Use of Microsoft Portfolio Server in combination with other server

[oivind]

Hi, we have Microsoft Sharepoint and the BI platform installed and are now
digging into MS Performance Point Server and MS Project Portfolio Server. In
general, I think Microsoft are doing a great job in integrating the different
tools and servers together. However, I can't see the same integration job
done between Performance Point and Project server/Portfolio server. There are
a lot of elements in these two tools that looks do to the same job (KPIs,
Financial planning, etc.), but they are somewhat different in the setup and
front end.
In my company, we are working a lot with projects and need to manage the
projects with both MS project and portfolio server. But we don't see these
tools as the ending point, since we track the project costs via the ERP
system and into a finance cube in Analysis services. Right now we are trying
to work out a planning solution for projects and applications (products) via
Performance Point. I would like to see MS project as a source system for the
Performance Point server when it comes to planning project and application
cost, and the Performance Point server as a source system for Analysis
Services when it comes to budget and plan data for projects and applications.
Is this possible in this version? If not, I would really like to suggest
these integrations for the next version of MS Portfolio Server and MS
Performance Point server.

----------------
This post is a suggestion for Microsoft, and Microsoft responds to the
suggestions with the most votes. To vote for this suggestion, click the "I
Agree" button in the message pane. If you do not see the button, follow this
link to open the suggestion in the Microsoft Web-based Newsreader and then
click "I Agree" in the message pane.

http://www.microsoft.com/office/com...6a3426a6e1&dg=microsoft.public.project.server

 

[k2plus3]

Hi, we have Microsoft Sharepoint and the BI platform installed and are now
digging intoMSPerformance PointServerandMSProjectPortfolioServer. In
general, I think Microsoft are doing a great job in integrating the different
tools and servers together. However, I can't see the same integration job
done between Performance Point andProjectserver/Portfolioserver. There are
a lot of elements in these two tools that looks do to the same job (KPIs,
Financial planning, etc.), but they are somewhat different in the setup and
front end.
In my company, we are working a lot with projects and need to manage the
projects with bothMSprojectand portfolioserver. But we don't see these
tools as the ending point, since we track theprojectcosts via the ERP
system and into a finance cube in Analysis services. Right now we are trying
to work out a planning solution for projects and applications (products) via
Performance Point. I would like to seeMSprojectas a source system for the
Performance Pointserverwhen it comes to planningprojectand application
cost, and the Performance Pointserveras a source system for Analysis
Services when it comes to budget and plan data for projects and applications.
Is this possible in this version? If not, I would really like to suggest
these integrations for the next version ofMSPortfolioServerandMS
Performance Pointserver.

----------------
This post is a suggestion for Microsoft, and Microsoft responds to the
suggestions with the most votes. To vote for this suggestion, click the "I
Agree" button in the message pane. If you do not see the button, follow this
link to open the suggestion in the Microsoft Web-based Newsreader and then
click "I Agree" in the message pane.

http://www.microsoft.com/office/community/en-us/default.mspx?mid=7702...

Great observations and suggestions. Our experience would support both.
Program and portfolio management and other business analysis functions
are converging and are increasingly difficult to separate. The PMO,
business analyst, and system analyst roles blur in this space.
Project Portfolio Server has been positioned in Microsoft's Project
stack, but it delivers a lot of BI functions and data analysis.
Microsoft's acquisition of Project Portfolio Server from UMT was a
great move, but it hasn't really been rationalized them within their
larger portfolio of offerings, both from marketing and systems
architecture perspectives.
This has led to a number of more extended cycles of discussions/
comparisons/lobbying within some of our clients, too. If the PMO has
more influence, then Project Portfolio Server tends to win, if Finance
is more dominant, then Performance Point Server seems to wins the
day. Some clients are implementing both, in which case they are
dealing with the same dilemmas and issues you've raised. A classic
case of Microsoft competing with Microsoft.
There is a considerable duplication of function between Project
Portfolio Server and Performance Point Server, which can be confusing
when it comes to application portfolio architecting and management.
(The fact that they share the same initials -- PPS -- leads to having
to use the full names in conversations and in writing, which is
irritating and goes against IT industry cultural preference for using
TLAs and FLAs.) [We brought up this very set of issues to Steve
Balmer at the Project Conference last fall.]
The integration path between Project Server and Project Portfolio
Server is pretty labor intensive in the current iteration, but we
understand that there will be much more out-of-the-box integration
between Project Server and Project Portfolio Server in their next
versions, which will be very welcome.
Thankfully, both apps add a lot of business value and should be
dominant apps in the the PM and BI spaces.
We would concur 100% with your suggestion to Microsoft. - Kevin
Williamson, Advisicon http://www.advisicon.com/index.htm