After looking at how we can manage tasks within Microsoft 365 last week, today we’re going to have a look at what applications can be used for more formal project and portfolio management as well as when we should use these applications and what they’re best suited to.
When to move on from Planner.
You should consider moving beyond managing your projects with Planner when:
- You have a formal, complex schedule for the project.
- You have many different projects requiring resources to split time between each.
- You have costing of resources and materials that must be tracked.
If any of these are true you should like at the options available within Microsoft 365.
Project for the web is the newest addition to the project family. It provides a step up from applications like planner by providing:
- a Gantt view of tasks.
- the ability to add task dependencies.
- the ability to create a more formal project schedule.
The Project desktop client provides more advanced PM functions on top of what can be seen in project for the web including:
- baselines.
- critical path.
- resource and cost management.
This makes it useful for large and more complex projects that could span over long periods of time.
Project Online gives access to the project desktop client but also allows for projects to be stored as a portfolio within a single location. This allows for program and portfolio management and can give more advanced planning throughout an organization which has many projects occurring simultaneously. It also allows for portfolio analysis to prioritise what project should be completed based on pre-defined rules.
Regardless of how intensive your project management process within your company is, Microsoft 365 has a solution that should help your organisation manage it effectively and efficiently.
For all your Microsoft 365 needs, please contact Aspira.
Author: Ian Jones, Software Developer, Aspira.
