Microsoft Project

The biggest argument in favor of Project IMO is that it's so ubiquitous everyone knows how to use it, it isn't all that hard to pick up the basics, and it's relatively easy to get questions answered (big user community, training is everywhere, etc.).

And yes, it costs extra. A lot of enterprises already have an MSDN license that might cover a small PM team though.

Some other system may be fine if the PM team is small and expected to have low turnover. For better or worse though it's hard to go wrong with Project, this should be the default choice unless there's a compelling reason to use something else.

Unfortunately I can't help you much with Kickstart/Mindview, I have no experience with them. If nobody else does either that may answer your question. Microsoft has pretty much assimilated the PM world at this point.

I've used SureTrak and Primavera at LSU. Both similar but I think I liked Primavera more although we got more in depth with SureTrak. I know there were some construction estimating competitions that used Timberline, but I never was in the CM club more than a semester or two, much less ever signed up to be a part of an estimating competition.

I know that doesn't say much but I would do a google search to see if there are any reviews of different softwares. I do know they cost a bunch so it's definitely a big decision to make.

What area of buisiness will you use it? I thought you were IA?

MS Project is the way to go. Primavera is strong in the construction industry, and Deltek (Open Plan) and Artemis are often used on high end DOD\DOE, and utility projects.

No one gets fired for using MSP. Lots of people know it, and you can pick up the basics on your own. As long as you're not doing high end resource management in your project, MSP will get it done.

Good luck.

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No one gets fired for using MSP.

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This is the correct answer.

I'm not saying MS Project is the best choice - I'm saying that if you're seriously considering a different choice you need to consult better sources than TD, who really know their shite.

Or just say "frick it, I'm going with the worldwide standard". Sometimes that's a perfectly reasonable thing to do.

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Do you not use any of this software?

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I use Office a lot at work, but I don't think we have this. At home I have linux.

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No one gets fired for using MSP.

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This sounds like exactly what I need. That's an awful powerful quote.

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I'm not saying MS Project is the best choice - I'm saying that if you're seriously considering a different choice you need to consult better sources than TD, who really know their shite.

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This isn't my only source, this is just for talking points before I meet with my source. I didn't know what MSP was a week ago.

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Or just say "frick it, I'm going with the worldwide standard". Sometimes that's a perfectly reasonable thing to do.

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I'm not going to use that approach because I was brought on to actually research it, but that's why I made it my null hypothesis.

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I've been doing large scale IT program management for almost 8 years and all I've ever used is excel or word.

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You're probably Gen X, though, and thus not an incredible pussy with a sense of entitlement.

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Get off my nuts. My boss asked me to do this. He's a man. He's FORTY.

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