Prince2® Weblog for HealthCheck-Online.Com

Freelance project managers sometimes work here and sometimes work there. (Isn’t this a nice flashy opening….) What they most of the time need is an online project management tool, so they always have access to their project planning, or better said: to their multiple project planning.

The feautures needed in such a product are:

• settings adjustable by project manager
• multi project environment
• ability to define tasks with due dates and/or product based planning
• ability to break a task into sub-tasks and possibilities to delegate subtasks to other team members
• preferably supporting Prince2 planning technique

Doing a survey on internet I found the following advices from fellow project managers. Does anyone have any experience with the following product? Which one would you recommend? ( If you have a product review available the let me know.)

Try http://projects.zoho.com/jsp/home.jsp
Not bad for a free tool.

Michael

http://www.manymoon.com
Will meet all your requirements and free.

Ed.

You could also take a look at Open Workbench
http://www.brothersoft.com/open-workbench-72825.html

Bruce

Check out www.projectoffice.net.
I think it covers all features that you have requested. Let me know if you find it useful.

Ana

In the monthly overview of favourite search phrases I noted tat there was a demand for information about Prince2 supporting tools. In an ideal situation the project management tool would support all aspects from Prince2:

• Support for the Prince2 process
• Supplying formats for administration/documentation
• Good archive functionality with configuration and change management
• Product Based Planning
• Progress reports and logging
• Financial Support
• Cooperation and sharing knowledge

This isn’t an extensive list of requirements, but just what popped up in my mind writing this post. If I missed an important requirement then let me know.

The Prince2 supporting tools come in various sizes and differ from one issue solutions ’till packages for implementing a complete project management environment. I’ll try to keep up-to-date a list with the tools recommended by other project managers. Do you know a tool and want it added to the list…..please write a comment. I’ll add it!

So here we go:

Several Project Support tools

• MS Project is probably the defacto standard for creating the project schedules and keep track of the projects progress. I use it to create a schedule, keep track of personell expenses (time tracking) and produce overviews of the milestones and their progress. Click here for a 60 day trial edition of Ms Project.
• P2MSP is a unique tool kit for Microsoft Project designed specifically to make PRINCE2™ Project Management easier and quicker. On this link you can find some product information where you see that the objective is to integrate the various products that normally have to be kept up to date in parallel. See also: P2MSP Screenshots of Management of Risk and of the Help File. There is also a dutch site at http://www.p2msp.nl.
• Visual Project Maps™ for PRINCE2™ has been developed by Visual Technology Solutions Limited to help address the need for a more user-friendly and flexible way to manage the documentation and control of PRINCE2™ Projects, whether they are small, one day projects or larger projects that run into months or even years.
  By creating an environment where the project team are effectively working within the PRINCE2™ method, project members have easy access and visibility of project information, while they are subconsciously reinforcing their knowledge of the method.
  With the ability to easily edit or change project properties as well as produce project data in various formats, Visual Project Maps™ for PRINCE2 can turn managing your PRINCE2™ projects into a more enjoyable and rewarding activity. Click here to go to the site.

Project Support environments

• Project in a box. (A description will be provided soon. Very interesting!
• EPMoffice for Microsoft® Office Project Server enables all members of the portfolio, programme and project team to: Initiate projects through a controlled process, create project plans based on templated elements, collaborate more effectively on risks, issues, other list based items and documents, utilise industry best practice, create template driven highlight reports – removing the need to re-enter data (optional), audit projects to ensure quality data and adherence to best practice (optional)Projects are often initiated and executed within rudimentary frameworks that while successful, when not supported by an enabling technology, are not necessarily efficient or effective. EPMoffice provides for the efficient implementation of robust PM processes and supporting technologies. Click here to go to the site.

This list has stopped here. I know that I have missed a lot of the available solutions. So I ask you to help me not only to complete the list, but also to give your opinion on the products mentioned. If you have a product review available that I can use then please inform me.