Project Management Software – The Actual Cost

Recently we received a request from a prospective customer for a clear and concise analysis of the cost for our project management software against that of our competitors. eStudio does not charge for users but does charge for added projects. Since there are over 2000 “competitors” this could be a daunting task for anybody doing cost analysis. However below you will find charts that show the cost of Same-Page eStudio for project management against five of our largest competitors in the Project Management arena (these usually serve enterprise level customers > 100 users) and five of our best competitors in the Task Management arena (these usually serve start-up customers < 50 users).

We have used www.toptenreviews.com to gather a list of project management software (Same-Page is listed as #8 on a list of 10 products) and augmented it with a few of our worthy competitors in the project / task management software space.

Project Management Software 50 users cost analysis

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Project-Management-50-User-Cost-Analysis

Project Management Software 100 User Cost Analysis

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Project Management Software 100 User Cost Analysis

It is very clear from this analysis that the cost savings that can be achieved using Same-Page eStudio is substantial.   If you wish to review our feature list then please click the links to project management and task management that are provided in the first paragraph. We will be adding new cost analysis posts for our document management functions, our contact management function and our collaboration software as a “virtual office” product in the near future.

NOTES:

*Our criteria for 50 users is that each user is either running 1 project on an ongoing basis (50 projects) or requires a login to input data on multiple projects.

*Our criteria for 100 users is that each user is either running 1 project on an ongoing basis (100 projects) or requires a login to input data on multiple project

*In some instances enterprise prices were only available via quote. For those competitors we have used the highest quoted price X the number of users and deducted 10% from the highest listed price.

5 Ways You Can Streamline Work Flow Management With Project Management Software Solutions

By Friday, October 16, 2015 0 No tags Permalink 0

UntitledBusinesses operate in constant chaos. Because of the numerous standard operating procedures, there is quite a bit of confusion and mismanagement in handling small and medium sized projects. What tasks need to be accomplished? Who is available? What are the deadlines? Who should be assigned? These are just a few of the infinite range of problems that project managers have to face.

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What Every Venture Capitalist Needs To Collaborate

The call came from a Silicon Alley based Venture Capital Firm,  Lee had been tasked with finding a project management solution that did more. Lee  explained that more and more often their in-house erp and intranet software was not robust enough or inclusive enough. He needed more. He wanted to be able to tightly restrict the rights of each user, see how many tasks were assigned to each project member, identify risks to the project, he wanted to attach files but only the person doing the task should see the file. Lee kept going, he wanted special reports to be auto emailed, he wanted to get a text message if there was a issue, and he wanted a Gantt chart that he could print out on the plotter printer so it could go in their war rooms.

As a customer support specialist I want to make sure that we were hitting his sweet spots. But collaborating online is all about the team, communication skills and leading from the front. So I asked him a few questions about how big his group was, what tools they were using now and about his position in the firm. After a few minutes I had a good handle on how this firm operates and collaborates.

Lee said that he has some free time so I setup a screen share session. I started by showing how we created users and our advanced granular control over users. We setup two projects one using traditional WBS layout and another project using a SCRUM layout. Lee was delighted with the results, commenting that each group worked and thought differently and it was great the Same-page had such flexibility. We spent some time reviewing the risk management function and the difference between recurring tasks and cloning a subset of tasks.

Lee and I spent 45 minutes on the phone and it was time to move on for both of us. I think we’ll add a new customer in a few weeks.

A Brief Overview Of The Key Elements Of Project Management Software

by: Brooke Hayles | Bookmark This: Digg This! del.icio.us

If you frequently have to manage various projects, then Project Management Software may be the perfect piece of software for you.

Project Management Software and how it Works

This convenient software is especially designed to make life easier for people who dealing with large projects. However, there is not just one type of software. Project management software is actually a term for many different types of software. These may include resource allocation, scheduling and collaboration software. Each piece of software is designed to make dealing with large, complex projects an easier and more efficient task. There are a number of tasks that this useful software can help with and these include:

* Scheduling Scheduling various events in a project is one of the most common tasks people perform. The most common tasks people use this type of software for include arranging tasks to meet a deadline, dealing with any problems that may occur in the estimates of each task and dealing with different projects at one time.

* Providing Information All software relays information to various people as a justification of the amount of time that is spent using it. These tasks include providing staff with lists of the tasks that they need to complete, some information on how long the tasks should take to complete and further information with respect to the workload – holidays bookings etc. Information is also provided on how recent projects have been completed and the competence of those completing it.

The Key Elements of Project Management Software

A good management software has a number of uses not least of these is the ability to help staff to handle large projects efficiently and successfully. The software works in such a way that the task is often completed more thoroughly than that completed by people without the software. It will tell you what needs to be done and when it needs to be done, as well as exactly how long it should take. All businesses looking to increase their operating efficiency should have some form of this software. Many businesses suffer from missed deadlines or else some important element of the finished project is missing. With this software, however, it is virtually impossible to miss deadlines as the software will let you know what needs to be done and when it needs to be done. This means that you know exactly what stage you are at in a project and this can be potentially invaluable when it comes to client retention. The software enables you to schedule tasks more effectively, making sure that important tasks are completed first, and only then moving on to those of lesser importance. This type of software is readily available online. You will find a huge selection and you can surf to your heart’s content in order to get the best deals, too. This software is an essential tool for all businesses that handle large projects on a regular basis.

