Microsoft Project - Do you use it?

[Goochie]

---Mods - please dont move this to the Computers section - I'm looking for opinions/experience from business users and not IT geeks ---

We are currently looking at project managment sollutions for our mdeium sized company, with MS Project being the obvious candidate. However, I've not used it for 8 years and no one else had even heard of it before.

Essential our business designs and develops electrical lighting and wiring accessories. We design in-house and manufacture in China.

The Microsoft online demos make it seem very smooth and easy top use but having downloaded the free trail we're all a bit lost!

Are there alternative solutions that we should consider before going down the MS road?

Key things we're looking to do are:

• Share a central project "file" that people in different departments can work from.
• Exclude users from seeing given parts of the project.
• Integrate the project deadlines with Outlook/Calendar to alert users when samples etc. are expected.
• Allow users to view a project at any time tand get information on any task - without needing to be a IT genius.

We're not looking for something to sit on one person's computer so they can organise other people. We need something that will allow people to see where others are on a project, know when samples are expected and know the estimate project completion date (so they can start selling). Purchasing would like to be able to hide their task details form others.

[Noger]

You might want to have a look at a PM system called Primavera. A lot of the Program Managers I know love it.

[Don]

Sounds to me like Microsoft Project isn't what you need. Project is about scheduling - and examining scenarios where things change the schedule. You appear to want some groupware that keeps the project team informed of inputs and outputs to their workload and any changes in dates to those inputs and outputs.

My firm used to specialise in Microsoft Project consultancy and I can make it leap through hoops and do almost anything you want...but groupware it is not. Even "Project Central" isn't quite what you need...

If I were you I'd look into some groupware - apparently there are some fabulous open source solutions now - but I'm into software you can sell and make a living from so I don't know much 'em.

[Noger]

MS Sharepoint does central calendars, and would host the documents. Don't know about the other stuff.

[jacko lah]

I would ask you to remember what project managemnt is and why it's done.

I've used MS Project and it works fine.

[Carsie]

I'm a Business Management Consultant but just spent the past couple of years evaluating and implementing Project Mngt Software. all the previous comments are equally valid but it does depend upon what you're trying to achieve e.g Resource Mngt, project visibility,links to MRP/DRP project accounting - it can get to be a big subject. From my experience MSP is NOT the route to go down if you are in mnfgt but it really does depend on your objectives. Be glad to help you - just drop me a line.

Edited by Carsie on Wednesday 1st August 18:24

[Don]

Goochie said:

---Mods - please dont move this to the Computers section - I'm looking for opinions/experience from business users and not IT geeks ---

We are currently looking at project managment sollutions for our mdeium sized company, with MS Project being the obvious candidate. However, I've not used it for 8 years and no one else had even heard of it before.

Essential our business designs and develops electrical lighting and wiring accessories. We design in-house and manufacture in China.

The Microsoft online demos make it seem very smooth and easy top use but having downloaded the free trail we're all a bit lost!

Are there alternative solutions that we should consider before going down the MS road?

Key things we're looking to do are:

• Share a central project "file" that people in different departments can work from.
• Exclude users from seeing given parts of the project.
• Integrate the project deadlines with Outlook/Calendar to alert users when samples etc. are expected.
• Allow users to view a project at any time tand get information on any task - without needing to be a IT genius.

We're not looking for something to sit on one person's computer so they can organise other people. We need something that will allow people to see where others are on a project, know when samples are expected and know the estimate project completion date (so they can start selling). Purchasing would like to be able to hide their task details form others.

Goochie - looking at your requirements again we could probably help you. Our app would need some additional features to be exactly what you want. We have all the Project "Accounting" functionality you could ever want (Timesheets etc) and we also poke stuff into Exchange so it turns up in people's calendars. If you haven't found anything off the shelf that does what you want 'mail me through my profile and I'd be glad to talk to you about what we could do.

If we're not the right sort of firm to help you maybe I'll be able to point you in the right direction.

[sgrimshaw]

Echoing some of the other comments here, it would appear that you should be looking for some Project Collaboration software.

Search google for Project Management Software and Project Collaboration Software for starters.

Interesting final statement in your original post .......

"Purchasing would like to be able to hide their task details from others."

As a Consultant, I'd have to question "Why?" and "What are they afraid of?".

There should be no reason why all tasks, and progress on those tasks, should not be shared across the whole Project Team.

Of course there may be confidential information that needs to be protected, but that's another issue altogether.

Simon