Moving from Strategy to Project
Project Management Software
Joseph F. McLaughlin
jfmclaugh@gmail.com
www.nonproftech.info
Agenda
• A. “Six Views of PM (Project Management)
Software"
– Techsoup.org (http://tinyurl.com/c3noeec)
• B. Some considerations
• C. Software packages/vids
2
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.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Planning projects
Managing tasks
Sharing/collaborating on documents
Sharing calendars/contact lists
Managing issues/bugs
Tracking time
4
A. 6 views of PM software
1. Planning projects
• What planner must do:
– define project schedule
– understand critical path
– assess/allocate resources
5
A. 6 views of PM software
1. Planning projects
• What software must do
for tasks:
– details
– assignments
– time estimate: Gantt
charts
– links between tasks: visual
maps
6
A. 6 views of PM software
1. 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)
7
A. 6 views of PM software
1. Planning projects
• Possible software :
– MS (Microsoft) Project (generally true for #1-6)
– DreamTeam (SalesForce)
8
A. 6 views of PM software
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Planning projects
Managing tasks
Sharing/collaborating on documents
Sharing calendars/contact lists
Managing issues/bugs
Tracking time
9
A. 6 views of PM software
2. Managing tasks
• What staff must do for
task:
– define
– assign
– create deadline
– track to completion
• Most common
approach/need
10
A. 6 views of PM software
2. Managing tasks
• Considerations:
– lower-level than 1. Planning Projects
– typically a collaborative process
• Possible software:
– Basecamp
– Remember The Milk
11
A. 6 views of PM software
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Planning projects
Managing tasks
Sharing/collaborating on documents
Sharing calendars/contact lists
Managing issues/bugs
Tracking time
12
A. 6 views of PM software
3&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
13
A. 6 views of PM software
3&4. Sharing/collaborating
• Possible software:
– MS: Office 365, Outlook,
Exchange, SharePoint, etc.
– Google: docs,
spreadsheets, calendars,
Google+, groups, sites, etc.
– DropBox
14
Agenda
• A. “Six Views of PM (Project Management)
Software"
– Techsoup.org (http://tinyurl.com/c3noeec)
• B. Some considerations
• C. Software packages/vids
15
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
16
B. Some considerations
• Spreadsheets: often a poor choice for
storing/manipulating info
– databases- steepest learning curve of all
17
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 serverbased
• home office/ remote login may create
security threat
18
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
19
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
20
Agenda
• A. “Six Views of PM (Project Management)
Software"
– Techsoup.org (http://tinyurl.com/c3noeec)
• B. Some considerations
• C. Software packages/vids
21
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
22
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.”
23
C. Software packages
• DreamTeam (SalesForce)
– free for NPOs (10 licenses)
– one notch down from MS Project
24
C. Software packages
• Google collaboration:
25
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
26
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
27
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
28
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
29
Thanks for attending!
Project Management Software
Joseph F. McLaughlin
jfmclaugh@gmail.com
www.nonproftech.info