Anyone know a good project resource management tool?

Submitted by stephenbooth_uk on Thu, 09/13/2007 - 11:21.

Project Management

I've been asked to look into selecting a tool that we can use to manage our resourses (meaning people) for projects. Does anyone have any experience of such a tool? Any recommendations of one to look at or one to avoid? In the past we've used Niku and Microsoft Project Server but had issues with both, mostly around scale and cost.

Over the next 5 or so years we have a number of programmes running (anything from 5 to 20 at a time) each consisting of a number of projects. Each project will require people with certain skills at certain levels.

The plan is that the tool will store information about the people (initially around 200 but probably growing to a few thousand, some directly employed by us and others available on call off or day rate contracts), what skills they have, what levels those skills are at (delineated as something like beginner, intermediate, advanced, expert and top-expert) and general information around availability (whether they work full or part time, when they have leave booked, when they are assigned to projects &c).

Programme Directors will be able to access the system to enter their requirements (what skills at what level and when) and get a list of people who might be suitable and available. They can then, with staff from the resourcing section, go over the list and whittle it down to the people they want.

The idea is that not only will it simplify the process for locating people for project work but will also give us the ability to identify where we have or are likely to have skill shortages (Programme Directors will be scheduling their resource needs months in advance) so we can plan training and development. Also we will be able to identify when we are likely to have an excess of resource so can schedule training and development for those periods.

Thanks

Stephen

Submitted by cadolley on Thu, 09/13/2007 - 18:19.

Anyone know a good project resource management tool?

We use a web based application called quick arrow( https://ecs.quickarrow.com/auth/login.do). Notice I didn't say that I like Quick Arrow... but it is the tool currently in use and I believe has many functional areas which will meet the requirements you mention.

I'll be checking this post as I am curious to see what other "liked" applications are out here.

Craig

Submitted by stephenbooth_uk on Thu, 09/13/2007 - 19:14.

Anyone know a good project resource management tool?

[quote="cadolley"]We use a web based application called quick arrow( https://ecs.quickarrow.com/auth/login.do). Notice I didn't say that I like Quick Arrow... but it is the tool currently in use and I believe has many functional areas which will meet the requirements you mention.[/quote]

I did get an email 'off forum' from someone else pointing me to QuickArrow, but he works for the company so may be a bit biased. :lol:

Other products I've had recommended to me (through my network and other sources) are: Microsoft Project Server, Niku Clarity, Beeline, Fieldglass and Primavera. We've used Project Server and Niku in the past and ran into scaling problems (I suspect, as I wasn't involved at the time I don't know, that it was more scaling vs how much we're prepared to spend). I haven't looked at the other products yet, thats for tommorrow.

I had a meeting this afternoon witht he director behind the request and discovered that he wanted to run it as a zero cost project (i.e. he wants a solution but isn't prepared to invest any money), I think I've managed to disabuse him of that notion. He did add additional requirement as well. Project Directors need to be able to enter their requirements (what they actually need) and their 'Apirational Requirements' (what they would want if cost were not an option). He then wants to be able to report on Actuals vs Requirements vs Aspirational Requirements to identify resource gaps.

Stephen

Submitted by terrih on Thu, 09/13/2007 - 19:16.

Anyone know a good project resource management tool?

Have you checked out Basecamp? Also web-based. I haven't had a need for it, but I've kept it in the back of my mind just in case. I like Backpack, by the same company.

[url]http://www.basecamphq.com/[/url]

Submitted by bazalgette on Fri, 09/14/2007 - 09:49.

take a look at Contour

take a look at Contourrm.com. web based project tool. great at capturing requirements and associated needs of a project. I understand it was designed by a bunch of project managers who couldn't find a tool easy to use, yet delivered what they needed - sounds familiar!!!!!!

Submitted by ccleveland on Fri, 09/14/2007 - 18:55.

Anyone know a good project resource management tool?

We're rolling out PDWare for project portfolio management (including resource tracking). I've not seen or used it enough yet to pass any judgement.

Submitted by Sporkman on Sat, 09/15/2007 - 04:49.

Anyone know a good project resource management tool?

[quote="stephenbooth_uk"]"It's better to ask a silly question than to make a stupid assumption."[/quote]

In the army, they used to tell us that "the only stupid question is the one that was never asked." :)

Submitted by stephenbooth_uk on Wed, 09/19/2007 - 13:11.

Thankyou

I wanted to say thank you to everyone who responded to this with suggestions. I've written the report to the management team and am currently awaiting the outcome (I didn't get to deliver it myself, too far down the hierarchy). My basic conclusion was along the lines of "Here's some options but we can't choose between them until we know the ball park figure we're looking to spend and have a better focus on the requirements."

Thanks

Stephen

Submitted by TrueSolutions on Tue, 12/11/2007 - 05:28.

Anyone know a good project resource management tool?

It sounds almost as if you need a resume database as well as a project tracking tool. You could try an open source (meets the "free" requirement) Applicant Tracking System.

Here is a good system:

[url=http://www.catsone.com/]http://www.catsone.com/
[/url]
It might be overkill for you in some ways, but it could definitely help manage the skillset and availability tracking requirements.

