TASK MANAGEMENT
Product: K. Central
Supplier: KSolutions Inc., Annapolis, Md., USA
Features: Enables communication with other team members • Captures pertinent project/program information • Searches relevant internal/online information sources • Manages project life cycles and client engagements • Establishes rules to manage workflow.
Benefits: Works to plan and manage activities, focusing on creating, organizing, sharing and applying, and maintaining information for multiple interdependent projects.
Phone: 410-573-5045
Web site: www.ksolutionsinc.com
Product: Accelerated Enterprise Service Automation
Supplier: PeopleSoft Inc., Pleasanton, Calif., USA
Features: PeopleSoft's Human Resource Management Systems • PeopleSoft's Contract, Expense, Financial, Project and Resource Management modules.
Benefits: Internet-based service provides project managers with workforce planning, service procurement, project execution, and cost and revenue management.
Phone: 925-225-3000
Web site: www.peoplesoft.com
Product: OPX2, version 3.0
Supplier: Planisware U.S.A., Roseville, Calif., USA
Features: Graphic interface, improving ergonomics • Printable time sheets • Added options to the display of totals and estimates • Web interfacing with Microsoft Project 2000 • User-friendly presentation, parameters are freely set.
Benefits: Software distributes project data to multiple databases and any modifications can be synchronized on the different databases.
Phone: 916-677-1747
Web site: www.planisware.com
Product: PlanView Web Software, version 7.0
Supplier: PlanView Inc., Austin, Texas, USA
Features: Formal risk tracking and escalation processes • Budgeting and contract management functions • Scoreboard: allowing access to work and resource performance indexes to compare indicators, schedule maturity, resource utilization and enhanced earned value calculations • Enhanced collaboration and sharing features • Support of the XML standard.
Benefits: An integrated project, service and resource management software, it allows project managers to manage multiple projects, service-level agreements, staff and contractor skills, and resource management.
Phone: 512-346-8600
Web site: www.planview.com
Product: eTest Automation Process (eTAP), version 2.0
Supplier: Real-Time Technology Solutions Inc., New York, N.Y., USA
Features: Facilitates standardization within corporate testing groups • Creates “what if” scenarios to estimate changes to scope • Tracks tasks and delivery dates • Uses testing metrics for project estimation • Presents best-practice templates for all steps of the testing process.
Benefits: Project managers can utilize this Web-based tool to test a professional's access to project estimation and progress tracking data, task guidelines, templates and artifacts needed for continued productivity.
Phone: 212-240-9050
Web site: www.rttsweb.com
COMMUNICATION
Product: SuperStack 3 Webcache
Supplier: 3Com Corp., Santa Clara, Calif., USA
Features: Webcache stores frequently requested Web pages locally to reduce long distance calls from continuous Internet use • Server Load Balancer manages network traffic to reduce server overloads and subsequent network failure; distributes network traffic • Firewall protects confidential files on the server from unauthorized users.
Benefits: Ensures continued, protected network access to time-conscious project managers. It also reduces cost by accessing frequently used Web sites locally.
Phone: 408-326-5000
Web site: www.3com.com
Product: Changepoint, version 6.0
Supplier: Changepoint Corp., Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada
Features: Supports English, French and German language versions • Financial management functionality through Revenue Recognition capabilities and Batch Invoicing • Resource utilization capabilities • Ad hoc analytical tools for improved business intelligence • Enhancements in Contractor Management.
Benefits: The updated version provides bidirectional interface to Microsoft Project 2000, which ensures that project plans are synchronized in both systems.
Phone: 905-886-7000
Web site: www.changepoint.com
Product: Genio Suite
Supplier: Hummingbird Ltd., Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Features: Genio Designer: Multiuser graphical development environment • Genio Engine: High-speed, multithread transformation device • Genio Scheduler:Time- and event-based scheduler • Genio Repository: Object-oriented metadata repository • Hummingbird Genio Met@Data Studio: Creates customized views of metadata.
Benefits: Offers project managers a tool to facilitate data exchange by merging different databases or manipulating data in other locations, such as in legacy systems. It streamlines the process so managers do not have to build separate systems for new conglomerations of data that must be formatted to a company's system.
