Suitability of MS Project Server for small I.T. team

[Jaffa McNeill]

We have a team of 4 working on an ever changing mix of small "projects" and
maintenance/ support issues. At the moment we're using the open source
dotProject for logging "helpdesk" queries and scheduling project work,
however the resource planning features are minimal so we're looking into the
possibility of using MS Project Server. I can't find the answers I want from
the microsoft.com, so I would really appreciate it if someone could have a
quick look at the features we require and let us know of the suitability of
MS Project Server for meeting them.

- schedule our project work so that we are not overloaded (presumably this
is base functionality?)
- document project approvals, specifications and work packages. Workflow
would be nice, PRINCE2 would be excellent
- switch schedules quickly when priorities change.
- enter unscheduled task detail and schedule them later.
- automatically (and optionally) email shareholders of progress
- log work on small items which are outside project control, for time
management and knowledge sharing (and email those too)
- report timesheets daily
- search timesheets for solutions
- maintain easy to-do lists of project and non-project tasks per person

So should I keep looking, or will MS Project Server do enough of these
things to justify using it?

 

[James Fraser]

We have a team of 4 working on an ever changing mix of small "projects" and
maintenance/ support issues. At the moment we're using the open source
dotProject for logging "helpdesk" queries and scheduling project work,
however the resource planning features are minimal so we're looking into the
possibility of using MS Project Server. I can't find the answers I want from
the microsoft.com, so I would really appreciate it if someone could have a
quick look at the features we require and let us know of the suitability of
MS Project Server for meeting them.

- schedule our project work so that we are not overloaded (presumably this
is base functionality?)
- document project approvals, specifications and work packages. Workflow
would be nice, PRINCE2 would be excellent
- switch schedules quickly when priorities change.
- enter unscheduled task detail and schedule them later.
- automatically (and optionally) email shareholders of progress
- log work on small items which are outside project control, for time
management and knowledge sharing (and email those too)
- report timesheets daily
- search timesheets for solutions
- maintain easy to-do lists of project and non-project tasks per person

So should I keep looking, or will MS Project Server do enough of these
things to justify using it?

Project Server includes all of the functionality that you describe,
but as a quick guess, it is probably not for you.

First, to handle schedule management and changes, you (or someone with
time) will need to know how to use Microsoft Project. Project plans
are managed in this client, and having robust, plans that can react to
input appropriately is not necessarily as simple as typing in a list
of tasks.
While Project can schedule work to some degree (Resource-leveling),
this is generally a task that requires a fair bit of human oversight
and input. (How does Project Server know that you don't care about
Client X as much as Client Y?)
and finally,
Project Server typically is aimed at much larger groups than four
people.

If you are interested in looking further, start by trying to maintain
your schedules in Microsoft Project. If that is working well for you,
Project Server will take that to the next level of reporting and
sharing. On the other hand, if you feel that Project Pro is too
"heavy" for your project plans, than you are not going to like Project
Server.


James Fraser

 

[Jackson T. Cole]

First, I would ask how "big" your company is, and are you currently a
Microsoft server shop? You will really be making a HUGE step up from
dotProject to MS Project Server AND Project Professional. In addition,
SharePoint, which will be the delivery mechanism for at least a few of the
features you want, plus it is REQUIRED for Project Server 2007, if you don't
use PS 2003.

Later ...

JTC