Project Management Software

[Andre Baros]

Can anyone recommend project management solutions which they're finding very successful. For the time being, assume a Windows SBS Server 2003, XP workstation, Outlook environment. What we really want is an easy way for every PA to enter the stats for their project and then to have the option to see that together with everyone else's requirements for more efficient resource leveling across the team. Right now, just doing it all within Outlook we get either too much or too little information in a view.

Does anyone have experience with MS Project Server, Sharepoint, ArchiOffice, etc.

[Andre Baros]

How about any open source solutions such as:
http://www.openworkbench.org/
http://www.project-open.org/index.html
http://www.project.net/

[hand471037]

I've looked at several open-source project management / CRM systems, such as SugarCRM and DotProject. What I've found to date is that most of them are way overkill. Lots of great features mind you, but setup like a project manager's wet dream of detail and as such are so 'heavy' and slow to use that we found them to not be that useful at all.

We used on for about five months before we gave up. It was too much work keeping up to date with the system, too much to do (instead of just getting to work).

Now we use iCal, Omniplanner (an OS X based MS Project-like tool), and a Wiki instead.

I'd recommend a decent Wiki instead, maybe one that can tie into Outlook somehow, seeing that you've already got a decent calendar and to-do system in Outlook. Unless you're really willing to get everyone in the office onboard with the project management system, and enforce it's use, I don't think in the end you'll get the same value you'd get out of something that's fast and easy for everyone to use (while being somewhat simpler).

[Andre Baros]

Good advice. We've had the WIKI set up for about a year now and are finding very inconsistant use across our users so we're looking for some way to get just a little more out of Outlook.

[hand471037]

Good advice. We've had the WIKI set up for about a year now and are finding very inconsistant use across our users so we're looking for some way to get just a little more out of Outlook.

Then I'd just look at add-ons for Outlook: http://www.outlooksync.com/index.php...=58&Itemid=129

If your team isn't using the wiki, why would they use something else that's more complex and still separate from their e-mail?

MS Project server certainly could do the job, but it's a lot of money for a lot more than what you'd probably need. And one more thing to manage. Exchange servers are enough from what I understand...

[Mcgregage]

I had the same problem, untill about a year ago. You may be familiar with the SharePoint Technologies out there from Microsoft. What one of the companies that I currently work for has done, is develop a fully internet portal ready, SharePoint application, dubbed WebAxis. If you are unfamiliar with SharePoint, there is also another version . . . be weary, I have seen it in action and has crashed after only 20 users! WebAxis is fully integrated into the Outlook environment, in fact you can sync your outlook calendar with the one online and vice-versa. Another feature that i really like is there is a wiki portion built right in. It is also a very solid dare I say an "FTP on Steriods."Also since it is Microsoft, in Office 2007 there is a direct link to WebAxis. Plus you have microsofts security. You really cant go wrong with this system. There are so many options and such that I could go on for quite awhile. However, I am just going to post the website up here. If you click on the 'Whats New' portion of the page you can sign up for a trial version.

http://cadworks.net/

Cheers,

Ian