Phone: 416-496-2200
Web site: www.hummingbird.com
Product: Niku 6
Supplier: Niku Corp., Redwood City, Calif., USA
Features: Automates business work cycles • Streamlines internal processes.
Benefits: Provides information to project managers to review opportunities and priorities, and judge them by quantitative metrics.
Phone: 650-298-4600
Web site: www.niku.com
What Project Management Software Tools are Right for My Company?
Once a company is ready to select project management software, the next step is to develop a checklist of desired features. Project participants, project customers and management all should have a say in the final project management system, says Lori Gipp, vice president of marketing and strategic alliances at consulting firm PM Solutions, Havertown, Pa., USA. After prioritizing that checklist, the top three requirements listed are critical, and the eight after that are “nice-to-have” items. “You cannot have it all,” Gipp says. “There is no software product out there that does everything for everybody.”
In order to help you create this list and evaluate specific software, ask yourself the following questions:
■ What software am I using right now? Is there additional functionality that I could be trained to use?
■ Do I have the right processes in place to effectively use a software tool?
■ What do I want to accomplish with a project management tool? Reduced development time? Better use of resources? Improved reporting to management?
■ What types of reporting capabilities or metrics does management want to examine?
■ How much data do I need to enter into the system to support these capabilities and how long will this take me?
■ Do I need Web capabilities to communicate project goals, responsibilities or results with team members or executives across the country or the world?
■ Do I need a tool that supports multiple currencies and includes multiple calendars that list holidays in different countries?
■ Do I want wireless communication capabilities that can be integrated into my project management tool—or will I want them someday?
■ Does my tool need to integrate with other business tools such as my company's enterprise resource planning (ERP) software?
■ How long will it take me to implement the tool to accomplish what I want it to do?
■ Does the software support and fit within my company's IT infrastructure?
Once the selection criteria have been developed, Gipp suggests calling in three or four vendors for demonstrations, selecting a vendor and then conducting a pilot program by running a logical scenario through the software—perhaps data from a past project—before signing a final contract.
If the software doesn't work midway through the trial, call in the runner-up vendor. Even after a successful trial, it is helpful to get the software up and running with a few individuals internally before rolling it out to the entire organization. Using this process is “a lot cheaper in the end,” Gipp says. “You want to solve your glitches before you go wide.”
What's coming down the pike in the future? Wireless capabilities and the ability to integrate project management tools with other business software such as ERP tools are becoming more standard features within project management tools.
Companies are beginning to ask, “How do I leverage the third-party tools I'm already carrying in my briefcase or my pocket?” says Phil Leamon, president and CEO of HL Group International, Dallas, Texas, USA.
In addition, companies will be able to build on the Web capabilities of today's systems with features such as real-time online meetings to virtually communicate on project tasks, says Radhakrishnan Mahalingam, a principal consultant at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Edison, N.J., USA.
SCHEDULING
Product: ScheduLynx
Supplier: AC Information Technology, Huntsville, Ala., USA
Features: Automatically updates, compiles and correlates program chart depicting scheduling information • Integrates with planning software, such as Welcom Open Plan, Primavera, Microsoft Project, Access and Excel • Graphically communicates schedule status and impact of changes or slips • Creates “what if” project scenarios.
Benefits: A graphic communication tool that allows project managers to prepare a variety of accurate and current charts for use in status meetings, reports and presentations to customers.
Phone: 256-851-9426
Web site: www.aclynx.com
Product: FastTrack Schedule, version 7.0
Supplier: AEC Software Inc., Sterling, Va., USA
Features: Calendar and resource view • Palm manager • Critical path • Palettes • Ranges • Assignments • Editable links • Resource work calendars.
Benefits: Organizes and displays tasks and schedules for project managers.
Phone: 703-450-1980
Web site: www.aecsoft.com
TRACKING
Product: TrackView
Supplier: Artemis International Corp., Boulder, Colo., USA
Features: Tracks resources • Updates schedule performance • Simple timesheet tool for local and remote users • Advanced security functions • Ability to add custom Web links to timesheet window • Add time and progress comments, and other metrics at any time or place.
Benefits: Provides timely and accurate activity management information that allows project managers an increased visibility of project, resource and schedule performance.
