New Project Server implementation

[wigitwatchit]

Can I get feedback on how practical is it to deploy (not install which is
handled by an outside IT professional) out of the box for basic Project
Management?

We are considering moving from MS Project to MS Project Server in a newly
formed project based service company. However our inhouse expertise with MS
Project Server is nill. We do not have an inhouse IT department either. Can
the typically skilled office worker pick up on MS Project to get us going,
including pre-defined templates that come with the application? And, once
installed and working properly, is there much to maintenance? Is someone
going to have to set there on communities, and blogs, as a regular way of
life in using MS Project? Seriously now.

At the moment, we do not wish to pick up a consultant for this project, in
case anyone is wondering...

Thank anybody for any good feedback on this!

 

[Sean Hanson]

Great question, I think almost all of us consultants would say it depends.
Are you going to try to stretch the use of the product to the outer limits
with lots of reporting and validation and importing of data from external
systems or use it very basically out of the box.

2007 Server is not an application but a platform of products working in
collaboration and coordination with each other.

So this depends on your needs, what do you want out of the product, this
depends on how much you need to put into the product and the care and feeding
as you mention.

Basics of Pro and scheduling and PWA and reporting updates against My Tasks
is relatively easy and there are great reference books and sites to help
like: http://www.projectserverexperts.com/default.aspx
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/project/FX100487771033.aspx
http://project.mvps.org/


--
Sean Hanson

http://www.randsmanagement.com
Mass Resource Tool for 2007
Project Server 2007 Archive Tool
2007 ULS Log Reporting

 

[wigitwatchit]

Thank you for your reply Sean,
Your comment that Project Server is a platform, not an application, is well
taken. This is exactly a concern I have. Many MS things are just that, and
therefore wanting on the user end of things out of the box.

We (actually the client I am considering proposing this to) would use it
simply at 1st: To create new projects, centralize/store project documents
(word, powerpoint, ect), maintain client information (including contact
information), and to keep a calender deliverables (whether internal or
external deliveries in what are multi-phase projects). Pretty basic stuff
really. The idea is 1st to standardize the application being used in the
office for project management/administration, and centralize it and documents
prepared as part of the project. The web based interface will come in handy
as well.

SO, I am figuring there are predefined project templates to help us get
going without any tweaking, and with a little bit of reading in the
documentation and working it, we should be able to get the hang of it. Use of
the other features including timekeeping for example would come later when
we're ready to pay a developer to Interface to our Time/Billing
application... Just as an example.

I've read the basics on features in the Server from the home page web site,
but really it leaves alot more questions than answers. I'll have to dig
deeper and this community is one place I am reaching out to. Thanks for the
resource links, btw. I will check them out, but I don't have alot of time to
decide whether or not I should push for this right now, as a grassroots
project and investment, or not. About a week. haha

Greg

 

[Dale Howard [MVP]]

wigiwatchit --

Unless you have some type of thorough background information on Project
Server 2007, your implementation is doomed to struggle...or to fail
entirely. I had to be a prophet of doom, but just because the word "Office"
appears in the application's name (Microsoft OFFICE Project 2007 and
Microsoft OFFICE Project Server 2007) does not mean the tool has anything in
common with applications like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Project Server
2007 is a complex application that is not simple to set up and is not very
intuitive to use. Project Server 2007 requires a thorough knowledge of how
to set it up to conform with your organization's project management process,
and how to manage enterprise projects effectively. Beyond this, your
project managers also need a thorough grounding in how to create meaningful
projects in Microsoft Project 2007.

I can understand why you wouldn't want to spend any money on hiring a
consultant, but I would encourage you to rethink this assumption. A
reputable consultant can save you lots of time, money, and frustration in
getting your system set up correctly and in training you to use it properly.
If that simply is not a possibility, I would encourage you to get one or
more copies of the following books from our company:

Implementing and Administering Microsoft Office Project Server 2007
Managing Enterprise Projects using Microsoft Office Project Server 2007
Ultimate Learning Guide to Microsoft Office Project 2007

The first book addresses everything your Project Server administrator needs
to know about how to configure and administer the Project Server 2007
system. The last two books are the reference/training guides that your
project managers will need to know to do their job well. These books are
for purchase at:

http://www.projectserverbooks.com

Hope this helps.

 

[Gary L. Chefetz]

Greg:

If you don't mind investing in a book or two, I think you'll find that two
of our books provide a very good basis for a DIY Project Server
implementation. I'd recommend the following which you can find at
http://projectserverbooks.com or your favorite bookseller: When you do this
without professional help, give yourself extra time to allow for trials and
errors along the way!

Implementing and Administering Microsoft Office Project Server 2007, second
edition
Managing Enterprise Projects using Microsoft Office Project Server 2007,
second edition

--
----------
Gary L. Chefetz, MVP
MSProjectExperts
Project Server Consulting: http://www.msprojectexperts.com
Project Server Training: http://www.projectservertraining.com
Project Server FAQS: http://www.projectserverexperts.com
Project Server Help Blog: http://www.projectserverhelp.com