Project Management Software Tools (PMSTs)

PROJECT MANAGEMENT LEARNING AND TRAINING FOR NON-PROJECT MANAGERS

Managing the project variables of Scope, Schedule and Cost is easier with a software tool. However, a PMST does not necessarily make you a better Project Manager.  A PMST does not inspire or empower your team (that's your job).  Without the basic understanding of Project Management fundamentals, a PMST has limited usefulness and can be frustrating to use.

When selecting a PMST, think about what you need; features that would be important to you, your project team and your stakeholders. For example, are these features important?

• Task sequencing (WBS?) and scheduling (Gantt?)
• Task budgeting
• Collaboration communications
• Risk assessment
• Progress reporting and forecasting
• Invoicing

There are literally dozens of PMSTs available. Below are a few popular options to consider.  Make sure your software tool matches your capabilities. This is not a side-by-side comparison, since features are the variations in their relative utility. Price is also not compared, since value is relative to specific feature needs.