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Top 5 Benefits of Using Project Management Software Tool

Many people believe that a Project Management software tool does not have much utility as spreadsheets work much better and provide a cheaper option.

Before we debate this, let me ask you a question. Which tool would you use if you have to put a nail in a wall – a hammer or a screwdriver?

Most probably your answer would be hammer. It does not mean that a screwdriver is a useless tool. It only means that a hammer is a more appropriate tool for putting a nail.

Similarly, when it comes to project management activities like planning and tracking, you should use a proper tool. A spreadsheet software is a general tool that is good for performing calculations and maintaining records but it should not be used for managing projects.

A proper tool helps in automating activities like estimating, scheduling, budgeting, organizing, tracking, and reporting. A spreadsheet software can never do all these things.

Let’s take a look at the top benefits of using a project management software.

Benefits of Using Project Management Software Tool

1. Scheduling

Scheduling involves the following steps:

  1. Identification of activities
  2. Estimating duration, cost, and resources
  3. Identifying dependencies and sequencing the activities
  4. Assigning resources and developing schedule
  5. Adjusting schedule to meet deadline

All these steps can be easily performed by using a specialized project management software. By using it, you can establish a proper workflow so that project staff members know what are they supposed to do and when.

Furthermore, by using a proper tool, you can easily adjust the schedule when there are any delays or changes as the project progresses. (more…)

By |2022-11-18T10:19:57+00:00January 28th, 2020|Project Management Software|0 Comments

RationalPlan 5.3 – Improved Web Interface and Support for Opening Microsoft Project 2019 Files

RationalPlan 5.3

RationalPlan 5.3 comes with new features for the web-based interface and adds support for opening Microsoft Project 2019 files. It adds more columns to Portfolio and Resources views, filters for tasks to Gantt view and more settings for the chart. It also adds calendars and special working days for tasks and resources.

RationalPlan is a project management software suite that is available either as stand alone products or as a cloud service. It is used by individuals and by companies that need a solution to manage their work in an efficient way.

Features added for RationalPlan 5.3 version

  • Calendars and special working days for resources and tasks
  • The possibility for resources to use the assigned task calendar
  • Filters for tasks on Gantt view
  • More columns for Portfolio view
  • Custom columns for Resources view
  • More settings for Gantt chart
  • Display the list of projects for the current project combo in alphabetical order
  • Support for opening MS Project 2019 files

(more…)

By |2022-11-18T10:19:57+00:00September 18th, 2019|News, RationalPlan|0 Comments

RationalPlan 5.2 – Additional Columns for Tasks and Multiple Cost Rates for Resources

RationalPlan 5.2

RationalPlan 5.2 comes with new features for the web-based interface and an increased speed for computing the critical path. Many columns were added to the Gantt and Timesheet views: project code, task slack and related Earned Value Management data, working calendar, predecessors and successors. Also different cost rates can now be set for resources.

RationalPlan is a project management software suite that is available either as stand alone products or as a project management cloud service. It is used by individuals and by companies that need a distributed solution with concurrent access from multiple users.

Changes for the current version

  • Improved the speed of critical path algorithm
  • Added Project Code column for Gantt and Timesheet for both desktop and web interface
  • Added slack and EVM related columns to web interface
  • Added Calendar column to web interface
  • Added Predecessors and Successors columns to web interface
  • Added Notes tab for resources to web interface
  • Added resource rates to web interface
  • Mouse precision on charts for HDPI monitors
  • Bug fix: Do not allow a user to see the costs if it does not have the “See resource costs” right
  • Bug fixes for Hungarian and French translation

(more…)

By |2022-11-18T10:19:57+00:00May 28th, 2019|News, RationalPlan|0 Comments

Why Is Importance Of Project Risk Management Overrated?

importance of projct risk managementHave you ever given a serious thought about the importance of project risk management? Do you think that risk identification, analysis and assessment are important for project management?

I believe you will answer the above questions in affirmative. Before I share my opinion about significance of risk management, let me tell you a small story.

Proper Risk Identification, Analysis, And Assessment In Corporate Projects

Morpheus was the most experienced project manager of Zion Corporation. In past, he had successfully completed many technically challenging projects. Customers love him for his strong analytical skills.

In the recent years, Zion has sustained heavy losses due to poor risk management. They hired a new CFO named Lock to turn the corner. Lock was a micro-manager and looked at everything from financial standpoint. This had given him lot of success in the past.

To turn Zion around, Lock initiated a novel project of developing a complex new game system called Matrix. He assigned Morpheus as the lead project manager. He also assigned senior analysts Neo and Trinity to assist Morpheus.

