Project management (PM) software help people manage projects more efficiently. Under a few circumstances project managers may need project management systems.
Free Project Management Tools for Collaboration and Scheduling
When a project manager needs software to improve the collaboration or scheduling performance of a small project, he may choose simple solutions rather than PM systems. For example, he could choose software with simple collaborative or scheduling features, like Microsoft Outlook, Sharepoint, or Visio to solve the problems.
But when he faces a bigger project, the collaboration or scheduling works may be beyond the reach of the software. Under this circumstance, chances are project management software can help and free or open source PM software may be good choice.
The free PM software with collaborative features include the web-based Codendi Software Project Management, Collabtive, eGroupWare, InDefero, KForge, Launchpad, OpenGoo, Project.net, ProjectPier, Redmine, SharpForge (Defunct), TaskJuggler, and Trac.
The free PM software with scheduling features include Open Workbench, OpenProj, Project.net, and Redmine.
Free PM Applications for Issue Tracking and Resources Management
Likewise, when someone needs to track tasks and resources of a small business or home project, he may try applications such as Access, SQL, MySQL, or other databases to solve the problems first. But when he finds it difficult to track the tasks and manage the resources of a larger project, he may have to turn to project management software.
The free or open source project management software with issue tracking function include Codendi, dotProject, eGroupWare, InDefero, KForge, Launchpad, Project.net, Redmine, SharpForge (Defunct), and Trac. The free or open source project management software with resources management function include eGroupWare, GanttProject, KPlato, Open Workbench, OpenProj, Project.net, Redmine, and TaskJuggler.
Free Project Portfolio Management Software
Sometimes a manager facing a lot of projects at the same time may need Project Portfolio Management (PPM) Software. PPM software could help him set up the best portfolio of all his projects. He can sort, add, or remove the projects based on the benefits and alignment with his company’s strategies through the software. With PPM software, he could get the best overall outcome under the limited resources.
The free marketing project management software with project portfolio management function include Launchpad, OpenGoo, Project.net, and Redmine.
Basic Tips for PM Software Beginners
- Sometimes the best solution may not be project management program and the simplest the best. When Access is enough, it is the best.
- Open source doesn’t always mean free. A significant improvement of open source software sometimes may be more costly than buying proprietary software.
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Chen Nanyang - Chen Nanyang's journalist career began in 2002 when he started writing for China's Nanfang City News, Singapore's United Morning Post and ...
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