This article discusses project management and software options form the aspect of a small business owner who is overwhelmed with managing tasks.
Tom is sitting at his desk, and everywhere he looks, he sees stacks of paper. Scribbled on post-its are tasks he's not sure if he has completed or not. His inbox is overflowing, and his two employees are standing in front of him. One is asking him what she should do next, and the other is arguing about whether he turned his timesheet in or not. It appears as though Tom is drowning in disorganization. He runs his own business and doesn't have the money to hire a project manager. What can he do?
Tom needs some form of small business project management software. While he probably doesn't require anything too extravagant, having some form of software would streamline his task management process. By carefully researching and investing in small business project management software, he can save himself, and his two employees a lot of time and heartache - and who knows, maybe next year he'll be able to afford a third employee just to manage projects. Following, is a list of options Tom has for project management software.
Microsoft Outlook is not project management software. It can, however, help Tom with keeping track of tasks. One great resource for learning how to use Microsoft Outlook 2007 in a manner conducive to managing small projects and keeping the task monster at bay is Sally McGhee's Take Back Your Life! Using Microsoft Outlook 2007 to Get Organized and Stay Organized. For more information on managing project tasks utilizing Outlook 2007, see Bashar Lulu's article. If Tom has too many tasks or projects to manage, he's going to require more powerful software.
Perhaps the best option for Tom is a web-based software solution. Because Tom only has three people who would be using it, this option would save him money. Below is a list of suggestions for web-based small business project management software.
Central Desktop - an easy to use, low cost, project management software. Central Desktop comes with a lot of technical support. Between emails describing how to use the program, and a webinar, Tom will not feel he's been thrown to the wolves. Read my review of Central Desktop to see if this might be a valuable tool for you.
Wrike - Wrike is a very basic, easy to use and low cost software for project managers. For more information, see my review.
ScrumDesk - Free for up to five users, and reasonably priced for more than five users, this program is easy to use. The team at ScrumDesk are also very helpful when it comes to technical support.
SantexQ - This is my personal favorite. It's easy to learn and use, it offers all the functions a small business could desire, and best of all it is free. The crew here promises you'll "Have your project up and running in fifteen minutes." It is definately worth trying out. This review of SantexQ may be helpful.
For more small business project management software solutions that might help you out, check out the following articles:
"The Three Best Online Project Management Utilities" by Cary Stuart
"Best Project Management Software Packages for Under $100" by Joe Taylor Jr.
"The Best Easy-to-Use Project Management Software" by Ronda Roberts