Experience In Software, Inc. Project KickStart Version 3.2 Product Guide

Transcription

1 Experience In Software, Inc. Project KickStart Version 3.2 Product Guide ZDNet Rating (c) Experience In Software, Inc. July 2005 All Rights Reserved Printed in the USA Experience In Software, Inc Hearst Ave. Berkeley CA Phone: Fax: Web site:

2 Project KickStart is the fastest, easiest way to plan & schedule projects. Now it s also the most versatile project management application. The majority of project environments are made up of relatively small projects involving fewer than 20 individual (usually human) resources. They typically have a duration of less than six months (one year at the most) and a total budget of $20,000 to $1 million each. They are not high risk, mission critical or in a key result area of the organization s strategic plan. David McClure, ORMS Today Project KickStart 3 is a stand-alone program for brainstorming, planning and scheduling projects. It s the only project management application that focuses on developing a project plan before scheduling. According to Roy Nierenberg, president of Experience In Software, Developing an upfront project plan forces project managers and project sponsors to think through what they are about to do and ensures a project schedule where nothing has been overlooked or forgotten. Roy has been an innovator in business thinking software since One of the interesting features of his company s software are links with applications users have on their systems and are comfortable using. This interoperability between applications has kept our software easy-to-use and added versatility, without overwhelming the user with complex features. Users like the choice of using Project KickStart stand alone or integrating their data with other applications that fit their work needs. For scheduling and tracking larger projects, Project KickStart 3 includes links to Microsoft Project, SureTrak, Fast Track Schedule, Milestones and Project Scheduler. For those who want to communicate their strategic plan to others, it has links to Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, MindManager and ACT! Over 150,000 users in the computer/electronics, banking, medical, education, consulting, small office/home office, small manufacturing and construction marketplace currently use Project KickStart for planning and scheduling. How Project KickStart Works The Project KickStart interface presents an 8-step planning process, activated by the user. Step 1 First, you give the project a name. Each screen includes an Advisor Button to see instructions or tips for completing the current project-planning step. This is especially helpful for novice project planners. An example of this advice in Step 1 is: Avoid vague project names like "Database project" or "CDP-7", 2

3 particularly if you plan to circulate reports to others. Tip: Use short but descriptive project names, like "Customer Service Automation ". Step 2 Here, you consider how the project breaks down into natural phases or sequences in which the project will happen. An on-screen Library of sample phases helps stimulate your thinking, serves as a repository of company-specific terms and helps speed along the project planning process. These sample phases can be easily dragged and dropped into the project. Once phases have been identified you add tasks to each of the phases. This is where you really begin to break down the work required in the project. Step 3 The Goals step helps you to determine and list the goals of the project. You then add any tasks required to achieve these goals, or you drag and drop sample goals from the Goals Library. Step 4 Similar Projects -- a unique feature in Project KickStart lets you borrow tasks and ideas from Similar Projects. Specifically, you review previous projects for tasks that may work in your current project. The program allows you to just drag and drop them into the new project s relevant phases. Step 5 The People step is where you identify the people who will serve as the resources for the project. Considering these people, you add new tasks that these people might think of or need to do. There is an on-screen People Library which you can populate with members of your team, other stakeholder or departments. (The People Library also lets you Import names from your Outlook address book. Later, you can send the project plan to Outlook where you can track the project s progress.) Step 6 The Obstacles step is one of the most popular parts of the program. In this step, you focus on the risks that impede progress of the project. You write in the obstacles, or drag and drop terms from the Obstacles Library. Then you consider any relevant tasks to avoid or overcome these obstacles. For example, if you were supposed to deliver product by a certain date, what would happen if no one called the shipping company ahead of time. Task: Check with shipping department and alert them to your requirements in advance. (See Fig. 1) Step 7 Assign tasks to people. This is where you get a sense of who will do what. You can assign an individual, team, or even Department. Step 8 The Tasks view is where you begin to really pull together the project you built. Here, you see a list of all the Phases and Tasks in the plan, along with details about the resources at each level. Up to ten levels of sub-tasks can be 3

4 added to any item. Handy arrows at the top, right side of the screen move and reorder tasks. You can also enter notes for any phase or task here. (See Fig 2) Gantt chart/scheduling. Click on the Gantt chart tab located on the top of the screen above the Task Name column, and you can enter start and finish dates, drag the task bar to change duration and create a visual Gantt chart that provides the high level summary of a project. (See Fig. 3) The timescale and the groups of tasks can be shifted back and forth in time and there is a Done check box where you can record progress. Project KickStart s Gantt chart meets the needs of most small to mid-sized project. For larger projects, which need more tracking and scheduling features, Project KickStart has direct links to Microsoft Project, Project Scheduler, SureTrak, FastTrack Schedule and Milestones With one click the Project KickStart generated plan flows into each of these programs. The program s Reports editor creates a wide range of reports that can be used as to-do lists, work assignments, proposals, business plans, process templates and more. You can include Project KickStart plans in any type of communication by using the program s direct links to Microsoft Word, Outlook and Excel. Benefits Communicate plans to others -- get buy-in before scheduling. Include project plans in proposals, budgets and feasibility studies. Expert guidance for novice project planners. The only project management program for all planners in a company -- HR, marketing, sales, operations, engineering, IT. They all have projects to plan and manage. Professional project managers save time and money by building a strategic plan before scheduling. Obstacles and resources are anticipated early. More realistic project schedules result. Quick planning tool for individual and team planning -- build process templates for future projects. No long learning curve. You re up and functional the minute the software is installed. 4

