Project Management System Evaluation Checklist

“An elegant solution to the wrong problem solves nothing.”
- Bryce’s Law

INTRODUCTION

Commercial Project Management systems (PM) have been available since the early 1970′s. As PC’s proliferated in the workplace, so did PM software, which also brought an ease-of-use element to project management. A multitude of PM products are now available on the market, some expensive, and some very reasonably priced. However, to say all PM packages were created equally would be a gross exaggeration. Each has a specific niche they address in project management or target a specific industry.

As I described in my article, “Why Does Project Management Fail?”, one of the main reasons for failure is because there is a lack of consideration for the magnitude and complexities of project management and, consequently, there is a natural inclination to attack it in piece meal. As a result of the bulletin, I have been asked as to what criteria I would use to evaluate a PM package. Consequently, I have developed the following checklist for evaluating a PM package it its pristine form. I hope it will be of benefit to you.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS:

The Project Management system should…

PLANNING SUPPORT:

The Project Management system should…

ESTIMATING SUPPORT:

The Project Management system should…

SCHEDULING SUPPORT:

The Project Management system should…

REPORTING SUPPORT:

The Project Management system should…

CONTROL SUPPORT:

The Project Management system should…

COMPUTER-RELATED CONSIDERATIONS:

The Project Management system should…

I have described a pretty encompassing system with robust features. As such, a Cost/Benefit Analysis should be prepared to compare price versus the system’s value to the company.

This evaluation checklist should be used as a template and modified accordingly to suit in-house requirements. Good luck.

For additional information on “PRIDE” Project Management, see:http://www.phmainstreet.com/mba/pride/pm.htm