Project management software, in an age when we’re expected—nay, required—to collaborate seamlessly with our colleagues using the latest and greatest technology, is a must for any company, no matter how large or small. But that doesn’t mean that all project management software solutions are created equally. Show
In fact, choosing the software that’s right for your company relies heavily on the various types of solutions that fall under the project management definition. Choosing the Right ToolsA better understanding of what’s available can help you find the best project management software solutions for your company. Here’s a closer look at what’s out there. 1. Basic, Stand-Alone ToolsNearly everyone is familiar with this style of project management software. Some of the common software you use on a daily basis can actually be classified under this category. Tools that allow you to communicate easily with the rest of your team and collaborators, spreadsheets, and scheduling devices that keep you on track with your coworkers, and software that allows you to quickly and easily share data all fall under the project management umbrella. Typically, these tool focus on one project, per user, at once. 2. Collaborative ToolsCollaborative tools have a lot in common with basic, stand-alone tools. But while basic, stand-alone project management tools may have many different uses (and not all of them having to do with project management), collaborative tools are specifically designed for project team communication and sharing. These tools allow coworkers to work and share together, simultaneously, and often on multiple different aspects of a project. Expect the focus of collaborative tools to be slightly narrow, however. One might be great for scheduling, while another is excellent for file-sharing—rarely will you find jack-of-all-trades software in this category, and if you do, don’t expect it to be particularly powerful or customizable. 3. Mid-Range Project Management ToolsMid-range tools may well be jack-of-all-trades software solutions, and they generally represent a compromise between collaborative tools and software that is suitable for enterprise-level organizations. Their features and options cover a broad range, and you’ll need to plan a deployment and training strategy before going live. However, these tools are constrained by the scale at which they can function optimally. Don’t expect to be able to handle/schedule/collaborate on dozens, let alone hundreds or thousands, of projects with these tools without encountering significant and sometimes insurmountable difficulties. 4. High-End Project Management ToolsHigh-end project management tools may have many similarities to mid-range project management tools. Where they differ is in their scalability and the ability to customize them to very specific needs. Both of these differences ultimately result in the need to provide more extensive training to prospective users. They require users to devote the time and energy—and companies to devote the resources necessary—to exploit these more advanced tools to their fullest potential. 5. Project Portfolio Management ToolsWhen your companies projects become numerous enough, and their reliance upon others’ success becomes indisputable, it may be time for your organization to consider PPM (project portfolio management) software. This is the best project software management type if you need a way for senior management to efficiently examine related projects and how they relate synergistically. PPM suites represent a shift in your company’s strategy, and in its vision. Choosing the Software that Fits Your Company’s NeedsOne way to go about deciding on what type of project management software your company needs is listing the last five or ten projects you’ve embarked upon, and what features or options would have made those projects more successful. In terms of project management software scale, there is no one right answer. Once you’ve determined the type of software solution you need, however, there are other aspects that may be objectively better or worse for your company. Look at how responsive the vendor is, and how long (or even if!) they have pledged support for the current version of their software. Do they offer materials that can help you effectively train users? Are their costs manageable, and do you expect a reasonable return on investment? These, and other issues (discussed in depth in our Project Management Software Buyer's Guide) can make choosing the right software solution far easier task than you might imagine. Answering this question, to evaluate project management software, you should first understand what tools are included in the high-end versions of the software and then be able to identify which ones are available in the low-end versions of the same software. Once you know that, you can select the lower-priced version of the software if you don’t need all of the features that are available in the high-end version. You might even decide to go with two low-end versions if all of your projects require certain tools, but not all of them require all of the tools provided by both low-end programs. Cheap Project Management Software: Is it worth it?If you’re looking for project management software on a budget, you may be wondering if the low-end tools are worth it. Here’s a look at some of the pros and cons of cheap project management software. The first pro to using cheaper options is that they often come with more features than their expensive counterparts do. They usually have a broader range of functionality in areas like reporting, collaboration, and training modules. Low-end tools also tend to have better integrations with other programs than their expensive counterparts do which can make them more useful to work with. However, there are also plenty of downsides to using cheap project management software as well. For one thing, lower-priced software often lacks support for importing files from outside sources which means that you have to manually enter Contract Management them into your system which can be time-consuming and error-prone as well as cause your database to grow unnecessarily large over time. Some inexpensive project management software will also only offer offline access meaning that users need to rely on external storage devices or third-party services to work while they’re not connected to the internet. 3 Reasons Low-End Project Management Software Tools are a Bad IdeaBad idea for several reasons:
Low-end project management software tools – which ones are worth your time?If you’re looking for low-end project management software tools, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, these tools tend to be less feature-rich than their higher-end counterparts. That means they may not have all the bells and whistles you’re looking for. Second, they may not be as robust or scalable. That means they may not be able to handle large projects or complex workflows. Finally, they may not be as user-friendly. That means you’ll need to put in some extra effort to learn how to use them. But if you’re willing to sacrifice some features and functionality for a lower price tag, then a low-end project management tool might be worth considering. 5 reasons low-end project management software is a bad idea:
10 Myths about Low-End Project Management SoftwareThere are a lot of misconceptions about low-end project management software. Here are ten myths about these tools that just aren’t true.
Read More .. What is the first step in project cost management What does project and supply management do Which of the following program is not true about project management? Which of the following is not part of project human resource management? What are low10 Low-cost Project Management Tools you Can't Afford Not to Use. Toggl Plan. Toggl Plan is one of the greatest all-around project management tools you'll find online. ... . Liquid Planner. ... . Asana. ... . Smartsheet. ... . Basecamp. ... . Wrike. ... . Quire. ... . ActiveCollab.. What is mid range tools?Mid-range tools may well be jack-of-all-trades software solutions, and they generally represent a compromise between collaborative tools and software that is suitable for enterprise-level organizations.
Which attribute is true of lowWhich attribute is true of low-end tools of project management software? They provide basic project management features.
What are the four main types of project management software?Types of Project Management Software. 1 - Desktop. There are two types of project management software available for project managers. ... . 2 - Web Based. ... . 1 - Collaboration. ... . 2 - Scheduling. ... . 3 - Issue Tracking. ... . 4 - Project Portfolio Management. ... . 5 - Document Management. ... . 6 - Resource Management.. |