(1) Explain your problem, don't simply post "This isn't working". What were you doing when you faced the problem? What have you tried to resolve - did you look for a solution using "Search" ? Has it happened just once or several times?
(2) It's also good to get feedback when a solution is found, return to the original post to explain how it was resolved so that more people can also use the results.
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Mike,
thank you for the compliment but Spider was written by a group of programmers and first launched to the market 20 years ago. Since then its development never stopped. To develop perfect software means a lot of man-years. But you are right that I initiated and led this development because no other software fits to my requirements.
Jorge,
the best software is the one that fits to your requirements. Since these requirements may be different for different people and companies the software that is the best for one group may be considered as poor by another.
If you are interested in resource management then Spider Project has widest options and largest capabilities.
I like Artemis products but they cannot compete with Spider Project in functionality.
I don't believe that flat workload is always achievable but in Spider Project you can define the range of activity resource requirements (for example from 3 to 5 units) and software will assign resources basing on their availability accelerating works when 5 resource units are used and slowing if only 3 units are available.
Hi, Jorge and Mike.
First, Jorge, it's nice to see someone here with Artemis 9000 experience! I used to work with PSDI's Project/2, which was Artemis 9000's main rival (and the only two packages that were permitted on DoD C/SCSC-required applications).
Each package is different, and suits different uses. Yes, MS Project is quite limited, especially in its treatment of resources (not to mention things like limiting PDM relationship links between activities to one!). But even MSP has its advantages: it is easy for most people to use, and it has a multitude of available add-ons, so that the user is not limited to the specific functionality that the distributor chooses to provide.
Since all projects/programs are investments in work, and since return-on-investment is the guiding metric of all investments, every PM s/w package should allow input of ROI, and then permit manipulation of it and reports based on it (such as the DIPP, which is [expected monetary value + or - acceleration premium or delay cost] divided by Cost ETC). Spider permits ROI input, and I believe Primavera started doing so a few years ago. Do any other packages permit this? If not, it's a huge shortcoming.
The most glaring omission of almost all software packages (excluding only Spider and the Sumatra add-on to MSP) is the failure to compute something as fundamental as Critical Path Drag. Qwiknet Professional didn't compute free float, and that was pretty bad -- but failure to compute THE fundamental critical path metric is a hundred times worse. It's like having spreadsheet software that can't do subtraction, or graphics software that can't draw a circle.
Fraternally in project management,
Steve the Bajan
Hi Jorge
The topic of "what is the best software" has been worried to the bones on this and other forums. (or is that Fora?)
Every view is partisan to the exponent of each software user.
You will find that I think that Asta PowerProject can do nothing wrong and everything right.
I like your open minded approach to find the best tool for a specific application - particularly your Marshmallow resource modelling application.
When you find your perfect piece of kit please let us know.
Or perhaps like Vladimir you can write it yourself.
Best regards
Mike Testro
It would be nice to have honest candid comparisons between the varous PM software, and include evaluations and recommendations for what this site would consider the "ideal" PM software.
I for one find MSP to be a flashy toy that promotes very bad habits. Put MSP on someones desktop and they think can schedule.
The holy grail for my company is a perfectly flat workload with no fluctuations in manning requirements. Obviously, the complexities of projects require different resource loads over different phases, but that is the goal. The best software is that which comes closest while still observing network logic and constraints. If only activities could be made of NERF or marshmallows that shape themselves into the available space in time and available resources to produce this perfectly flat workload. I would love it if PM sofware could visualize that metaphor onscreen while producing a viable schedule that matches resource availablility.
What is the state of the art in PM software. I grew up with Artemis 5000, then 9000. I am familiar with todays P6 and Open Plan, and but what is the paradigm for PM of the future? Can we discuss that or is there already a thread on this topic?
Email: PPadmin@planningplanet.com
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