subject: Key Approaches To Project Management In Web Based Solutions [print this page] Software vendors apply a variety of approaches to project management in web based solutions, taking for granted that the future of computing lies with the fast growing number of online services and applications. Use of web based project management is a widespread method to reduce overall costs of running a business through lower license fees for software, decreased maintenance and support expenditures, and lower human resource expenses. Therefore, software vendors and enterprises tend to consider web based solution as a good alternative to stand-alone project management systems, with modern web based application combining software modules that cover various business processes and procedures.
A typical web based project management system by a reputable vendor would deal with scheduling, planning, estimation, resource allocation, quality management, and documentation processing involved in complex projects and sets of projects. Management of sets of projects is often referred to as program management but the underlying functionality of program management software is similar to that used in project management platforms.
Two main approaches are used in web based solutions for project management, which are applied depending on the type of access envisaged. In general, a web application can be accessed via a corporate intranet, where no connections to external servers and workstations are allowed, or through an extranet e.g. the Internet, where the software can be accessed by authorized users from anywhere. Both types of access offer an obvious advantage of accessing the system from any type of computer using a web browser, no additional software is required to operate the web application. In addition, IT managers are allowed to easily grant or deny access to the system on a per-user basis and monitor access to the project management software, making adjustments within minutes when required.
While first project management applications were developed for single users including home and business customers, modern-day web based software is designed to run and provide natural multi-user environment, where one version of the product is utilized concurrently by numerous users. Should a user need access to a certain document or file, it can be accessed and modified while another user is working on the same document. However, not all project management systems feature this functionality, with some web based applications allowing making changes to the file only after it is closed by the user who first started working on it, while others compare document versions and allow users to update it to a newer version. On the other hand, virtually all web based project management solutions deploy a centralized data repository, thus avoiding fragmentation of collected data and securing faster response time.
A major disadvantage of traditional web based solutions is that project data is not accessible when the server is offline or down for some reasons. A simple solution to the problem is provided by some software vendors whose software is able to save project management info in file formats compatible with third party software, spreadsheet applications, for example. Thus, changes to a document can be made locally by the user and synchronized with the original document when the server is online.
Furthermore, web based project management software provides productive environment for collaboration tools used in modern approaches to project management. As a whole, the efficiency of project management in web based solutions relies on modules supporting new collaboration and teamwork approaches that gradually gain popularity in an online business environment.