The Old Joel on Software Forum: Part 4 (of 5)

Project Management Tool

Let's say you have a growing organization using a traditional waterfall development style. 100 people or so.

They want to be more agile and "improve the methodology" and have asked you for an all encompassing project tool, to "Track the entire project throughout the lifecycle, document changes, and track estimates to reality to improve estimates, etc, etc."

My current thoughts:

"It sounds to me like you are talking about RUP, UML, and Rational Tools. Thats ... not really agile. Perhaps it would be better to focus on our own management and leadership skills and use a few small, light tools (like excel or index cards) than have an all encompassing toolset."

Other thoughts? Or does someone know of a PM tool (besides project) that does this well? Aegis, maybe?

Matt H.
Wednesday, February 11, 2004

I agree with what you just said. A tool is just that, a tool. The tool won't create your process flow and force your management and developers to have integrity in carrying out the lifecycle.

It will help track it, but like you said, Excel can be a good place to start.

I'm actually looking for a web-pm solution so I can have people update their own stuff, but again, it comes down to the integrity of the team, not the tool.

michael sica (michaelsica.com)
Wednesday, February 11, 2004

Michael,

Microsoft Project Server provides a web client (like Outlook Web Access) for team members to update their tasks.

Gord

Gord Schmidt
Wednesday, February 11, 2004

yeah, but that would require a bigger purchase than i think i could get the approval for. not to mention it would have to run on some windows server with MS SQL Server...

michael sica (michaelsica.com)
Wednesday, February 11, 2004

Not to mention that MS Project Server in one of the worst piece of crap I've ever seen.... The web interface is the most annoying and "frustration-prone" I've experienced in long long time.

Furthermore, you must use of IE, so if anyone on your team works with Linux -or other OS- you'll have a hard time to convince everybody to use it

I usually like MS products, but this one is IMHO is not worth a cent.

Z
Wednesday, February 11, 2004

and only works in IE....

that sucks, but most of the vendors i see showing off there stuff is the same. if the development community in general only supports IE, i really can't blame MS for doing the same!! :)

michael sica (michaelsica.com)
Wednesday, February 11, 2004

You're right when you say that about almost nobody in commercial software cares about ensuring full compatibility with other browsers than IE.

I would like to add that Project Central Server's lack of compatibility with other browsers is more than a bad looking interface, or some feature not available.
The fact is that it's not a regular web interface (HTML + some Javascript), but an ActiveX application embeded in HTML page). This architecture makes it (IMHO again):
- ugly
- hard to use and understand
- incompatible with IE Google toolbar (nice IE crash) and other browsers.
- makes people hate the day they must report their hours through this horrendous tool.

Perhaps, current or future versions different than the one I am used to will enhance the user experience dramatically. I hope so...

Z
Wednesday, February 11, 2004

http://www.digite.com

Comprehensive life cycle management. Works with IE and Mozilla-based browsers.

You can use MS Project or their own (better) tool for tasks.

Way ahead of Project Central.

doobius
Thursday, February 12, 2004

How much does the Digite product cost?

Jon C
Friday, February 13, 2004

I don't know how much it costs. You'll have to ask them.

doob
Friday, February 13, 2004

Hi Jon, Digite is available either as an enterprise license, which will vary depending upon the number of users, or as an ASP hosted version. If you need more info just write to me on {nnair at digite dot com}

doobius, thanks much for the nice words.

Navneet
Monday, February 16, 2004