Latest News from Lucian Loan

Project Management – The Light on the Critical Path

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 15:26:29 EDT

The mysterious critical path notion seems to put project managers in difficulty and especially the novice ones. However if anyone would take just a few minutes from his precious time to pay a closer attention to it things would be a lot more clear. In order to clear things up we need to have a background knowledge. On short it all started with the Critical Path Method (CPM) an algorithm for scheduling activities within a project. This method is best used within the project scheduling phase and basically it requires to construct a model of the project.

Working with Subprojects in RationalPlan Project Management Software

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 14:12:08 EDT

RationalPlan version 3.26 was just launched with support for working with subprojects. Besides this feature, useful for big projects, other changes were added like improved printing customization, other types of task scheduling and much more. RationalPlan is a project management software created to serve many types of users starting from novice project managers, users that need an environment to handle multiple projects and up to companies that need a server solution with concurrent access. It has been developed to help project managers keep their projects on time and within budget.

Time Management in Project Management

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 13:12:13 EST

Time management is the act of planning, controlling and finally executing specific activities, especially to increase efficiency or productivity. It applies to a wide usage area starting from personal time organization and up to business related time management. For the best results and the biggest efficiency dedicated time management software should be used. A time management system is a combination of processes, tools, techniques, and methods. There are many books and case studies focusing on these notions.

RationalPlan Project Management Software Now Available in Spanish

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 16:13:17 EST

RationalPlan version 3.25 was just released. The most important thing to be mentioned in the new version is the availability in Spanish language. Other features include the addition of a new resource type - cost resource, the possibility to sort clients and resources, better notification mechanisms, improved printing and much more. RationalPlan is a project management software designed around the principle "easy to use" and can serve many types of users starting from novices, those that need an alternative to Microsoft Project, users that need an environment to handle multiple projects and up to companies that need a server solution with concurrent access for multiple users. It has been developed to help project managers keep their projects on time and within budget.

Make Sure Your Projects Are on Track

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 15:19:50 EST

A good plan is just the first step to the success of a project. The real work starts only after the project plan is ready. As a project manager you have to track the project’s evolution and make sure it follows the initial plan as much as possible. And the easiest way to accomplish this is through the use of project tracking software. It is a well know fact that the initial plan does not always fit your expectations. The unpredictable happens. To increase the chances for project success, once your project is started the project manager needs to constantly monitor its progress keeping up with what everyone is doing. There are several factors that need to be kept under control: activities, resources and work, budgets and costs, progress.

Project Management Solutions to Better Control Your Business

Fri, 14 Oct 2011 15:04:56 EDT

Any business needs some management solutions to get organized and stay on the floating line. Unfortunately, many organizations are forced to rely on paper trails and email-chains. These outdated methods were replaced by newer project management solutions. There are different types of such solutions for a wide range of working domains and for many kinds of needs. The access to accurate, real-time data regarding projects and resources is crucial to making strategic business decisions. Companies must keep up with the changes that impact the day-to-day running of their business. Managers are expected to deliver more than ever – but with fewer resources, within a shorter period of time and to produce maximum returns for the business. Many times all this work gets externalized to other specialized entities. This covers either the use of project management tools or even more the delegation of entire work to management and consulting companies. In all cases appropriate methodologies and processes are necessary to be applied.

Managing Resources in Project Management

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 08:45:00 EDT

The general features of a project management software include scheduling, costing, budgeting, controlling, management and communication. However an important function is resource management. This covers all types of resources including human, equipment, materials and costs. Nowadays businesses can work efficiently only by managing resources. With materials and costs things are pretty easy: you buy a stock and it is yours. Human resource management is not the same. You can not just own a human resource, but need to retain one. With the help of a resource management software, project managers can make sure that the right human resources are working on the right tasks and following a real-time project timeline. This is achieved based on several factors like employee’s skills, experience, and availability.

Who Needs Task Management Software and When

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 05:00:00 EDT

Many people find themselves at a certain point in their life looking for a task management software to help them refocus and keep their finger tips on what is important. Task management products organize, schedule and ensure that tasks get done on time. By being better organized and more focused on what you have to do, you save time and reduce stress.

Things to Check When Choosing Work Management Software

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 15:44:08 EDT

There are certain things that a project management software must have in order to be sure you pick the best one available and to maximize your return of investment. One of the key features that a project management software should have is the possibility to track the progress, for both the project manager supervisors and workers that participate in the project execution. This is related to creating tasks that can be easily and clearly quantified or on short to create deliverables – tasks that have measurable parameters. Analyzing the workload is a very important feature that a work management software must have. Managers must be sure that an optimal work force is assigned to various parts of a project and that no overallocation occurs. Assigning more work force than it is necessary to tasks would be a waste of resources. A good project management tool must have the workload analysis process in inter-dependency with the list of analysis features.