Phone: 800-477-6648
Web site: www.artemispm.com
Product: TimeControl 4
Supplier: HMS Software, Pointe-Claire, Quebec, Canada
Features: Open architecture to support numerous databases • Timesheet approval for authorization of project data • Direct links to project management systems • Multilingual selection • Excel-like reporting format that allows output to Windows-compliant printer • Complies with DCAA, European Time Directives, FMLA, SOP98 and California Wage Law requirements.
Benefits: Helps project managers to streamline project management and financing. The software tracks actual and budgeted costs, then updates project schedules. Employee hours for payroll also are tracked on the same system.
Phone: 514-695-8122
Web site: www.hmssoftware.ca
Product: Solomon IV, version 4.5
Supplier: Microsoft Great Plains Business Solutions, Fargo, N.D., USA
Features: Additional project management modules • Enhanced review and approval of timesheets and expenses • Advanced payroll module.
Benefits: Allows project managers to track project details to improving profitability.
Phone: 701-281-6500
Web site: www.greatplains.com
Product: WelcomHome, version 2.0
Supplier: Welcom, Houston, Texas, USA
Features: Manages documents • Tracks open items • Views real-time schedule data • Displays milestone and status information • Supports multiple languages.
Benefits: Allows project managers to control projects, communicate with team members, control document management and access centralized project information, all in real time. Real-time access also enables clients to view project progress and status.
Phone: 281-558-0514
Web site: www.welcom.com
RISK MANAGEMENT
Product: Active Risk Manager (ARM)
Supplier: Strategic Thought Ltd., London, England
Features: Provides enterprise approach to support continuous monitoring process of risks • Assesses effectiveness of implemented controls and actions • Links risk threat and opportunity data • Compiles comprehensive audit trail and knowledge base facility • Offers risk-alert communication system.
Benefits: Enables project managers to track operational, project, and health and safety risks/issues, and then communicate any risks through-out the organization in real time.
Phone: +44-0-208-410-4000
Web site: www.strategicthought.co.uk
Product: Open Crystal Ball, version 2.2
Supplier: Decisioneering Inc., Denver, Colo., USA
Features: VantagePoint charting components • Tornado charting tool to calculate and display significant model variables • Simulation control enables the development of forecasting and risk analysis • Rapid simulation capability • Easy Integration with Web and enterprise applications • Optimization feature displays solutions for complex and uncertain simulation problems • Example models.
Benefits: Allows project managers to avoid or solve project issues through rigorous simulations.
Phone: 303-534-1515
Web site: www.crystalball.com
Product Name: TeamPlay, version 3.0
Supplier: Primavera Systems Inc., Bala Cynwyd, Pa., USA
Features: Global project cost infrastructure to view, report and analyze costs against multiple currencies • Common data platform supports project portfolio and risk analysis • Captures project progress and performance in real time.
Benefits: Enables project members to collaborate during a project's life cycle.Team members have access to work delivery and reporting information; project managers can monitor scheduling and analytical processing information; and executives can review portfolio analysis information.
Phone: 610-667-7894
Web site: www.primavera.com
Exhibit 1: Take a good look at the hierarchy of project management needs to gain a better perspective of how your organization may benefit from software tools.
view and analysis of all company projects (see Exhibit 1). Radhakrishnan Mahalingam, PMP, a principal consultant at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Edison, N.J., USA, also suggests that companies begin with lower-functionality tools and migrate to more complex tools as they become more comfortable. He breaks project management into three levels: basic project planning and scheduling, enterprise-level analysis, and portfolio management.
Basic project planning and scheduling software enables a company to better manage and analyze the process involved in a project and the skills needed for these processes. Enterprise-level tools go a step beyond to help companies manage projects from the enterprise level, tracking not just project tasks but also items such as spending, time sheets and other metrics that enhance enterprisewide analysis of each project.
At the highest level, portfolio management-level software tracks metrics from several different projects and consolidates the figures to determine which projects are successful and which are not. Despite the varied models, analysts agree that companies cannot expect to achieve portfolio management without developing the basic skills first. Implementing software cannot create effective project managers or processes—it can only make their jobs easier and more efficient.
“Your software is going to automate whatever processes you have in place,” Gipp says. “If you have chaos in place, the result will be automated, highly visible chaos.”
“People think that tools are the be-all and end-all and forget that they are called tools for a reason,” Petko agrees.