Thing 12 - Online Project Management Tools

Managing a personal or professional project (let alone many projects) can be difficult if you don't have a system in place. Multiple team members, various tasks, deadlines, client requests, document revisions--yikes! Fortunately, there are many web applications available to help organize and track the progress of your projects. These applications can't take the place of training or certification in Project Management. Instead, they absorb all of the communication and progress on a project and put it into one place, accessible by all stake holders.

Features of project management applications vary a great deal, but here is a list of common ones:
1. Task management for multiple projects (with calendar, timeline, progress chart)

2. Time tracking
3. File storage (current and archived editions)
4. Email among team members and clients

5. Message board and archive to replace email

6. RSS feeds for project updates

7. Reports
8. Personalized dashboard for each user

Other add-ons such as added security, iPhone applications, and invoicing are often available for an added fee.

Benefits:

1. Communicate and collaborate with people at different institutions, office locations, even countries!

2. Track important advances on projects, changes to documents and other artifacts.

3. Accessible anywhere, just need an internet connection.
4. Pretty easy to learn and fast to get a project started.

5. Receive support from host.

There are hundreds of online project management applications, and finding the right one for your type of work and personal preference will take some investigation on your part.

Here is a list of project management tools that have a free trial, free plan, or both:

1. 5pm Plans range from $18-$175 per month. 14 day free trial.
2. Goplan Plans range from free-$80 per month.
3. Basecamp Plans range from $24-$149 per month. 30 day free trial.
4. Teamwork Project Manager Plans range from free-$149 per month.
5. DeskAway Plans range from free-$99 per month.
6. Central Desktop Plans range from free-$99 per month.
7. LiquidPlanner Plans are $25 and up (call for enterprise pricing). 30 day free trial.
8. Comindwork Plans are free-$99 per month (more for enterprise).
9. OnStage Plans are free-$135 per month.
10. Assembla Plans are $24-$249 per month. 30 day free trial.

Comparison of tools via Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_project_management_software

Here are some resources to find more:
1. GO2WEB20
2. Feedmyapp

Assignment
1. Read this blog post by Andrew Filev about how "Project Management 2.0" helps project managers lead projects rather than act as project secretaries. He is the CEO at Wrike, Inc.
2. Research two different project management tools. Watch the "demo" or "tour" for both. Take a look at their features and pricing options. Read some user reviews. Blog about your findings.
3. Leave a comment on this blog post about the project management tools you researched.

Address the following questions in your blog

What challenges do you face right now that could possibly be improved by using a project management tool?

Which two project management tools did you investigate? What were your impressions? Compare the two.

For tools/plans that are not free, do you think they are worth the cost?

Why did you choose this thing?

How long did this thing take you?

**Extra Challenge**
Sign up for a free trial and start a real or imaginary project. Make sure to blog about the project management application you chose and the project you started.