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October 29, 2008
Searching for project management tool
Every startup has too much work and not enough resources. Most startups fail due to poor execution versus market. I have used alot of different tools over the years and have never found one that I totally love. Starting a new company gives me an excuse to check out the latest offerings. Here are a couple early impressions of a few.
What I am looking for
- a tool for me (CEO) to manage company goals and tasks at a high level across departments
- something light weight but still useful
- Hopefully some kind of mobile strategy since 1/2 my time thinking about to-do/goals I only have my mobile device.
- Integration with email /calendar (outlook) that works.
Initial thoughts: Liquid Planner
met the CEO at barbecue this weekend. Billed as "where basecamp leaves off and replacement for MS Project". I was intrigued as I found basecamp way too lightweight and toyish and MS project WAY too gandt chart old schoolish. The key to this online system is their intelligent scheduling engine. You can tell right away that is designed to manage big projects with lots of resources and lots of management time to manage schedules. It is really a software or web site development project management tool. I tried setting up general business goals but a couple of things were lacking.
1. no goal/task relationship. just tasks and how those tasks relate to a project folder.
2. No good import feature (my current task list in MS Tasks).
3. my (one employee) is not very technical and the interface was too developerish, she couldn't easilly figure it out.
4. The tool wants you to associate lots of docs and links in their tool with a task. I tend to want separate the company document store from the task manager. Going back to find stuff later is easier that way.
Initial reaction: Too development focused, not general business management tool. Pass.
PlanHQ.com. billed as a start-up goal/task manager it delivers just that. No fancy doc storage or sophisticated scheduling, but some neat board report stuff and basic goal/task management. What i like
1. goal/task relationship
2. good email integration and calendar (although iCal not outlook)
3. simple set up.
4. cross department task managment.
What it still needs
1. ability to make more departments (they only offer three)
2. full screen goal list (only support drop down, no clear priority)
3. better outlook integration
4. more printing or output options for goals/tasks by person, etc.
5. more area for notes.
Initial impression: This is a good basic C level goal/task manager. Works fine for now. I have set up all our company goals and tasks in it. Will try it for a month and report back.
Posted by Martin at October 29, 2008 3:52 PM
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Comments
Hey Martin,
Have you looked at CentralDesktop.com
We use it happily and it has open source customization options and at least most of the features you asked for, I think.
Also, FYI, Martin, my last email newsletter bounced. If you want to receive, please resubscribe at http://www.combridges.com
best,
Jon Leland
Posted by: Jon Leland 
at November 11, 2008 3:26 PM
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