[Danimal16]

Microsoft project works ok as a level 1 or 2 tool and is very useful in communicating with upper management. The only thing that it is cumbersome with is resource leveling and therefore the critical path calcs are more seat of the pants.

I concur with the other posters that non-project managers really do not understand the use of proper resource leveled critical path schedules. As a matter of fact many times these types of schedules will put non-technical managers on report for missing critical deadlines. Also the management and the legal department who generally have very little understanding about linked tasks come to hate a proper schedule as it shows a commitment by both the owner and the contractor. Early start, late start and float are alien to these managers. Ask me how I know.

The last tool that I used did require a dedicated staff but is a magnificent program that does it all was the stuff by Primavera. Great stuff but oft times can be over complex. MS project, powerpoint and Excell, more than likely can be used to get the job done.