
Management Approaches,
New Templates,
Personal Productivity,
PM Software,
PPM Software,
Presentation Tools,
Reporting Tools,
Requirements Management,
Research,
Risk Management,
Scheduling Software,
Security,
shameless self promotion,
Techie Tools,
Time Killers,
Time Tracking Software,
Training,
Virtual Team Tools,
Web-based Tools,
workshops
Date
| Situation: You Need To Roll Out A Solid Enterprise PPM Solution Quickly...
A focus on your customer's needs is unbeleivably important. That's true now, more than ever when rapid changes in functionality can change the very nature of an application within a year.
I recently spoke with Tim Low of eProject, who gave me an update on the software and their basic approach to development. There were a lot of interesting parts to the conversation, but what impressed me the most was his (last) response to the question,
"What are the top three things that set eProject apart as a Project and Program Management Tool?"
Here are his responses:
Price The cost per seat is low and not everyone has to be a licensed user. PMExpress is only $25/mo per user and PPM6 is only $45/mo per user.
Speed of Implementation Typically runs about 2-5 weeks, which is pretty impressive for an enterprise roll out of anything. Of course, this is partly a function of being a SaaS, but does that matter if it gets the job done?
WE EARN OUR CUSTOMERS' BUSINESS EVERY MONTH This is the kicker for me. Granted, once you're using this stuff enterprise-wide its hard to switch, but many software vendors have fees structured that keep you tied in for a fixed period. From what Tim tells me this keeps eProject very much tuned in to every customer's needs. From the looks of the website, support is an important component of what they do. To me that's a very good sign. |
Posted on: February 17, 2007 07:53 PM
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| Situation: Your Firm Needs To Track Time at a Very Granular Level.
In this blog I often ask quick questions about the value of products so that people can make reasonable judgements about whether they should take a closer look. We recently asked Curt Finch, CEO of Journyx, "What does Journyx do better than any other timesheet application?"
Here is his response...
The real answer to that question is very long. I'll try to be brief.
First of all we're far more flexible. This shows up in reports primarily which are without a doubt more flexible and configurable than anything else on the market. We have sold our software in the SaaS environment since 1999 and on Windows and Linux since 1997, which allows customers to rollout first on SaaS, and then later when their IT shop is ready in their internal environment. Many customers have used this 'early rollout' scenario. We run on most SQL compliant database servers including Microsoft SQL Server, DB2, Postgresql and others.
Journyx is the first and only company to establish a proven process that enables our customers to move their companies from a chaotic state where they don't know their costs at all to full understanding of per-project per-person profitability.
Journyx is always first with new technologies that help our customers as evidenced by the fact that Journyx is the only timesheet company with 7 patents.
Journyx is not right for everyone, we focus on specific markets where we've found customers are most successful with our technology.
These markets are Professional Services, Research + Development and Information Technology and we give these people powerful, patented, cost-effective workforce management solutions that help them manage projects, control costs and increase profitability. |
Posted on: February 16, 2007 05:18 PM
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Situation: You Need a Good Excuse...
Postioning can be very important in project management, but sometimes we go a little overboard. Dave Prior, Vice Chair of the PMI IT&T SIG sent this link over to me a minute ago -- pretty funny. |
Posted on: February 16, 2007 04:38 PM
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Situation: You want to improve your "not so photographic" memory...
People used to "suction-cup" note-pads to the inside of their windshields, so that if they wanted to jot down a note ... (well you get it)
Jot, a new free service on the web accomplishes that for you in a really effective, easy to use way. Yes, you're using your cell phone, but at least youre not trying to write while driving. The idea is that you dial an 800 #, talk into the phone and hang up. Everything you say is transcribed and sent to your email account. Messages can also be sent via text message to your phone OR to a distribution list. So if you are running late for a meeting, you could pick up the phone, dial Jot's #, and say "team - I'm going to be 20 minutes late" . A text message then goes to each of your team members letting them know what's going on. How efficient is that!
I've really got to say I'm excited about this one. I'm constantly looking for easy ways to remember the thousands of things I need to catch up on every day. I'm sure many of you feel the same. |
Posted on: February 16, 2007 12:32 PM
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Situation: Your public speaking skills could use a little polish...
Who knew training in public speaking could be anything but a nightmare? I was reading the WSJ last Tuesday and ran across this article, "Improv Troupe Teaches Managers How To Give Better Presentations". It's not just any Improv Troupe either --- these are the folks at Second City! It looks like it's actually affordable and held several times a year. |
Posted on: February 10, 2007 02:23 PM
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"I think popular music in this country is one of the few things in the twentieth century that have made giant strides in reverse."
- Bing Crosby
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