Resource Management
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I have a number of chaps, working in multiple locations on multiple projects at any given time.
One of my PM’s uses a white board and a grid to try and keep track. Another has a spreadsheet system, which is quite effective. It’s all a bit messy.
I’d like something that will be able to allocate tasks against a resource in a different way to say MSProject. It would be good if I could get some curves and profiles out of it as well as maybe including manhours/costs. Something more elegant than maintaining a list in a spreadsheet and manipulating data.
If I find something good I may roll it out company wide and utilise it as part of the Project Controls portfolio.
Any ideas would be gratefully received.
Thanks
Andy
13 replies
Oldest first- 0Vladimir Liberzon ·Andy,
specify your needs. There are many software packages that include resource management, like Primavera, Open Plan, Spider Project, etc. If you will specify your needs then potential options can be discussed. If you used MS Project and are not satisfied with its features then you can explain your expectations. All PM packages include resource management but their capabilities are different.
Regards,
Vladimir - 0Andy McLean-Reid ·Thanks for your replies gents.
I am not talking about a scheduling tool but purely a resource management one. I don’t have any problems with my schedule, nor the resource loading in that.
I think I was more interested in something like:
http://www.innate.co.uk/document.html
One of the problems is that my organisation is moving towards a matrix management set up. Single project based work is yielding to a more functional based strusture, meaning that many people are working across many projects.
In order to track that, I could use spread sheets, but I was curious to see if there was anything more elegant that others had implemented.
I think the main difference to a gantt chart would be allocating staff to projects rather than allocating activities to staff. The outputs would need to be based around the resource and show over allocation or prospective bottle-necks.
These projects cut across various industries (Oil & Gas, Rail, Telecomms) and are often field based the world over. I would need to be able to allocate staff based upon skill set as well as availability and location. It’s no use assigning a resource on a Wednesday to someone who is in Qatar on Monday and Thursday and I need him in London.
I realise that through coding and resources I could replicate alot of the required outputs in P3. It is simply that it is too cumbersome and limits interaction with the other team members. What I like about the link here is that it is web based and can interact with MSP. Team members are involved in populating and progressing it. Team Managers can own responsibility for it’s outputs - from tables to histograms.
Sorry if I wasn’t clear in my original post, I subequently found the site above, has anybody used anything like this Innate before? - 0Susanna Kate ·
Hey Andy,I meant resources
Hey Andy,
I meant resources from Manjeet Singh message. Seemed like it used to be a good list of open-source/free project management tools.
I was looking for a free project mangement tool. MSProject is too much of a learning curve for me.
You mentioned that your PM used a spreadsheet system - any chance you still have that one? I actually think I don't need any software, and spreadhseet would be good enough for my needs.
- 0Susanna Kate ·
Vladimir Liberzon have you
Vladimir Liberzon have you visited any of the resources from the list? They do not work because they do not exist :)))) Most of the websites are down / something else / parked domains.
I have decided to go with a simple Gantt chart for now. Need to start somewhere!
If anyone can share Gantt charts they are using I would really appreciate some real-life examples!
- 0Susanna Kate ·
Vladimir Liberzon have you
Vladimir Liberzon have you visited any of the resources from the list? They do not work because they do not exist :)))) Most of the websites are down / something else / parked domains.
I have decided to go with a simple Gantt chart for now. Need to start somewhere!
If anyone can share Gantt charts they are using I would really appreciate some real-life examples!
Edit: downloaded free gant chart from this website, all good now, thank you all.
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