Microsoft Project Server is a project portfolio management option.
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ProjectManager.com
Score 8.3 out of 10
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ProjectManager.com is a cloud-based project management software. Features include free file storage, client logins, unlimited projects and integration with Google Apps, Microsoft Word, Excel and Project.
Microsoft Project Server I believe is best for any organization from small to large. As I mentioned, it is a little pricey so I would do research into alternative software and depending on your needs maybe look at all options, competing software. This is a tool with a learning curve and some may not be able to easily navigate this software. There isn't really great training, resources available for this tool however there are some free YouTube tutorial videos. This is great for cross company, department project management, sharing, managing of projects and timelines.
Because I work with many people for whom Project Management is new, I wanted to use software that was user-friendly, fairly intuitive, and not filled with jargon. I like the fact I can use existing templates that (mostly) work for our needs, and I look forward to more things being added. They say support is 72 hours, but I’ve never waited for more than a few.
Project planning: tasks assignments, resources allocation, progress and cost tracking. The Server version is the natural extension of the Microsoft Project standalone.
Provides one place to manage all projects, accessible by everyone in the team. This opens the plan updates to team members as well(on their tasks), as opposed to being done only by the project manager.
Reporting and visualization - resources utilization, timeline etc
The integration with the Microsoft Project standalone: if you don't like the web version, you can download the latest and work locally. When done just sync it back to the server.
Creating the schedule is probably the most "difficult" function to get used to. Linking each scope to one another and using different dates for each day can get a little confusing as it is relatively easy to break the links if you were to change the dates. If you have a schedule for a job that is 2 months long; if you revise your schedule to include a date change, if the link is broken it will not update the rest of the dates and remaining scopes. So you would have to figure out where the link has been broken within the schedule, or go through and change the remaining dates by hand.
ProjectManager.com had the full range of features that I needed to manage my projects effectively, but as a regular line manager (rather than a designated project manager) I personally don't think I actually need so many features. I could manage my own projects with a simpler product, so I would probably opt for a free or cheaper alternative in future. That's not a criticism of the product at all, just that it had more than I needed.
At first, the range of features can be a little overwhelming, particularly for users with more limited project management experience. However, there is good support information provided on how to use each different feature, so with a bit of care and attention a user should find it easy to learn how to use the software.
One of the key advantages of Microsoft Project Server (MSPS) is its ecosystem. It gels very well with SharePoint, Office, Office 365. The support from Microsoft is also a key driver and they are very experienced and many ways to resolve issues. Also, Microsoft has bridged the gap of cloud offering from other competitors by providing Project Online. It is an offering through Office 365 which is very lean and low maintenance.
ProjectManager.com is less pricey and has all the features of all the other software, some of which are even better. In general, I like the interface and user experience of the product and it is really appealing to use. Easy to learn, fosters collaboration, and improves team communication.