Project Management Tools for Project Managers

Thu, 29 Sep 2011 14:18:48 EDT

A well-done project management is one of the keys to a project's success. I'm pretty sure every one of us manages projects using some kind of tools. But the right project management tool does not replace the knowledge and experience of a project manager. It only helps him in the process of managing a project. Why do certain projects succeed while others fail? Clearly, it is not about luck although that might also help, it is not about the tools that are being used to manage the projects and certainly it is not only a matter of budget and dedication. The most important factor is the project manager, its experience, training and skills but research shows that projects which are designed and planned with care have a much higher success rate. So through effective project planning software there are better chances to reach projects success.

When and Why Do You Need Project Planning Software

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 15:33:16 EDT

Project planning is a process used to establish how to complete a project within a certain time period, under a certain budget and with a set of resources. A project planning software will help to create these project plans and will enable users to take the best decisions regarding them. Creating a project plan is the first thing a manager should do when taking any kind of project. Often project managers (especially those without too much experience) ignore a project plan in favor of going on with the work. They fail to realize the real value of a project plan in saving time, money, resources etc. It is a known fact that a good project plan can make the difference between the success or failure of a project. A project planning software will help to create these project plans and will enable users to take the best strategic decisions regarding them and to reduce much of the uncertainty surrounding the execution of the project.

Advantages and Benefits of Project Management Software

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 15:55:38 EDT

Some time ago project management was represented by three things: a pencil, a piece of paper and a methodology. But the time flies and the technology evolves... so why stop here? Why not use the technology? Software industry has evolved so much and can do wonders. With the introduction of project management software a few years back, the tools a project manager has at its disposal has been greatly increased. There are many different versions and variations to what is available on the market, having many cost ranges including programs for small businesses and all the way up to programs capable of keeping a corporation in business. Managing a business is no easy task, however, and keeping track of everything is often the hardest part of owning a business. These software solutions can make it easier for businesses to communicate with employees, clients, share files and track the status of projects and assignments.

What Is Project Portfolio Management Software?

Mon, 26 Sep 2011 13:19:51 EDT

PPM, short for Project Portfolio Management, is a term used by project managers and project management organizations (or PMOs), to describe methods that enables corporate and business users to organize a set of projects into a single portfolio. Project portfolio management software refers to a software product that allows management within a company, to easily organize and prioritize the projects. But project portfolio management is about more than managing multiple projects. Each portfolio of projects must be treated as a whole and needs to be evaluated by its business value and adherence to strategy. As each project must reach its goal and produce its final deliverable in the same way a portfolio should be designed to achieve a specific business objective or benefit. Bob Buttrick summarized it like this: “Directing the individual project correctly will ensure it is done right. Directing ‘all the projects’ successfully will ensure we are doing the right projects.”

Upgrade from Spreadsheets to Project Management Software

Fri, 23 Sep 2011 14:17:21 EDT

Spreadsheets are an excellent way to manage information on workplace tasks but if you would like to see the impact of one assignment over another then perhaps you should start using a project management software. This kind of software has been created to assist users in the organization of projects by analyzing the added information regarding the time and resources allocated to the tasks. A number of people all across the world rely on project management solutions to help assure the completion of certain projects. The best way to describe project management software is to say that it is a computer program which serves to smoothly run the process of a project from the beginning to the end. Over the course of this time, this kind of software can help to eliminate many of the mundane steps that are usually required.

Project Management Is Not Business Management

Fri, 23 Sep 2011 06:00:00 EDT

One of the most prominent characteristic of a project as a concept is its sharp delimitation in time. It has clear start and end dates and is designed to achieve a unique scope, unlike the ongoing operations specific for business management. Sometimes, the end date of a project is the most important characteristic of the project. It is the starting point when designing the project deployment, any other characteristic being subordinated to this. In fact using a project management software allows a project manager to add a higher level of transparency regarding the interaction between various factors that interact when developing a project. Keeping some of this variables constant (like the end date of a project), allows to the project managers to determine and control the others (like cost or scope of the project).

How to Choose the Right Project Management Software

Thu, 22 Sep 2011 13:46:27 EDT

A project management software is a simple tool that helps managers and team members successfully plan and execute projects under time and budget constraints. The most important part in the success of a project is the project managers experience and knowledge in the project management area. Project management tools are just an extension that help the manager. A project management application is a simple tool that helps managers and team members successfully plan, manage and execute the various tasks involved in each project under time and budget constraints. The most important part in the success of a project is the project managers experience and knowledge in the project management area. The project management tools are just an extension that help the manager.

RationalPlan Project Management Software Version 3.24 Released

Mon, 19 Sep 2011 11:17:32 EDT

RationalPlan version 3.24 was just released. Many new features were added like the possibility to work with custom filters, to attach documents or to use rich text editors on tasks. More reports are available now in multiple languages and as a bonus a preview capability is also present. Another thing that deserves to be mentioned is the compatibility with the latest Java version 1.7.

Tips And Common Practices For Project Managers

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 EST

Nowadays almost any manager uses some kind of project planning software and the reason for this is simple: software can help and ease a lot the work of any person.

Project Scheduling – The Central Piece Of A Project Management Software

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 EST

Without the possibility to easily schedule all the tasks of a project there would be little expectation regarding the efficiency of controlling complex projects.