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"PSNext is based on
Sciforma’s 26+ years of project
management and software development experience, and from hundreds of thousands of users worldwide."
Source : Sciforma Corporation
Task Management with Multistage Tracking
Task Management is also known as :
Advance Task Manager,
Advanced Task Manager,
Best Task Management,
Best Task Manager,
Best Task Manager Software,
Daily Task Management,
Issue Management Software,
Free Task Management Software,
Online Task Manager,
Personal Task Manager,
Project Management Application,
Project Management Freeware,
Project Management Software,
Project Management Software Tools,
Project Manager Software,
Project Managment Software,
Project Task Management,
Project Task Manager,
Task Management,
Task Management Application,
Task Management Database,
Task Management Freeware,
Task Management Service,
Task Management Software,
Task Management System,
Task Management Tool,
Task Management Tools,
Task Manager,
Task Manager Applications.
One of the biggest challenges a Project Manager faces is the difficulty in tracking project
progress once a project has been started. Once work is underway, it can often be difficult
to keep track of each task and assignment as they are started, completed, or delayed.
Faced with a sea of information about task progress, keeping project plans up to date can
be a daunting task.
Fortunately, a Project Manager no
longer has to process all of this data by
hand. With new tools and
methodologies for tracking progress,
it’s easier than ever to keep track of
how your projects are doing without
spending hours trying to keep a plan
up to date.
In PSNext 1.6, we introduce a new
tracking method, Multistage
Tracking. Along with the original
three tracking methods (Assignment
Timesheet, Managed Task List, and
Assignment List) Project Managers
now have more options than ever
when it comes to organizing and
managing ongoing project information.
PSNext’s Four Tracking Methods
PSNext offers four different approaches to tracking
your projects through inputs from team members, task
managers, or both.
- Assignment Timesheet: Individual team
members enter daily or weekly actual hours into
timesheets, which are then used by Resource
Managers and Project Managers to update project
plans and track costs.
- Managed Task List: Task Managers enter
broad, high level information about task progress
(such as Actual Start, Actual Effort, Completed
Date, and Remaining Estimate.) Information can
be entered at the task level, or at the assignment
level. Project Managers can then use these inputs
to update the plan.
- Assignment List: Similar to Managed Task List,
this approach has individual team members enter
broad, high level information (such as actual start,
actual effort, completed date, and remaining
estimate) at their individual assignment level.
Project Managers then use these inputs to update
the plan.
- Multistage Tracking (New in 1.6): A
combination of Assignment Timesheet and
Managed Task List approaches. Task Managers
enter Actual Start, Remaining Estimate, and
Completed Date (optional.) Once a task manager
has started a task, individual team members can
enter actuals in timesheets. Project Managers use
a combination of both sets of inputs to update the
plan and track projects.
PSNext’s Diverse
Tracking Options
As shown in the sidebar, PSNext
offers four different tracking methods
for tracking project progress.
Assignment Timesheet projects use a
familiar Timesheet metaphor for
managing and applying daily or
weekly actuals from individual team
members. Assignment List projects do the same thing, but with broad, high level
information about the overall progress of each assignment instead of detailed information
at the daily level. Managed Task List projects move management of these details to a
higher level, to the Task Managers themselves. Task Managers enter broad, high level
information about tasks or assignments they are managing, which is then used by Project
Managers to update the plan and track progress.The fourth and newest tracking method is the new Multistage Tracking feature.
Multistage Tracking combines the detailed entry of actuals that Assignment Timesheet
projects provide with the higher level of control and management of the Managed Task
List approach.
Multistage Tracking: Bringing it all Together
In larger organizations where control and management of task information is critical,
often you want the structure of the Assignment Timesheet approach when it comes to
organizing, managing, and applying assignment actuals from individual team members.
But at the same time, you want the added ability of Task Managers to control when these
assignments are started, how much work remains, and determine when they are finished.
Multistage Tracking accomplishes this by giving Task Managers the ability to determine
which assignments are visible to individual team members. Initially, team members can’t
see any assignments in their timesheets at all. Once Task Managers enter an Actual Start,
the assignments appear in the timesheet and team members can begin entering actuals.
The Task Manager handles the remaining estimate, and once the task has been reported
as complete, no further entry of actuals can be made by the team members.
Here’s how this works in more detail:
- The Project Manager specifies Task Managers for each task, as well as assigning
individual team members to the tasks. He publishes the project.
- The Task Managers now can see all of the tasks they are managing. They can
enter an Actual Start and a Remaining Estimate. (Optionally, they can specify a
date that is used to determine when the Remaining Estimate falls – for example, a
manager can say that there’s four days of work starting on the following Monday
rather than the current day.)
- Once a task has been started, team members can now enter actual hours in their
timesheets for these tasks. Only tasks that have been started and have not been
finished can have actuals entered for them. Team members can’t enter actuals
earlier than the Actual Start, or later than the Actual Finish, so you don’t have to
worry about the task getting longer due to the team member’s entries.
- The Project Manager then applies and approves both the task manager’s inputs as
well as the team member’s timesheets. The combination of both sets of data
provides the PSNext with the information needed to update the project plan
appropriately.
- The project is republished and tracking repeats from step 2.
Is Multistage Tracking Right for You? Choosing the
Right Approach
Each of PSNext’s tracking methods is designed for a different kind of organization.
Multistage Tracking is designed for organizations where control, security, and task
manager involvement are key in managing and tracking progress. For organizations that
don’t have Task Managers, consider the Assignment Timesheet approach. If higher level
information is all that is needed, the Assignment List tracking method provides an even
simpler level of team member input to the project. Finally, in organizations where Task
Managers should be the only ones providing information, Managed Task List projects
provide the ultimate control for Task Managers while making it easy for the Project
Manager to apply and approve manager data.
Each approach has its benefits. Finding the right approach that works for your
organization is just a matter of evaluating your needs, processes, and organizational
approaches and determining which tracking method suits you best. No matter what you
choose, PSNext provides the tools and technology needed to manage the sea of
information about your project’s progress.
Summary
PSNext provides project managers more options than ever when it comes to organizing
and managing ongoing project information. With four different methods to track and
maintain project status, project tracking no longer needs to be the Achilles’ heel of
project management. Stay focused, stay informed, stay on schedule and on track with
Sciforma PSNext.
Visit http://www.sciforma.com/ or call 800-533-9876 for more information on PSNext or
to schedule a personalized PSNext demonstration.