Microsoft Project is primarily a desktop program that lets users manage and create projects. Could you find out more about our analysis?
With many businesses being
run by employees from their homes, it's more crucial than ever to ensure that
all of your business's operations are running on the same system. This is where
Microsoft Project can come into use since it allows you to manage your entire
company's projects on the same screen.
When used in conjunction with Microsoft Teams, these software platforms can enable business owners to view the full dimensions of their company's performance. Many popular choices for software to manage projects are web-based apps accessible via browsers. However, Microsoft has a desktop version of Microsoft Project, which is perfect for those who prefer a traditional working method. Project is a web-based application, just like the other ones, but its primary goal (as with other Microprokey software) is the Office application that runs on a desktop. If, until now, you've organized your tasks using an Excel spreadsheet and you're not happy with it, Project could be simpler to switch to something entirely web-based like Asana ($10.99 for a month) and Trello ($10 monthly). The cheapest Project level starts at just $10 per user per month—placing Project within the same price range as the other options.
Microsoft Project alternatives
Although Microsoft Project
has its benefits, however, there are several other alternatives that we believe
in having an advantage. For one, Microprokey.com is an
affordable, extremely customizable platform with amazing automation features.
Another program called
Wrike comes with an all-free tier that lets you explore the application without
stress. It comes with a huge array of features. It also works seamlessly with
Slack along with Google Hangouts. Please look at some of Microsoft
Project's major rivals below, or check out our list of the most
effective software for managing projects.
Microsoft
Project Features
When opening the first
Microsoft Project document, the first thing you'll see is that it shares many
of its "DNA" with other Microsoft Office products. The well-known Office Ribbon is at the top of the screen, with menu options specifically designed
for managing projects like a task, resource,
and report? At the bottom of the screen, you'll find an entry grid similar
to Excel. However, that's where the similarities end since Project is about
managing your team's efforts by using Gantt charts and milestones, allocation
of resources, and a variety of choices for reporting.
Auto-scheduling
One of the most useful
features of Project is the auto-scheduling function. The Project requires that
you define the projects you want to work on in a particular manner, starting
with brief tasks and sub-tasks and milestones. After
you've defined the details of your Project and specified the timeframes for
your projects, auto-scheduling can set the calendar for your projects
automatically. You can input any dates you want manually. However,
auto-scheduling provides an easier way to manage the timeline view of Project
and Gantt charts.
View of the Board
Microsoft Project has a
Kanban card and a board view accessible via Task and View. Task Board. It comes
with four predefined columns: not started, Next up, In Progress and Done. It is
also possible to add additional columns that fit your business's workflow,
change the names of the columns that are already in use or remove them
altogether. Like the other Kanban boards, this one, too, is an interface for
drag-and-drop. It is also possible to create tasks directly from the interface
and include important information like notes and resources.
Notes and attachments to files for tasks
As with other tools for
managing projects, it is possible to include notepads and files that you attach
to projects within Project. But, in a typical Microsoft manner, it uses confusingly
obscure terms. Double-clicking on the cell with information for any task opens
an extremely tiny task information window with six tabs. In its Note stab tab, users can write down text notes
in small, rich fonts regarding the task. There's an Insert object
option, and this allows
you to attach an image file, Word Document, Excel spreadsheet or PDF document,
image file, etc. It would be simpler to comprehend the option if it was known
as "Attach," but like many other Microsoft products, Project has its
legacies to keep in mind.
Sub-projects
Do not worry about
sub-tasks. Microsoft Project lets you embed projects into projects. This is an
excellent option for anyone looking for the creation of a master document to
keep track of multiple projects. Once you've connected the sub-project to the
master project, it is possible to modify the first in the second. Additionally,
the changes you make in the sub-projects file are reflected within the master
one. This feature is useful for obtaining a comprehensive overview of the
projects you've created.
Microsoft Project Pricing
Microsoft Project is not
available in a free version. This is not surprising because very limited Office
programs are (save those that are the well-known ones). As mentioned before,
pricing starts at just $10 per user per month in Project Plan 1. This pricing
level supports collaboration among team members, coauthoring multi-project
management views and the web-based app and cloud-based saves.
The next level will be
Project Plan 3 for $30 per month per user. This pricing level includes mapping,
a desktop application with the ability to upload timesheets, optimize resource
allocation, and portfolio reports.
Then, Project Plan 5 costs
$55 per month per user. The plan also includes Portfolio selection and
optimization as well as the capability to manage the demand, as well as
resources planning and management capabilities.
Each pricing plan is invoiced each year.
Microsoft also offers
Project in the form of an on-premise application beginning at $620 per computer
for Project Standard and does not include the ability to collaborate online.
Project Professional starts at $1,030 per computer and can support online
collaboration and collaboration via Skype for Business. Additionally, Project
Server doesn't have a predetermined cost and includes advanced analytics and
the standard assessment and capture process featured in Project Online Premium.
Microsoft Project Review Verdict
It's not a secret. There's
no doubt that Microsoft Project is a very competent application with all the
features necessary to manage projects. But, it isn't the right selection for
smaller, agile teams. The first
thing to note is that it's quite stable in its design and feels like an Office
product. It's incredibly feature-rich to become overpowering, yet it conceals
all that energy behind the typical Office appearance. Simply put, you'll find
much more user-friendly and comfortable interfaces to manage projects that are
smaller or smaller teams.
Second, Project doesn't have lower-priced tiers. This makes
the tool unattainable for many. To the extent that it is fair, it should be
compared with the higher tiers of other project management tools that hide
important features behind more expensive products. If your company is
heavily committed to Microsoft Office, Project is an obvious extension of this
investment. However, if you're not in the market for Office or Office, then
Project isn't the best option for you, regardless of how feature-rich it is.
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