Project management software is a term covering many types of software, including scheduling, resource allocation, collaboration software, communication and documentation systems, which are used to deal with the complexity of large projects. Look up scheduling in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... In strategic planning, a resource-allocation decision is a plan for using available resources, especially in the near term, to achieve goals for the future. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with collaborative workspace. ... Look up Communication in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... In general terms, documentation is any communicable material (such as text, video, audio, etc. ... A project is a temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product or service. ...

Microsoft Project 2000, showing a Gantt chart

Screengrab - Microsoft Project 9. ... Screengrab - Microsoft Project 9. ... Microsoft Project (or MSP) is a project management software program developed and sold by Microsoft which is designed to assist project managers in developing plans, assigning resources to tasks, tracking progress, managing budgets and analyzing workloads. ...

Tasks of project management software

Scheduling

One of the most common tasks is to schedule a series of events, and the complexity of this task can vary considerably depending on how the tool is used. Some common challenges include: Complexity in general usage is the opposite of simplicity. ...

• Events which depend on one another in different ways or dependencies
• Scheduling people to work on, and resources required by, the various tasks commonly termed resource scheduling
• Dealing with uncertainties in the estimates of the duration of each task
• Arranging tasks to meet various deadlines
• Juggling multiple projects simultaneously to meet a variety of requirements

Estimation is the calculated approximation of a result which is usable even if input data may be incomplete, uncertain, or noisy. ... A task is a part of a project that needs to be accomplished within a defined period of time. ... Deadline can refer to several things: A deadline is a point in time at which something must be completed. ... This article is about engineering. ...

Calculating critical path

In many complex schedules, there will be a critical path, or series of events that depend on each other, and whose durations directly determine the length of the whole project (see also critical chain). Some software applications (for example, Dependency Structure Matrix solutions) can highlight these tasks, which are often a good candidate for any optimisation effort. In project management, a critical path is the sequence of project network terminal elements with the longest overall duration, determining the shortest time to complete the project. ... Critical Chain Project Management (CCPM) is based on methods and algorithms developed in 1997 by Eliyahu M. Goldratt. ... A Dependency Structure Matrix, or DSM (also referred to as Design Structure Matrix, Problem Solving Matrix (PSM), incidence matrix, N-square matrix or Design Precedence Matrix), is a compact, matrix representation of a system or project. ...

Providing information

Project planning software needs to provide a lot of information to various people, to justify the time spent using it. Typical requirements might include:

• Tasks lists for people, and allocation schedules for resources
• Overview information on how long tasks will take to complete
• Early warning of any risks to the project
• Information on workload, for planning holidays
• Evidence
• Historical information on how projects have progressed, and in particular, how actual and planned performance are related.

Approaches to project management software

Desktop

Project management software can be implemented as a program that runs on the desktop of each user. This typically gives the most responsive and graphically-intense style of interface. Look up desktop in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Desktop applications typically store their data in a file, although some have the ability to collaborate with other users (see below), or to store their data in a central database. Even a file-based project plan can be shared between users if it's on a networked drive, and no two people want to access it at once.

Desktop applications can be written to run in a heterogeneous environment of multiple operating systems, although it's unusual. Look up Heterogeneous in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... An operating system (OS) is a set of computer programs that manage the hardware and software resources of a computer. ...

Web-based

Project management software can be implemented as a Web application, accessed through an intranet or extranet using a web browser. In software engineering, a web application is an application delivered to users from a web server over a network such as the World Wide Web or an intranet. ... An intranet is a private computer network that uses Internet protocols, network connectivity, and possibly the public telecommunication system to securely share part of an organizations information or operations with its employees. ... An extranet is a private network that uses Internet protocols, network connectivity, and possibly the public telecommunication system to securely share part of an organizations information or operations with suppliers, vendors, partners, customers or other businesses. ... An example of a web browser (Mozilla Firefox), displaying the English Wikipedia main page. ...

This has all the usual advantages and disadvantages of web applications:

• Can be accessed from any type of computer without installing software
• Ease of access-control
• Naturally multi-user
• Only one software version and installation to maintain
• Typically slower to respond than desktop applications
• More limited graphical capability than desktop applications
• Project information not available when the user (or server) is offline.
• Some packages do allow the user to "go-offline"

Personal

A personal project management application is one used at home, typically to manage a lifestyle or home projects. There is considerable overlap with single user systems, although personal project management software typically involves simpler interfaces. See also non-specialised tools below.

Single user

A single-user system is programmed with the assumption that only one person will ever need to edit the project plan at once. This may be used in small companies, or ones where only a few people are involved in top-down project planning. Desktop applications generally fall into this category. Top-down and Bottom-up are approaches to the software development process, and by extension to other procedures, mostly involving software. ...

Collaborative

A collaborative system is designed to support multiple users modifying different sections of the plan at once, for example, updating the areas they personally are responsible for such that those estimates get integrated into the overall plan. Web-based tools, including extranets, generally fall into this category, but have the limitation that they can only be used when the user has live Internet access. To address this limitation, client-server-based software tools exist that provide a Rich Client that runs on users' desktop computer and replicate project and task information to other project team members through a central server when users connect periodically to the network and other tasks. This page is a candidate for speedy deletion, because: test page If you disagree with its speedy deletion, please explain why on its talk page or at Wikipedia:Speedy deletions. ... An extranet is a private network that uses Internet protocols, network connectivity, and possibly the public telecommunication system to securely share part of an organizations information or operations with suppliers, vendors, partners, customers or other businesses. ... Client/Server is a network application architecture which separates the client (usually the graphical user interface) from the server. ... A fat client is a computer (client) in client-server architecture networks which typically provides rich functionality independently of the central server. ... Desktop computer with several common peripherals (Monitor, keyboard, mouse, speakers, microphone and a printer) A desktop computer is a personal computer made for use on a desk in an office or home and is distinguished from portable computers such as laptops or PDAs. ...

