"Achievo is a flexible web-based resource management tool for business environments," it reads on the website of Achievo. It is available as open source, that means for free. Just to see if it is something for all you project managers out there I talked to Ivo Jansch of Achievo about the seven goals.

How does Achievo help reaching "the 7 goals"?

1. Improve project reporting and tracking

Achievo offers several ways of planning a project (planning per project, planning per phase of a project, planning per employee). It has a time tracking module for keeping track of time spent on each project. Several reports and statistics are available to compare planning with actual realization.

2. Improve estimating and scheduling

Reports and statistics can be created on any project managed with Achievo. This gives project managers the possibility to compare new projects with similar projects, to see how the planning went there, and how much time was spent on which particular activities. Time spent in meetings for example is often underestimated; Achievo offers statistics that tell you how much time on average your people spend on meetings, design, implementation etc.

3. Reduce cost or speed process up by automating workflows

Achievo offers several ways of work, which can be configured by management. People can register time, and once finished they can lock the week, after which administration can handle billing of the hours. Or, if so configured, management can take care of the locking, by giving people a deadline (if you haven't registered your time in two days, the week is locked, and you won't get paid the extra hours). Employees are notified with email reminders if they are behind in their time registration.

4. Improve resource assignments

The resource planning tool add-on module allows project managers to plan employees down to the week level. By comparing hourly rates of people with the project estimates and project quotations, the manager immediately sees the effect of exchanging 2 employees. (for example, if employee A is half as expensive but needs three times as many hours to complete the job, the manager will see the end result on the costs change as soon as he swaps employee A with B). By also comparing estimated times with actual times, the manager also sees what effect this has on the project deadline.

5. Improve project communication

Achievo does not venture into 'webmail', as this is an area of expertise well worked out by other software. On the other hand, Achievo offers the possibility to place notes in projects to keep all project information together.

6. Improve project team collaboration

Achievo offers a centralized agenda, with the possibility to view the schedules of colleagues (as far as they allow it). There is a todo module for keeping track of todo's, with the possibility to reassign todo's to different people.

7. Improve overall project process

When using Achievo, all of the above 6 points ensure a unified way of work, and the information gathered through planning and tracking, will soon prove valuable in improving project management.

For more information visit their website.

If you are thinking about using software to support your project management efforts, make sure you know exactly which goals you are pursuing. I'll give you seven to choose from to keep in mind when looking at software.

1. Improve project reporting and tracking

You "do" projects, fast moving and shooting from da hip; you get the job done. The planning is inside your head, you simply know your halfway, and once in a while you send some vague spreadsheet to the financial guy. Your boss may want to use project management software to get a grip on you and your project, not just by "believing" in you but to get stone cold facts, to act when you're slipping.

2. Improve estimating and scheduling

To avoid history repeating itself over and over again, you may want to use software to retrieve historical data about your projects to improve your estimates and with that your schedules. Less emberassement (being on time for a change) and more effective resource utilization.

3. Reduce cost or speed process up by automating workflows

Time is reported in different spreadsheets all over the company. First secretary collects them all. Second secretary maps them towards the spreadsheets with the schedules. Third secretary creates a summary management graph using another software package… Hmmm, must be a simpler, cheaper and faster, way.

4. Improve resource assignments

All those people running around. Who's doing what? When are they available and can they do the job, do they have the skills? Making more effective use of your resources… sounds to good to be true. Can software do that?

5. Improve project communication

Having all the administration in a cigar box makes it easy to throw it away after the project is finished. Makes it problematic though for those who take over when you're ill or an a holiday. Yelling to the project team to get your message across works quite well when you're in the same room. Now try screaming across the Atlantic! There are of course more and more subtle issues around communication in your project that could get improved by using software.

6. Improve project team collaboration

It's great, just working from home in your bath robe, check in the "office" over the internet. Do some project work, do some sleeping. Wonder if bosses around the world are thinking if this "virtual office" thing is such a great idea.

7. Improve overall project process

Wouldn't it be great if a process was enforced, or better, encouraged in such a way, everybody has to? Just a great way to say "this is the workflow to be used". Sorry, have to use phrases like "continuous process improvement", "best practices", "quality models"… or just plain "my way". Isn't software great!

Relevant links

Project Management Software
Manage any project with ease, communicating all necessary details to your staff via the web, with this unique web based project management software.
http://www.projectinsight.net

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