Morpheus enjoyed a good working relationship with Neo and Trinity. They had worked together on many projects in the past. But Lock was a new commodity. Morpheus soon realized that it was very difficult to work with him. Lock had little understanding of the game development and always wanted to talk about finances.

As a diligent project manager, risk management was on top of Morpheus’ mind. He was ably supported by both Neo and Trinity in identifying, analyzing, and resolving risks. But Lock did not appreciate their efforts. On the contrary he was very critical.

Lock would say risk management is a complete waste of time. He thought that professionals should stick to their jobs and solve real problems. They should spend more time of execution and overcome the problems as they come.
(more…)

By |2022-11-18T10:19:57+00:00January 9th, 2019|Risk Management|0 Comments

RationalPlan 5.0 – Improved Web Interface and a Stronger PM Scheduling Engine

RationalPlan 5.0

RationalPlan 5.0 is a major release that comes with new features for the web-based interface and a more powerful project scheduling engine. The product is now able to handle those types of project plans in which certain tasks need to be delayed as much as possible. On the other hand the web interface of both the Cloud service and the Server product gets improved with several features.

Users with licenses older than one year are entitled to upgrade them with a 50% discount.

RationalPlan is a project management software suite that is available either as stand alone products or as a project management cloud service. It is used by individuals and by companies that need a distributed solution with concurrent access from multiple users.

Important changes for RationalPlan 5.0

RationalPlan can now handle As Late As Possible(ALAP) constraints for those tasks that need to to start as late as possible relative to the project end date. The entire scheduling engine was transformed to support this type of planning. Even the critical path detection algorithm was adjusted to comply with this major change.

Since certain parts of the application are depending on Java technology this major release also added support for Java 9 and Java 10. This is a big step forward to maintain the compatibility with the latest Java versions in order to avoid software vulnerabilities.

Starting with this release the developers of RationalPlan removed the support for the old .xrp files. This file type storage was deprecated and it is no longer being used.

For the online and server side segment:

  • Critical path functionality
  • Labels for task bars on Gantt chart
  • A hover icon and a contextual menu for the task tree grid (Gantt & WBS)
  • Project code and Client name within the email notifications
  • Bug fix: do not show the work on tasks in web if the user does not have the rights to see the resources
  • Bug fix: allow negative lags on web
  • Bug fix: guard against non-working constraint dates for dependency driven tasks
  • Bug fix: guard against the case when the project estimated start is non-working

For the On-Premise products:

  • Added resource data filter and project status filter for Timesheet view
  • In Timesheet view if a filter is applied for All projects then filter the resources
  • Bug fix for Ukrainian translation
  • Bug fix for budgets on Single version

(more…)

By |2022-11-18T10:19:57+00:00November 2nd, 2018|News, RationalPlan|0 Comments

7 Reasons Why A Scheduling Tool Scores Over Excel Spreadsheet

Which tool would you use for project scheduling – a tool specifically designed for managing projects or Excel spreadsheet?

The answer is quite simple – a scheduling software is specifically designed for project management. It has many inherent advantages over spreadsheets like Excel or Google Sheets.

I guess you agree with me. But let me provide my reasons for my preference for a scheduling software like RationalPlan.

Appropriate Tool For Appropriate Jobs

excel scheduling tool pills-3111992_640

Which of the above picture suggests the right usage of fork & knife? The first picture. You would agree that fork and knife should be used for eating food and not medicine.

A hammer is no good for fixing screws and a screw-driver is not the right tool cutting wood. Similarly, PMs should use appropriate tools for managing projects.

You would say that this is simplistic example and it does not work in real world. So let me explain it further.

Microsoft Excel Vs. Scheduling Tool

How would a PM assign duties to team members and ensure task completion? How would a Customer keep an eye on work progression? How would a Sponsor track project expenses?

Excel would be a great bet if you want an isolated solution as an answer to the above questions. But project management is not done in isolation. It is a group effort.

There are many things that make a proper scheduling tool stand out from Excel. I can probably think of 100 things but I have made a group of 7 features that Excel just does not provide.

  1. Task creation, assignment, & tracking
  2. Resource planning & tracking
  3. Availability of Gantt charts for presentation & reporting
  4. Network diagrams for planning analysis
  5. Project performance dashboards
  6. Detailed project reports
  7. Team & stakeholder collaboration

You should also read more about advantages of PM software and why should you upgrade from spreadsheets to PM software. (more…)

By |2022-11-18T10:19:57+00:00April 29th, 2018|Project Management Software|2 Comments

RationalPlan 4.16 – Improved Web Interface and Translation to Ukrainian Language

RationalPlan 4.16

Starting with RationalPlan 4.16 the web interface of both the Cloud service and the Server product gets improved with several features while the On-Premise products become available in Ukrainian language. The communication protocol over the Internet gets updated to https and the integration with Microsoft Project 2016 is improved.