Submitted by rjholohan on Thu, 12/13/2007 - 05:27.

Resource Tool

Hi,

My organization uses Planview Enterprise Portfolio Management software (www.planview.com). It may be overkill for what you are looking for, but it has fairly decent timesheet and resource request/approval/tracking capabilities.

Ron

Submitted by rjholohan on Thu, 12/13/2007 - 05:59.

Resource Tool

My company uses a tool called Planview Enterprise Portfolio Management to track highlevel project schedules, associate time entry/requests/assignments/tracking, and some project/portfolio financials. You can find it at www.planview.com.

Good Luck!

Ron

Submitted by Duardo on Thu, 12/13/2007 - 08:25.

More Hosted PM Tools

There are a lot of Online Project Management Software/Team Collaboration tools out there... You'll find some more PM tools and their links at this OnProjects* article on [url=http://onprojects.net/2007/06/01/project-management-software/]Online Project Management Software[/url]. i hope that helps...

cheers
duardo

Submitted by VCSonline on Thu, 12/13/2007 - 21:55.

Welcome to try VPMi Professsional

My name is Nick Matteucci and I co-founded VCSonline 9+ years ago because I was frustrated with project and human resource management software. It was too complex, expensive, and cumbersome for the people who were trying to collaborate, manage, and get their hands around resource capacity planning (and NOT just satisfy ridiculous management reporting requirements). Sadly, for many people not much has changed.

I would welcome you to try our software, VPMi Professional for your resource and project management needs. http://www.vcsonline.com/PMSoftware/VPMiProfessional/tabid/105/Default.a...

VPMi Pro includes project management, resource management, documents, email updates, MS Project integration, and time reporting all for only $10/user/month (report viewer/timesheet user) or $30/user/month (PMs). It is free for first 30 days and we have an extensive video training collection to help you get started.

I am also the CTO for the Project Management Institute IS SIG and blog on virtual teams, resource management, and project management ( http://www.pmi-issig.org/Learn/ExpertsBlogs/tabid/74/BlogID/6/Default.as... ).

I wish you luck in whatever you land on and you can feel free to write us with any questions you might have.

Best Regards,

Nick Matteucci
nmatteucci@vcsonline.com
Partner and Co-Founder VCSonline.com
VPMi = Simple + Sensible + Supportable Web 2.0 Project Management

Submitted by rmelik6 on Fri, 12/14/2007 - 03:49.

Tenrox.com

Hello,

Please take a look at www.tenrox.com. Our solution is modular, workflow-driven (read on the site to see why this matters a lot), can be deployed on-demand or on-premise in days, and is much more capable in terms of controls and integration points with your other enterprise systems.

Regards, Rudolf

Submitted by mahorstman on Sat, 12/15/2007 - 20:21.

Anyone know a good project resource management tool?

Folks, this is not a place for marketing your own firm's solutions.

Mark

Submitted by chasim on Mon, 06/16/2008 - 11:40.

Applicant Tracking System

You need to use the Simplicant. Its Simple, web-based [url=http://www.simplicant.com]applicant tracking system[/url] for small to medium sized companies.

Submitted by AManagerTool on Mon, 06/16/2008 - 12:22.

Anyone know a good project resource management tool?

Wow!

Really!

Can I get one for Free!!!!

OMG! How about t-shirts? Squishie balls? A big coffee mug...everybody will envy me. I'd have the only Simplicant cofee mug at my job...! Please PM me for shipping information.

OMG! I can't wait!
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Your choice to advertise on a thread that has been dead since December of last year for the very reason that people were advertising their software on it is VERY annoying. It's almost as annoying as me asking for free stuff.

Submitted by RonFletcher on Wed, 12/17/2008 - 12:34.

Planning Force http://www.planningforce.com/

Hi,
Check out this from tool from Planning Force http://www.planningforce.com/
They use it in our office and works well....

Submitted by bug_girl on Wed, 12/17/2008 - 15:15.

Anyone know a good project resource management tool?

*waits with anticipation for latest [b]AManagerTool[/b] response to this spam*
[i]
*begins popping popcorn*[/i]

Submitted by hyubdoo23 on Wed, 12/17/2008 - 16:10.

spam spam spam spam

Bloody Vikings!

Submitted by testerguy on Thu, 01/22/2009 - 09:29.

Hey, one more tool

Hey, one more tool Zephyr(http://www.getzephyr.com), hope this could help you.

Submitted by nilk on Tue, 04/28/2009 - 13:17.

another tool to consider

Hi,

take a look at Practitest (http://www.practitest.com). Even though it's more focused as a Test Management tool, yet, it has many issues / tasks related features.

Submitted by smgraham2 on Thu, 04/30/2009 - 01:47.

Clarity

I saw someone mention Clarity as a recommendation. In the interest of Full Disclosure, I work for the company that sells the product (but do not directly work on it). We use this to manage all the R&D employees and projects of our company which is roughly 3500, so it should meet your scale requirement. I personally use it to manage 70 resources and the associated proejcts and find it to be superior to the other tools that I used.

Submitted by pmpodcast on Mon, 06/01/2009 - 15:08.

PM Opinions

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Visit The PM podcast at http://www.thepmpodcast.com