Microsoft Project & Difficulties

[Rookie_User]

I have recently been charged with developing a structured process to utilize
our resources more effectively. We like other companies suffer from too many
projects not enough people. I need a system that will help manage my
resource pool more effectively. I have used MS Project and some of our leads
have and the overall feeling is "negative". They just feel its too much, too
difficult, etc...

Is there any program that might "tie" into MS Pro.? Maybe a better user
interface but uses MS Pro in the background.

Ideally we want a system that all project leads can use, pull from a pool of
resources by using percentages or other. Then I need to run VP reports that
show the utilization of resources based on current projects.

Is it possible that we can download Outlook Calendars? This way the
resources can mark appointments representing the time they spend on a project
and then upload it or something?

 

[davegb]

I have recently been charged with developing a structured process to utilize
our resources more effectively. We like other companies suffer from too many
projects not enough people. I need a system that will help manage my
resource pool more effectively. I have used MS Project and some of our leads
have and the overall feeling is "negative". They just feel its too much, too
difficult, etc...

Is there any program that might "tie" into MS Pro.? Maybe a better user
interface but uses MS Pro in the background.

There used to be one called something like "Project Commander". Don't
know if it's still around.

Ideally we want a system that all project leads can use, pull from a pool of
resources by using percentages or other. Then I need to run VP reports that
show the utilization of resources based on current projects.

I sympathize with your PMs. I've run across this problem with a number
of my clients. I think Project is to complex for "periodic" users
(people who use it every so often, not on a daily basis). I nearly
always recommend that only a few people have direct access to Project
and the schedules for this and other reasons. Then we create input
procedures for the PMs to update their projects through the
scheduler(s). And of course, the updated schedules are returned to the
PMs to use.

Hope this helps in your world.