office / project management software - suggestions?

[derek murray]

I have a small consulting firm with offices in three different cities and about 30 employees, total.

I am trying to find a good software program to help manage our staff time, tasks, deliverables, project schedules, scope creep, etc. It would be nice if the program could integrate with our accounting software - Quickbooks Pro.

We are entertaining the idea of a web based format so we can better manage all three offices from one location, but are not committed yet.

As designer types, we are horrible at managing our own or staff time... it is chaos, frankly.... and our efficiency and profitability are being compromised... any suggestions?

[mudman]

Ha- let me know if you find something, I've been looking for quite some time and have found nothing that will do what I really want.
-Jeremy

[RickM]

The two highest profile PM programs are MS Project and Workbench. Many find the latter to be much easier to use....as in intuitive.

[nostatic]

I have found with the full-blown project software you will waste your time learning/using them instead of just wasting it being disorganized.

I would consider one of the many web-based collaboration tools (socialtext.com for instance, but they are expensive) and centralize your planning that way. Or be cheap and just run a weblog, with each project getting its own category. I've found that communication and tracking notes is the most important aspect of project management, and a weblog helps get at this. Then toss in a wiki for group editing of documents and you're good to go.

Maybe look at tikiwki or other blog/wiki combo? Do you guys run your own servers and have an IT/geek type?

[mudman]

I'm the geek, but only by default. No server, just non-networked PCs, but we're working on that.
-Jeremy

[derek murray]

Thanks Rick,

We do use Microsoft Project to track design and construction timelines and it is a good program for that.

What I am looking for is something a little more comprehensive from an office management perspective... something that can integrate proposals, schedules, time / resource allowances per task, staff time sheets, and some way for the project manager to quickly assess any problems with a project (profitability, scope creep, human resource issues, etc...). It should also allow me to invoice my clients (discount fees, etc), which would then be sent to our accounting software for our administration person to take care of... maybe i'm wishing for too much.

Thanks again.

[derek murray]

Originally posted by nostatic
Do you guys run your own servers and have an IT/geek type?

nostatic... we are pretty unsophisticated from an IT perspective (no server)... the 'geek' is either me, or if its christmas break time, my partners nephew (but not before noon or after happy hour)...

... having said that we are prepared to invest in this it it moves us forward, but we want to make sure we know exactly what to ask for and understand what we will be getting.

we started out as a 3 person company (10 years ago) and had the time (or energy) to stay on top of this stuff, however, we have grown and are now at a point where we need to focus on what we do best and leave the other to someone else.

i will check out your suggestions, thanks.

[RickM]

Derek,

I work for a (very) large corp and we use a product called NIKU.
I believe it does all you mention. MS Project works with it but not as well as Workbench which is well integrated into the product.
There may be a lite version you can utilize. http://www.niku.com