What is the best solution for project management in a small compa.

[andrewb]

We have three or four projects and about five or so project managers. What
is the best way to keep track of our projects? We have a windows server with
a SQL. We ordered the Project Server 2003 with the five client limit with
the understanding that this package included the software for each individual
computer to be installed. Apparently we have been misguided in this matter
since we now have the Project Server 2003 and no way to use it.

 

[Steve House [MVP]]

Yep - Server is a storage and commications tool - you still need Project
2003 Professional to prepare and maintain the project plans prior to
publishing them to the server.

Steve House [MVP]

 

[JackD]

You need Project Professional 2003 to go with Project Server. If you have
both of those together you should be in good shape, however you may need a
few more client licenses if you want the people on your projects to report
their progress and be able to utilize the capabilities of Project Server.

As for the "Best" way, there is no simple answer. You can manage large
projects without project server or you can use it. It all depends on your
needs and abilities. If you are just starting out, I think that you will
have a bit of a learning curve getting started with Project Server. I'd
recommend that you talk to someone who implements it for a living before you
go much further.

In my opinion, I'd start with getting the project managers trained in using
project (with or without project server).

 

[andrewb]

Ok, then another question for you. If i have the Project Server, what is the
difference between Microsoft Office Project Professional 2003, Microsoft
Project 2003 Standard, and any other versions? Wich ones work with the server?

Thanks,
Andrewb

 

[JackD]

Project 2003 Standard has a subset of features of Project 2003 Pro. The
additional features in pro are the "enterprise" features enabled by using it
with project server. Project 2003 Standard can save the files in a database,
but does not provide any of the project web access or integration with
sharepoint or enterprise resource management or the enterprise global file.

I think if you spend some time looking at:

http://microsoft.com/office/project

you will be able to get a more complete explanation than I can post here.

 

[george]

You can also take advantage of a project viewer instead of
spending money on each MS Project license with project
server

Take a look at www.projectviewercentral.com for more info

 

[Steve House [MVP]]

They already have a "viwer" of sorts with 5 licenses for Project Web Access
included with Server. But neither your viewer nor PWA substitutes for
Project Professional on the desktop of the project managers who will be
creating and maintaining the plans and publishing them to the server.