RationalPlan started as an easy to use and straightforward project management software but it evolved into an embedded and powerful system that is now available even as a project management cloud service both for individuals and for companies that need a distributed solution with concurrent access from multiple users.

Important changes for this version

For the online and server side segment:

  • Possibility to customize task colors on the Gantt chart
  • Added custom Data columns for tasks
  • Improved security through the use of https protocol

For the On-Premise products:

  • Highlight late tasks and tasks that hit the deadline date on Gantt chart
  • Translated to Ukrainian language
  • Improved support for MS Project 2016 files

(more…)

By |2023-05-22T06:37:34+00:00September 14th, 2017|News, RationalPlan|0 Comments

MOOS Project Viewer 3.2 – Support for Microsoft Project 2016 Files

MOOS Project Viewer version 3.2. adds support for opening Microsoft Project 2016 files. Further more the application now also supports files containing Estonian or Turkish characters.

After several months of development a major version was released that adds support for reading Microsoft Project 2016 files. Users can now open .mpp files generated with any version of MS Project including the latest one.

For those users that need to open .mpp files and see their content in a graphical way – just like in MS Project – then MOOS Project Viewer is the right solution. If no editing is needed then the price of a Microsoft Project license is not justified. Even more users will have the possibility to open the files on any operating system (Windows, Mac OS X , Linux) as the product is platform independent.

Multiple views are available and the files can be opened from external storage services as MOOS Project Viewer is integrated with Dropbox, Google Drive and OneDrive. This way users can access the projects from any location and at any time. Printing is also available allowing users to generate customized reports.

(more…)

By |2023-05-25T07:42:06+00:00August 18th, 2017|Microsoft Project, MOOS Project Viewer|0 Comments

RationalPlan 4.15 – Microsoft Project 2016 Integration and Projects Dashboard Gets Out of Beta

RationalPlan Project Management SoftwareStarting with RationalPlan 4.15 the Projects dashboard for the web client is out of beta, the process of adding resources was simplified and the performance of Timesheet view was improved. Additionally it was added the possibility to read Microsoft Project 2016 files and more.

RationalPlan started as an easy to use and straightforward project management software but it evolved into an embedded and powerful system that is now available even as a project management cloud service both for individuals and for companies that need a distributed solution with concurrent access from multiple users.

Important changes for this version

For the online and server side segment:

  • Projects dashboard is out of beta
  • Simplified process for adding resources
  • Performance improvements for Timesheet view

For the On-Premise products:

  • Added support for MS Project 2016 files
  • Updated to Dropbox API 2.0
  • Introduced week numbering since project start
  • Added task highlighter in Portfolio view
  • Send assignments by email only for currently selected project
  • Bug fix for computing the critical path
  • Bug fix for daylight saving time

(more…)

By |2022-11-18T10:19:58+00:00February 13th, 2017|News, RationalPlan|Comments Off on RationalPlan 4.15 – Microsoft Project 2016 Integration and Projects Dashboard Gets Out of Beta

RationalPlan 4.14 – Increased Collaboration Using Comments on Tasks and Support for Polish Language

RationalPlan Project Management SoftwareRationalPlan 4.14 offers increased collaboration by adding comments on tasks and automatic email notifications to users. Additionally the desktop products were translated into Polish.

RationalPlan started as an easy to use and straightforward project management software but it evolved into an embedded and powerful system that is now available even as a project management cloud service both for individuals and for companies that need a distributed solution with concurrent access from multiple users.

Important changes for this version

  • Increased collaboration using comments on tasks and email notifications
  • Translated into Polish language
  • Send assignments by email in .ics format using task UID in order to avoid duplicate events
  • Added support for Vietnamese characters when exporting to MS Project .xml file and .xls file

Adding comments on tasks while managing work within the Cloud is a feature aiming to increase collaboration among users. Instead of using communication solutions like email, phone calls or other external software tools, users will be able to discuss different task related issues directly within RationalPlan by adding comments. Everyone that is interested on a certain task – like the project manager, a responsible or the assigned resources – will get notifications by email whenever a comment is added on that task. (more…)

By |2022-11-18T10:20:01+00:00August 31st, 2016|News, RationalPlan|0 Comments
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