Project Management Tools

What tools are available to project managers? How do companies really use project management software? What are the benefits of using PM software? What are the limitations and pitfalls? Can software tools be overused? What's available besides scheduling tools? Are project simulations of any value? How about tools for risk management? Where can I find objective and independent evaluations of PM software? What other tools besides software tools are useful for a project manager? What has been your experience with PM tools? Share those experiences and help us build our PM tools knowledge base.

• For users of Microsoft Project software, visit these sites for resources, or have tips and advice e-mailed to you!
  • Microsoft® Corporation offers add-ons, upgrades, Frequently Asked Questions, and product support, including their searchable Knowledge Base on known MS Project bugs and work-arounds for all MS Project versions at the Microsoft Project web site.
  • The Microsoft Project User's Group has a free area with web links and some other resources. A paid membership gives you a quarterly newsletter and participation in discussions and local chapters.
  • For one of the better third-party "pulls no punches" newsletters devoted to MS Project, sign up for Woody's Project Watch, delivered to your e-mail in-box each week.
  • WBS Chart for Project is an MS Project add-on that produces graphical Work Breakdown Structures. Download a free demo at the Critical Tools^TM web site.
• We also have a number of books on Microsoft Project in our PM Tools book list. Among our favorites:
  • Teach Yourself Microsoft Project 2000 by Vickey L. Quinn,
  • Microsoft® Project 98 For Dummies® by Martin Doucette
• Interested in tools for estimating software projects? Here are some resources for software estimation tools:
  • Capers Jones' book Estimating Software Costs is a good reference on the state of the software estimation tools industry, what tools are available, and what are their capabilities and limitations.
  • Software Engineering Economics, by Barry Boehm, is the definitive reference for the Constructive Cost Model (COCOMO) method of software estimation. This book should be read by anyone who is considering using a COCOMO-based software estimation tool.
  • The Soft Star web site has product information for their CoStar^TM software estimation tool based on COCOMO 2, a version of the Constructive Cost Model (COCOMO) that has been enhanced for the newer software development cycles.
  • The Quantitative Software Management web site has product information on their SLIM-Estimate tool.