Why Upgrade to Microsoft Project 2007?

by George Borhegyi

Ease of Use & Productivity

Microsoft Project Server 2007 is the first major release of Microsoft Project Server in several years.  Project Solutions Group was chosen as a Beta partner for P2007 and we are happy to announce that there are significant improvements in the applications features and performance. 

The newest version of Project Server interface is extremely user friendly and intuitive.  Layouts are easier to read and functions are easy to find and execute.  Users will find that in the 2007 version, Project Server’s functionality allows them be more productive while using more advanced capabilities within the application. 

Some of the new features:

• Multi-level undo
• Change highlighting as task fields are updated
• 10 times better performance (especially over networks)
• Basic workflow and core proposal to project creation capabilities
• Timesheet improvements:
  • functioning independent projects
  • better admin time reporting
  • deleted tasks can now be permanently removed
  • better audit logging
  • update preview on server before changes are finalized

Business Intelligence and Reporting

Project Server 2007 allows for more custom configuration allowing your business to better meet their reporting and business intelligence needs.  Reports are more detailed and are easier to develop; providing more detailed data to help you manage your business.  In addition, because 2007 has improved programmability on the back-end, it allows for better integration with other line of business systems.

Some of the new features:

• New reporting database
• Analysis report access directly from the user’s desktop client
• Real-time continuous data publishing
• Unlimited customizable fields and outline codes, with all data type features for all fields, including multi-value
• KPIs (available with SQL 2005 update)

Operational Cost Savings

With all of improvements inherent in Project Server 2007, your company can see a generous cost savings in their day to day business.  How?

• Performance improvements of approximately 10x can reduce the need for Citrix or Remote Desktop connections for WAN-based deployments
• Server-based calculations also reduce traffic, bandwidth, and network costs between the server and desktop users and it improves performance for the end-user..  Additionally, overall administration and maintenance costs are greatly reduced.
• Scalability to any size enterprise is integrated and consistent with the largest SharePoint server farms, reducing management costs and allowing for better centralized management and efficient use of infrastructures.
• Improved error messages and reporting for debugging and maintenance help reduce technical maintenance costs and increase the effectiveness of the support team.
• Administrative functions are more clearly organized, grouped, and more powerful, improving the productivity and responsiveness of application administrators and reducing training and maintenance costs.

So the real question isn’t “Why Upgrade to Microsoft Project Server 2007?”, but “Why NOT Upgrade?”

PSG is currently running a webcast series on Microsoft Project 2007 including a live demonstration of the software.  To find out dates and times, please visit our website at www.psgus.com/events.

Comments

[Ron Ploeg]

The time reporting functionality has gotten much worse. It is no longer possible for a resource to report actual time, time remaining, and time on non-porject tasks (admin) on a single page. And timesheets have to manually created - twice once by admin and once by resource. And subsequent tasks assignments in the project plan don't automatically flow to the timesheets. What a nightmare!

[Leah]

Projjex.com is a great new site that does a fabulous job of project management. It’s completely browser-based, really easy to use, and has a free version. Cool videos too - I love it!

[pfoliomanagement]

Portfolio managers have a great deal of responsibility within an organization; not only do they have to be mindful of individuals responsible for managing portfolio components, but they also have to be mindful of executive management, which sets the strategy.