5 Fig. 1 Libraries provide customizable pick lists for fast project planning. This screen shows step 6 of the eight steps Obstacles. The 8-step icons run down the left side of each screen. Libraries are on the Phases, Tasks, Goals, and Obstacles screens. Each screen has an Advisor Button for quick tips for completing the current step of the process. 5

6 Fig. 2 The Task view - ready for appending notes and editing. Tasks view, (step 8) allows editing and updating of all parts of the project. The Link To window, on the bottom right side of the screen, easily transfers project data to a wide variety of programs. With this feature, users can continue to work with the tools they know and are comfortable with. 6

7 Fig. 3 Gantt chart provides no-hassle project scheduling. Includes a Done Column for marking task status, pop-up calendar and shift date icon (top right-hand side of screen) for shifting dates forward or back. Types of Users/Types of Projects Project KickStart meets the needs of a broad spectrum of users, illustrated by four distinct groups of users, described below. 1. Large Business Business today are more and more project-centric. Most of these projects tend to be small to mid-sized, demanding quick turnaround. And, the people responsible for managing these projects often have no formal project management expertise or background. Project KickStart s intuitive graphical interface leads the user through the process of brainstorming, planning and scheduling a project in a quick logical manner. Drag and Drop Libraries of typical Phases, Goals and Obstacles help speed the process. Library terms can be customized by each user making the program, over time, a repository of worker knowledge. The program s Gantt chart is often all that is needed to track tasks. 7

8 For companies that have standardized on larger programs, Project KickStart can be used by those contributing to the larger plan and by project managers for the critical initialplanning phase. Data can be transferred from Project KickStart to Microsoft Project, SureTrak Project Scheduler, and FastTrack. Departments currently using Project KickStart include Marketing, Sales, HR, Operations and IT. 2. Small Business. Small business users like Project KickStart s ease of use and project planning guidance. They usually have small to mid-size projects and few resources. Planning a direct mail campaign, company newsletter, launching a new product, program services, marketing campaigns, business plans, and proposals are examples of some projects amenable to Project KickStart. Their software budgets are lean. They are shopping for the most productivity they can get for the buck! Technical expertise runs the gamut. Larger project management packages are loaded with more features than this group needs and price points are too high. Project KickStart s links to Word and Excel are helpful for producing proposals and reports. They need a quick task list generator, and Project KickStart fits the bill. 3. Education. Project management trainers, consultants and educators have all recommended Project KickStart to their students as a fast and easy way to build a strategic plan. Project KickStart is being used in schools and universities all over the world and was selected by the Singapore Ministry of Education for all the high schools in that country. 4. Non Profits. These users like Project KickStart s ease of use for developing program tasks. Their software budgets are lean. They are shopping for the most productivity they can get for the buck! Technical expertise and project management skills run the gamut. Traditional project management packages are loaded with more features than this group needs and price points are too high. Project KickStart s links to Outlook, Word and Excel are helpful for this group for producing proposals and reports. Direct mail campaigns, client consulting, event planning, volunteer coordination, Web site development, proposals and fund raising are examples of some projects Project KickStart is used for. Project Kickstart Rave Reviews If you have projects to organize, you owe it to yourself to check out Project KickStart. Organizing and scheduling a new project is much like writing a book; the most difficult part is getting started. Project KickStart is an application designed to help you get your projects rolling with minimum fuss and aggravation. Some project-management applications, such as Microsoft Project, don't offer much in the way of brainstorming tools to help begin your planning. Project KickStart does, using a simpler approach." -PC Magazine Jim Lynch "Project KickStart's name illustrates its approach: Its objective is to help you get your project off the ground (and increase the odds that it will be successful) by providing a structured way to divide the project into manageable chunks... It's real secret is that the project holds your hand and walks you through each planning step so that you can't get lost. -PCWorld Dan Littman 8

9 "Project KickStart leads you through the process of establishing a project plan. At every step along the way, it gives you a library of relevant information, e.g. a Phase Library to help identify the Phases in your project. "Starting with a good plan is critical. A good plan aims people in the right directly, and lets them see the directions that everyone else will be taking. That's one of the keys to project success. For smaller projects, it may not be cost-effective to continuously refine the plan. A good initial project plan may be all that is required." -ComputerWorld Bob Fabian "Project KickStart is an application that is being raved about by software reviewers and professional project managers alike, as it has something to offer both the experienced and novice project manager." -Project Magazine James Appleyard & Lee Appleyard "Project KickStart will get your complex plans organized quickly and easily. The intuitive interface and the library of ten sample projects make it easy to get started. -ZDNet On Line Reviews - 5 Star Rating "Project KickStart is a pleasant surprise! I loaded it, tried it, and within 24 hours was using it in meetings to assist clients in their preliminary project planning. It's a truly collaborative tool for that bumpy period of initial project planning... Nice work!" -Microsoft Project For Dummies Martin Doucette 9

10 Conclusion Project KickStart meets the needs of both the novice and professional project planners to brainstorm, organize and graphically create a project plan. It has an intuitive interface, requires no manual or training and provides interoperability with other applications on the users computers. Specifications Hardware Requirements: Pentium or higher System Requirements: Windows 98, Me, 2000, 2003 Windows NT and XP 32MB RAM, 10 MB free disk space Free technical support and a 60-day money-back guarantee Pricing and Availability Project KickStart has a list price of $ To place orders contact: Experience In Software Phone: FAX: Web site: Contact: Carolyn Burd, Marketing Manager cb@projectkickstart.com Note: Please do not refer to the program as KickStart. The full and correct name is Project KickStart, which is a trademark. (See below) Project KickStart is a stand-alone application not a wizard, though it has wizard-like functionality. Project KickStart is a trademark of Experience In Software, Inc. All other brands and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies. 10