What does everyone use? What do you like/not like about the software you use? Why? If you could pick any one - which would it be and why? Saving Changes...
SW used: project 2000 likes: familiar interface, addtional functionality (referring to Proj98) dislikes: documentation (lack thereof) on Project central. Any tips/techniques for project central welcomed. Saving Changes...
Joe SaccoSenior Program Manager| OptomiRichardson, Tx, United States
I think it depends on your needs. Larger organizations that can benefit from multiple tools, and that have stricter time tracking requirements may want to look at tools from ABT. We selected ABT because they had a very broad offering, and their scheduling tool was very flexible and powerful. In our case we needed a tool that 300+ people could track their time, and that we could produce good reports for management and finance (charge back). We also thought that ABT had a more flexible and powerful scheduling tool. Saving Changes...
Use MS Project 98. Looked at Project 2000, but didn't feel it offered material improvements over 98.
Would like to see more robust reporting, export and "undo" capability. Would also like built-in workflow management and team communication mechanisms (irregardless of Project Central). Saving Changes...
I have a few comments on Project Central. None of them are positive. I was looking at it with great interest, as the concept has a lot of promise, and it appeared it do exactly what I needed.
Unfortunately, it is so unreliable, that I could not recommend it for my company (I was working on a test network). It is difficult to install and configure, MS buries the instructions on the CD where no ordinary mortal will think to look for them, and requires the installer to have knowledge of a database administrator, NT server administrator, etc. Many instructions are sketchy at best and in the wrong order (Such as: 1. do this. 2. do that. 3 do this other thing. Before doing these, make sure a, b, c are configured. Then you find the details of a, b, and c in some other section of the document with no reference to the related steps 1, 2 and 3. Sheesh! Did the MS Project development team take lessons on how to make implementation a nightmare?)
That wasn't bad enough, once it was installed and configured I soon developed a problem between the databases. It seems that a particular piece of data showed as one amount to the Project leader and as different amounts to the resources and the resource manager. At the time, I was participating frequently in the microsoft newsgroup, so rather than describe it all over again, here's link to the thread on the subject. ( http://www.deja.com/viewthread.xp?AN=63961....projectcentral ) You'll note, towards the end of that thread, that I'm talking to myself -- a tendency that manifested in the physical world as well as the virtual one in the newsgroup!
So my recommendation is that if you need what Project Central promises, look for another tool, because PC doesn't deliver reliably.
Paula Brensinger Sr. Planning Manager Vibren Technologies Inc. Saving Changes...
Artemis is a good repository based Project Management Software. It is good for multi projects environment,it also uses a common resource pool which is good for resource scheduling and levelling. The drawback is it is administartion intensive, you would require a full time Project Administrator depending on the number of projects you have. It also doesnt have a Doument Management System to support project doucmentation.
Visit artemispm.com for details Saving Changes...
Perry NolenDirector US Sales| Planisware USAHouston, Tx, United States
Different PM systems meet different client requirements. One of the best high end systems I have seen is a product relatively new to the U.S. called OPX2 from Planisware. What makes it unique is it's flexibility in molding the product to fit the way you do business rather than the other way around. It helps clients achieve everything from planning and scheduling to resource management to cost management and is used by many multinational organizations because of it's inherent currency conversion capabilities. OPX2 has a Client Server module, Intranet Server module and TimeCards. If you want to see more about them, their web site is www.planisware.com Saving Changes...
Having guided a number of clients on implementing project management processes using primarily MS Project along with a few add-ons, I am happy to suggest to this list that they look into Scitor's new PS8.
I've just completed some introductory work with it with a client that will be using it and can safely say that it has the promise of becoming the premiere software for supporting Critical Chain Scheduling and Buffer Management in both single- and multi-project environments. The underlying software (which doesn't force you to use CC concepts, but does provide the first standalone package that includes them as an integrated option) looks clean, quick, and powerful. If it does CC as well as it does, I would expect their experience with traditional approaches to be handled equally as well.
As the implementation goes forward, I'll continue to comment on how well it works.
Best of breed PM software is Primavera Project Planner (P3). Blows the doors off of Artemis (poor interface/steep learning curve), ABT (nice try but no banana), or MS Project (for casual use only).
Tom Welch Saving Changes...
Anonymous
Evolve!
The be all and end all! Saving Changes...
Anonymous
We are looking for Portfolio management software that will work with MSProject 2000. Would like to have integrated timesheet reporting among other things. Have looked at:
Project Invision/SME Corp; Enterprise/eLabor; and PMOffice/Systemcorp.
The functionality appears to be pretty similar. eLabor claims that they will be the platform for the next version of MSProject. Has anyone had experience with these applications or is there another application you would suggest (which is based on MSProject) we should consider? Saving Changes...
