Project Management Software

Posted: 31st July 2009 by ê¿ê in Friends & Family
Tags: project management software
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The company I work for is in the process of expanding — I know that’s certainly against the current trend of economic downturn, but we’re a service company and so, as other companies cut back and lay off maintenance personnel, they seek out companies like mine to take over those tasks.

As a database administrator who also wears the hat of developer, I’m given projects to design and implement. I’ve been using Microsoft Office products such as Word and Power Point to do the documentation and presentations for them, but it’s become apparent that these tools are not enough.  We have a new head of IT and he’s actually knowledgeable about databases and such, so the projects are starting to flow like water from a Price Pfister faucet.

I know some of my readers do projects, so wanted to ask you to help me find a suitable software package for managing projects. I may still have to use my stand-bys for parts of projects such as presentation, but surely there is something out there that will help me organize the start-to-finish aspect of a complicated project such as implementing a new payroll system. If you can provide me with the name of the software package and even a link to the website along with what you think are the best features, I would be so grateful!

Thanks!

  1. Lyndi says:
    August 1, 2009 at 2:52 am

    You have mentioned that you use currently use Word and PowerPoint. Why don’t you take this a step further and include Microsoft Project in your arsenal? I cannot believe that I have just recommended a Microsoft product. On all the bigger ASP projects that I have been part of thus far, Microsoft Project seemed to do what was required.
    .-= Lyndi´s last blog ..How I created my customizable author page =-.

    • ê¿ê says:
      August 3, 2009 at 3:01 pm

      Lyndi – I was hoping for something free….or relatively inexpensive. The one thing about Microsoft products is that they are not shy about how they are priced :P

  2. Sandy says:
    August 1, 2009 at 12:29 pm

    How nice your company is doing well, that must make you feel good. I’m not techy enough to help with a suggestion; but wish you luck in the process.

    Thanks for adding your signature to Janet’s dedication page, it’s appreciated.

    Sandy
    .-= Sandy´s last blog ..Big Sur, California, Forest Fires =-.

  3. Dan says:
    August 4, 2009 at 4:30 am

    If you’d like a tool for managing your time and projects, you can use this application inspired by David Allen’s GTD:

    http://www.Gtdagenda.com

    You can use it to manage and prioritize your goals, projects and tasks, set next actions and contexts, use checklists, schedules and a calendar.
    A mobile version is available too.

  4. Michael Aulia says:
    August 6, 2009 at 8:18 pm

    Hey Margaret, I never know you are a database administrator (and a developer too) :) Guess we always learn something new everyday

    I’ve tried a few project management software (PHP ones, so they are free). I ended up using Trac. It’s not the prettiest but does the job for our small company. It doesn’t have a payroll or anything though :(
    .-= Michael Aulia´s last blog ..Take screenshots easily with WinSnap =-.

    • ê¿ê says:
      August 10, 2009 at 10:00 am

      Thanks Michael — don’t really need payroll, just something to track who is assigned what part of a project and their progress. I’ll check this one out!