Moving from Strategy to Project Project Management Software Joseph F. McLaughlin [email protected] .

Moving from Strategy to Project

Project Management SoftwareJoseph F. McLaughlin

[email protected]

Agenda

• A. “Six Views of PM (Project Management) Software"– Techsoup.org

(http://tinyurl.com/c3noeec)

• B. Some considerations• C. Software packages/vids

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Agenda

• A. “Six Views of PM (Project Management) Software"– Techsoup.org

(http://tinyurl.com/c3noeec)

• B. Some considerations• C. Software packages/vids

3

A. 6 views of PM software

1. Planning projects2. Managing tasks3. Sharing/collaborating on

documents4. Sharing calendars/contact lists5. Managing issues/bugs6. Tracking time

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A. 6 views of PM software1. Planning projects

• What planner must do:– define project schedule– understand critical path– assess/allocate resources

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A. 6 views of PM software1. Planning projects

• What software must do for tasks:– details– assignments– time estimate: Gantt

charts– links between tasks:

visual maps

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A. 6 views of PM software1. Planning projects

• Considerations:– high-level planning– probably requires dedicated staff–maybe not good for smaller orgs– TechSoup found no software that did it

all

• Possible software :–MS (Microsoft) Project (generally true for

#1-6)– DreamTeam (SalesForce)

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A. 6 views of PM software1. Planning projects

• Possible software :–MS (Microsoft) Project (generally true for

#1-6)– DreamTeam (SalesForce)

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A. 6 views of PM software

1. Planning projects2. Managing tasks3. Sharing/collaborating on

documents4. Sharing calendars/contact lists5. Managing issues/bugs6. Tracking time

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A. 6 views of PM software2. Managing tasks

• What staff must do for task:– define– assign– create deadline– track to completion

• Most common approach/need

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A. 6 views of PM software2. Managing tasks

• Considerations:– lower-level than 1. Planning Projects– typically a collaborative process

• Possible software:– Basecamp– Remember The Milk

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A. 6 views of PM software

1. Planning projects2. Managing tasks3. Sharing/collaborating on

documents4. Sharing calendars/contact lists5. Managing issues/bugs6. Tracking time

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A. 6 views of PM software3&4. Sharing/collaborating

• What staff must do:– share/collaborate on files, calendars,

contacts, etc.– keep track of revisions and attachments– possibly work from different locations

• collaboration planning

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A. 6 views of PM software3&4. Sharing/collaborating

• Possible software:–MS: Office 365,

Outlook, Exchange, SharePoint, etc.

– Google: docs, spreadsheets, calendars, Google+, groups, sites, etc.

– DropBox

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Agenda

• A. “Six Views of PM (Project Management) Software"– Techsoup.org

(http://tinyurl.com/c3noeec)

• B. Some considerations• C. Software packages/vids

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B. Some considerations

• Email: probably a poor choice for communications in planning– everything else has learning curve

• Spreadsheets: a poor choice for storing/manipulating info– databases- steepest learning curve of all

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B. Some considerations

• Spreadsheets: often a poor choice for storing/manipulating info– databases- steepest learning curve of all

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B. Some considerations

• “To cloud” or “not to cloud”:– “cloud-based”= “web/browser-

based”– no installation req– otherwise on your server(s)– security issues:

• web companies’ reputations based on security

• stuff happens• if you have IT staff, maybe use server-

based• home office/ remote login may create

security threat

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B. Some considerations

• “To cloud” or “not to cloud”:– security issues:

• web companies’ reputations based on security

• stuff happens• if you have IT staff, maybe

use server-based• home office/ remote login

may create security threat

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B. Some considerations

• $$:– limited free (small), open-source– www.techsoup.org/stock: software for

admin $$ to qualifying NPOs– even most $$ software probably

affordable for most

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Agenda

• A. “Six Views of PM (Project Management) Software"– Techsoup.org

(http://tinyurl.com/c3noeec)

• B. Some considerations• C. Software packages/vids

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C. Software packages

• MS Project:–MANY features/ steep learning curve– develop the plans up-front– requires dedicated planner– best if already MS-based (Office,

Outlook, etc.)– probably gold-standard of planning–may be overkill for smaller orgs

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C. Software packages

• Basecamp:– cloud-based– smaller teams, less complex planning– no calendars or Gantt charts, poor task

management– good file management/sharing– focused on dispersed teams– “Basecamp is built first and foremost for

speed.”

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C. Software packages

• DreamTeam (SalesForce)– free for NPOs (10 licenses)– one notch down from MS Project

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C. Software packages

• Google collaboration:

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C. Software packages

• Google:– Gold standard of (free) online collaboration– Apps free for NPOs: Google services on

steroids– If you don’t see what you need, check back

tomorrow……• Useful for planning:

– Google groups are wiki-like- use instead of email– Google sites are a weak point– Gantt charts for spreadsheets– GroupCamp for Apps

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C. Software packages

• Google:– Gold standard of (free) online collaboration– Apps free for NPOs: Google services on steroids– If you don’t see what you need, check back

tomorrow……• Useful for planning:

– Google groups are wiki-like- use instead of email– Google sites are a weak point– Gantt charts for spreadsheets– GroupCamp for Apps– Google docs upgraded collaboration tools

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C. Software package vids

• MS Project 7 min

• Basecamp:– easy participation 2– peoples’ pages 2– calendar 2.5

– drag & drop 1

• DreamTeam 2• Google:

– Gantt chart 4.5

– real-time collaboration 2– GroupCamp 3

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Other Links

• MS Project: www.microsoft.com/project/en-us/project-management.aspx

• Basecamp: basecamp.com

• DreamTeam: www.dreamfactory.com

• Remember The Milk: http://www.rememberthemilk.com/

• Dropbox: https://www.dropbox.com/home

• Google Apps for NPOs: www.google.com/apps/intl/en/nonprofit/index.html

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Thanks for attending!

Project Management SoftwareJoseph F. McLaughlin

[email protected]