Session 3: Project Management Tools

Project Management Tools

While it is not essential to use a project management tool, you will find that there are many advantages to doing so. Project management software can be a commercial package such as Microsoft Project; an open source application such as OpenProj or GanttProject; or an online application such as Wrike, Trello or Basecamp.

What does Project Management software do?

Project management software has the capacity to help plan, organize, and manage resource tools and develop resource estimates. Depending on the sophistication of the software, it can manage estimation and planning, scheduling, cost control and budget management, resource allocation, collaboration software, communication, decision-making, quality management and documentation or administration systems. Today, numerous PC & browser based project management software and contract management software solutions exist, and are finding applications in almost every type of business.


For more information, read this article 


There are many different Project Management Tools and/or Software available. I like to put them into the following categories, although some applications may fit into multiple.

Desktop (Standalone)

Desktop or Standalone Project Management applications are those that are installed on a single computer. You will find both Commercial applications, which can cost a significant amount of money, or Open Source, which are generally free.

Enterprise Server Based

These are applications, either commercial or Open Source, that are installed on a business or enterprise server. The advantage that these applications have over standalone, is the ability to collaborate and share information with the project team or project team leaders.

Online / Collaboration

There are a huge number of online Project Management Tools, varying in cost and functionality. Similar to those installed on a server, the main advantage is the ability to collaborate and share information within a project team.

Top Project Management Software

There are a number of lists that will show you some of the better Project Management Software. I have tried quite a few over the years, The following article is a good summary of the current options as it includes both commercial and free offerings.


Here are a few more lists of the best project management tools




And for Open Source (Free) project management tools

N.B. For our class learning activity, we will be using Project Libre, which is free Open Source software. It definitely looks a bit dated, but is very similar to a basic version of Microsoft Project (without the bells and whistles and fancy interface)

You can download it from here https://sourceforge.net/projects/projectlibre/

Here is a video to get started:


ASSESSMENT TASK 1
You may now start working on Assessment Task 1.

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