Summary: Project Management Software is an essential tool for all businesses involved with large projects. It helps set deadlines for certain tasks, schedules them and informs those involved with the project what they should be doing. It is more efficient than other systems, or relying on memory and it therefore picks up on things that might otherwise have been missed. Article Source: www.Content-Syndication.org

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Project Management Software – Manage Your Projects With The Right Cloud Software

Brooke Hayles | Total views: 38 | Word Count: 500 | Bookmark This: Digg This! del.icio.us

Why purchase project management software? It will not increase the effectiveness of your project manager, only proper training, experience and a strong work ethic will do that. What it will do is to make a project manager more efficient and, as you know, efficiency is key when it comes to the proper management of your projects. The use of cloud based project management software means that certain tasks are likely to be carried out with greater efficiency. The easy accomplishment and swift completion of a project requires effective communication

with a project sponsor, the ability to make easy-to-follow assignments for other team members, and definition of the scope of a project, are all things that this convenient software can help you accomplish. You will be able to do these things with greater ease and in less time. There is plenty of software on the market nowadays and deciding on the product that is the most suitable for your needs can be difficult. The prices of management software can vary drastically, so it’s important that you choose a product that’s tailored to your specific needs and without any unnecessary peripherals. It makes little sense to purchase a $20,000 software package

when one that only costs $100 could have done the job. If you need a software that is more suited to a smaller project, then there are many relatively inexpensive software packages available on the internet or in your local computer store. These programs are great for small projects and it is easy to learn how to use them. Before buying this low-end software, try to ensure that it really does fulfill the company’s needs and that they won’t be taking on any larger projects in the foreseeable future as this will require a more sophisticated type of project management software. If you plan on embarking on large projects or multiple project management then you will need more advanced software. Microsoft Project and Same-Page eStudio 7 are two of the best known for dealing with projects. Stick to the better known software, as the likelihood that you’ll be able to find someone who knows how to use it is often much higher. This will reduce the time it takes to train someone to use the project management software. Many large companies have thrived for years without using a project management software. Don’t think that investing big bucks in software will magically take your company straight to the top. However, software, properly used, can give your company an edge over competing companies who have not invested the necessary time that it takes to choose and implement a software that is suited to their particular needs. Summary: If used properly, project management software will give a company the edge over its competitors. Take care, because with all the different types of software available, choosing the right one for your company can be difficult.

Article Source: www.Content-Syndication.org

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Planning for Project Management Success

By Saturday, June 27, 2009 0 No tags Permalink 0

Scope Phase
This is when the project is born and clearly defined as a project. In this phase the Project Manager documents the business needs in the scope document. Stakeholders agree to the details provided in the scope document and the project is authorized to proceed. At the completion of this phase everyone will know the “who, what, when, and why” related to the project.

Tasks Include:

* Identify Stakeholders
* Document Business Drivers & Needs
* Identify Mission, Goals, Objectives, & Scope
* Complete the Project Overview

Planning Phase
Planning is the major component of project management success. The use of appropriate project management tools to define and prioritize milestones is critical. The Planning phase includes project analysis, resource appropriation followed by design, development, testing, production, marketing, sales. During the Planning phase it is critical to assign resources (human and material) to tasks that need to be completed based according to a project schedule.

* Assign Resource Pool
* Review Schedule Parameters
* Create Milestones
* Create Tasks
* Identify inter-task relationships
* Develop reporting procedures for team

Planning is based on the project’s scope and will have a direct effect on the project’s success! (Success is defined as a project that is completed on time, within budget, and meets or exceeds customer expectation.)

Action Phase
During this phase everything you have committed to in your project plan plus all issues related to tasks or milestones is carried out. At the same time you measure variances and manage deviations through the project schedule to ensure that the project is delivered on time, within budget, and meets or exceeds expectations.

Additional Project Manager responsibilities include (will vary by type of business):

* Conduct Status Meetings
* Publish Status Report
* Manage Issues
* Manage Change Requests
* Perform Reviews
* Update Project Plan
* Document Lessons Learned
* Execute QA Plan
* Manage User Training
* Configure Environments
* Create Production Environments

Closeout Phase
This is the completion and resolution phase of the project. After the project team has implemented the deliverable, there is a transition from the project team to operations and / or support. New technology, applications and / or processes may include managing ongoing fixes and / or enhancement requests, as well as updating project documentation.

Tasks Include:

* Review Success Criteria
* Review Lessons Learned
* Conduct Final Meeting with Stakeholders
* Follow up on user satisfaction

Along The Way
Do not forget that your project team is built on positive relationships. You must trust the people you have working with you, and they must trust you. Let them know when they are doing well.
Click here to discover how Same-Page eStudio 7 can help you manage your project.

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