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/

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
• 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