Project management software

Allegedly, the first software suport tool for project management was developed by Datasaab for their computer D21 in the early 1960s. It was tailored to support the PERT model. Nowadays project planning software is widely used and abused.

Table of contents

1 Problems with project management software 2 Proprietary non-internet packages 2.1 Critical path support 2.2 Critical chain support 3 Open source software 4 Proprietary internet-based 5 External links 6 Books

Problems with project management software

• Few packages are built around a sound project management method. What is even worse, e.g. MS Project encourages counterprodutive behavior by inexperienced project managers by offering as the default start-up view the Gantt chart. This encourages too early focus on task identification and scheduling vs. proper formulation of project objectives and final deliverables. So, such packages implicitly force upon an unsuspecting user an unsound project management process.
• To make things worse, many packages offer advanced visual formatting capabilities, which make it possible to produce nicely-looking but completely nonsense documents.
• Many packages also offer e-mail integration, which encourages automatic assignment of tasks and due dates. This universally leads to counterproductive, date-driven behavior (see: critical chain) and may contribute to improper setting of team members' performance expectations.

Proprietary non-internet packages

Critical path support

• Microsoft Project -- a part of Microsoft Office, http://www.microsoft.com/office/project/default.asp
• Primavera -- a high end solution, http://www.primavera.com/

Critical chain support

• Sciforma, http://www.realization.com
• ProChain, http://www.prochain.com/index.asp

Open source software

• PHProjekt -- an open-source, internet-based groupware suite, http://www.phprojekt.com/index.php
• DotProject -- open-source, internet-based, in early development, http://www.dotproject.net/index.php
• MrProject -- a part of GNOME, http://mrproject.codefactory.se/
• KPlato -- a project management application KOffice suite (in early stages of development), http://www.koffice.org/kplato/
• Project/Open -- open-source, internet-based "Project-ERP", with an emphasis on project collaboration and financials, http://www.project-open.com/

Proprietary internet-based

• Project.Net -- http://www.eproject.com
• eProject -- http://www.project.net/index.jsp

External links

• Review of the most popular software (both CP and CC) -- http://www.pqa.net/ccpm/W05003001.html
• Directory of project management software -- http://www.infogoal.com/pmc/pmcswr.htm
• Open Directory "Top: Computers: Software: Project Management" -- http://www.dmoz.org/Computers/Software/Project_Management/

Books

• Eric Uyttewaal. Dynamic Scheduling With Microsoft(r) Project 2000: The Book By and For Professionals. ISBN 0970827601
• George Suhanic. Computer-Aided Project Management. ISBN 0195115910
• Richard E. Westney. Computerized Management of Multiple Small Projects. ISBN 0824786459