overkill?

[instauratio]

I am a consultant, I work alone and would like to track my time and organize
my projects. I have started using Word to create Outlines that organize my
procedures for any given part of a project. I also make generous use of Tasks
and Journal entries in Outlook.

My thought is that MS project might offer a better way? Can anyone advise -
I don't want to invest time or money in it if it's going to be a dead end.

Thanks

 

[Rod Gill]

Hi,

Project on its own is not a good time sheet system. However, as a
consultant, if you are ever part of a project, skills in using Project are
well worth while.

 

[davegb]

I am a consultant, I work alone and would like to track my time and organize
my projects. I have started using Word to create Outlines that organize my
procedures for any given part of a project. I also make generous use of Tasks
and Journal entries in Outlook.

My thought is that MS project might offer a better way? Can anyone advise -
I don't want to invest time or money in it if it's going to be a dead end.

Thanks

My personal experience in using scheduling software, Project or
otherwise, is that, for single resource projects, like the ones I do in
my consulting business, don't warrant this kind of software.
Basicially, it's because single resource projects are, by definition
"linear". That is, there is really only one path through the tasks
because there's only one person to do them. With an occasional
exception, say when I'm waiting for a reply from an outside source, I
can't really work on more than one task at a time. If I choose to, I
can switch from one task to the other, but I have a bad habit of doing
too much of that anyway, and try not to switch tasks because it is, by
definition and experience, inefficient. I've found it much more
effective to use a PIM on my computer and tie it to a PDA. I use a
customizable PIM that allows me to link items on my Todo list, so that
when one is done, the next one in sequence pops up. But I just don't
need the complexity of Critical Path Method when I can't really overlap
tasks anyway.
I hope this helps in your world.