Integrated

An integrated system combines project management or project planning, with many other aspects of company life. For example, PHProjekt projects have bug tracking issues assigned to each project, the list of project customers becomes a customer relationship management module, and each person on the project plan has their own task lists, calendars, and messaging functionality associated with their projects. A ticket tracking system that is designed especially to manage problems (software bugs) with computer programs. ... Customer relationship management (CRM) is a broad term that covers concepts used by organizations to manage their relationships with customers, including collecting, storing and analyzing customer information. ... Palm OS-based task list application A task list (also to-do list) is a list of tasks to do, such as chores or sections to be done in a project. ... A calendar is a system for assigning calendar dates to days. ... Message in its most general meaning is the object of communication. ...

Similarly, specialised tools like SourceForge integrate project management software with source control (CVS) software and bug-tracking software, so that each piece of information can be integrated into the same system. ‹ The template below has been proposed for deletion. ... Revision control is an aspect of documentation control wherein changes to documents are identified by incrementing an associated number or letter code, termed the revision level, or simply revision. It has been a standard practice in the maintenance of engineering drawings for as long as the generation of such drawings... The Concurrent Versions System (CVS), also known as the Concurrent Versioning System is an open-source version control system invented and developed by Dick Grune in the 1980s. ...

Non-specialised tools

While specialised software may be common, and heavily promoted by each vendor, there are a vast range of other software (and non-software) tools used to plan and schedule projects.

• Calendaring software can often handle scheduling as easily as dedicated software
• Spreadsheets are very versatile, and can be used to calculate things not anticipated by the designers

A page from the Hindu calendar 1871-72. ... A spreadsheet is a rectangular table (or grid) of information, often financial information. ...

Implementations

See main article, List of project management software The following is a list of project management software. ...

Directories listing project planning software

The Open Directory Project (ODP), also known as dmoz (from directory. ... ‹ The template below has been proposed for deletion. ... Gartner logotype. ...

Criticisms of project management software

The following may apply in general, or only to specific products.

• May not be derived from a sound project management method. For example, displaying the Gantt chart view by default encourages users to focus on task scheduling too early, rather than identifying objectives and deliverables.
• Focuses primarily on the planning phase and does not offer enough functionality for project tracking, control and in particular plan-adjustment.
• Does not make a clear distinction between the planning phase and post planning phase, leading to user confusion and frustration when the software does not behave as expected. For example, shortening the duration of a task when an additional human resource is assigned to it while the project is still being planned.
• Offer complicated features to meet the needs of project management professionals, which must be understood in order to effectively use the product. Additional features may be so complicated as to be of no use to anyone. Complex task prioritization and resource leveling algorithms for example can produce results that make no intuitive sense, and overallocation is often more simply resolved manually.
• Some people may achieve better results using simpler technique, (e.g. pen and paper), yet feel pressured into using project management software by company policy (discussion).
• Similar to PowerPoint, project management software might shield the manager from important interpersonal contact.
• New types of software are challenging the traditional definition of Project Management. Frequently, users of project management software are not actually managing a discrete project. For instance, managing the ongoing marketing for an already-released product is not a "project" in the traditional sense of the term; it does not involve management of discrete resources working on a something with a discrete beginning/end. Groupware applications now add "project management" features that directly support this type of workflow-oriented project management. Classically-trained Project Managers may argue whether this is "sound project management." However, the end-users of such tools will refer to it as such, and the de-facto definition of the term Project Management may change.
• When there are multiple larger projects, Project Management Software can be very useful. Nevertheless you probably should not use Management Software if you run a single small project, as Management Software will take too much time.

Project Management is the discipline of organizing and managing resources in such a way that these resources deliver all the work required to complete a project within defined scope, quality, time and cost constraints. ... Gantt redirects here. ... It has been suggested that Long-term goal be merged into this article or section. ... Wikibooks has more about this subject: Powerpoint Microsoft Office PowerPoint is a ubiquitous presentation program developed for the Microsoft Windows and Mac OS computer operating systems. ... Project Management is the discipline of organizing and managing resources in such a way that these resources deliver all the work required to complete a project within defined scope, quality, time and cost constraints. ... Project Management is the discipline of organizing and managing resources in such a way that these resources deliver all the work required to complete a project within defined scope, quality, time and cost constraints. ...

See also

• List of project management software
• List of project management topics
• Project accounting
• PERT

The following is a list of project management software. ... Aggregate planning Agile software development Artemis (software) BugBox (software) Critical path method Critical chain Cost overrun Dependency Duration (project management) Earned Schedule Earned value management Estimation Estimation in software engineering Extreme project management Float (project management) Focused improvement Fordism Gantt, Henry Gantt chart Goal (management) The Goal (book) Goldratt, Eliyahu... Project accounting is the practice of creating financial reports specifically designed to track the financial progress of projects, which can then be used by managers to aid project management. ... PERT network chart for a seven-month project with five milestones (10 through 50) and six activities (A through F). ...

External links

• Project management software reviews
• Project Management Institute
• Two Models for Project Portfolio Management
• Projects and Profitability

Books

• Eric Uyttewaal: Dynamic Scheduling With Microsoft(r) Project 2000: The Book By and For Professionals, ISBN 0-9708276-0-1
• George Suhanic: Computer-Aided Project Management, ISBN 0-19-511591-0
• Richard E. Westney: Computerized Management of Multiple Small Projects, ISBN 0-8247-8645-9