| Many project teams are geographically dispersed. | | | | file may be posted on a network or on an |
| Projects are inherently collaborative efforts. The | | | | extranet and shared from there. |
| very nature of projects is such that there teams | | | | Another issue with using desktop applications is |
| are usually comprised of multiple members. Often, | | | | that the minute information is emailed to the |
| project teams incorporate multiple organisations. | | | | project team, the data becomes out-dated. That |
| Team members can include not only the | | | | is, the information is not available in real-time. |
| employees, but also clients, vendors, | | | | Projects are inherently dynamic, efforts that |
| sub-contractors, and other third parties. | | | | change by the hour and sometimes minute. |
| Sometimes the entire project team belongs to | | | | A project management solution that is hundred |
| the same company or organisation; yet, the | | | | percent web-based, solves these issues by |
| members often work from different offices | | | | allowing project managers and their team |
| either within a country or globally. Even if the | | | | members to access information from any |
| project team is in the same office, in fast paced | | | | browser in the world, at any time. The project |
| business scenarios information must be passed as | | | | information is collaborated in one central database |
| rapidly as possible, making centralised project | | | | and posted in real-time, ensuring that all the team |
| management software essential.the ever | | | | members and executive management can view |
| increasing trend of outsourcing work and offshore | | | | the most recently available information about the |
| development continues; project managers need to | | | | task. |
| synchronise across multiple time zones. So, when | | | | A web-based project management software |
| the west-based team goes to sleep, and the | | | | solution has the advantage of storing all projects, |
| team in the east goes to work, they may login to | | | | resources and their assignments in one centralised |
| the web-based project management solution to | | | | place. Unfortunately, not all web-based software is |
| view the progress on their assignment. Companies | | | | equal. Many low-end solutions and even |
| that manage this process well are all excelling as | | | | mid-market project software's cannot perform |
| compared to their competitors. | | | | resource allocation properly. So, when you are |
| Also, clients are demanding more visibility and | | | | evaluating systems, be certain to check and see |
| transparency about the progress of their projects. | | | | if the solution can perform these functions:o |
| Client-facing project teams that possess a | | | | Display a cross project resource allocation report |
| collaborative software system to interact with | | | | or grid with all the resources, projects and tasks |
| their customers are selling this as a competitive | | | | in the system.o Drill down from the report to |
| advantage and winning business over their | | | | view the projects and tasks that are causing the |
| competition. | | | | over allocation.o Show all the work and effort of |
| Many companies manage projects using desktop | | | | a project team, member or resource assigned to |
| software applications like Microsoft Project and | | | | it.o Account for non-working time at the global |
| Microsoft Excel. The challenge with using desktop | | | | level, such as weekends and company holidays.o |
| software to manage projects is that these | | | | Account for resource non-working time, such as |
| applications are not designed for collaboration | | | | vacation time.o Account for part-time employees |
| among several parties. At worst, the file is shared | | | | or sub-contractors schedules. |
| by email with all parties on the team. At best, the | | | | |