Comments on: Are you a dinosaur project manager?

By: John Estrella

John Estrella — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 12:03:07 +0000

Josh, there is nothing wrong with Excel if you are running a small project. It will also work if you export data into it from other software for reporting purposes. However, once you get into larger projects, you really cannot easily define the task dependencies, calculate the critical path, smooth the resources and so on—something that is built-in in most project management software.

With regards to the mind map, I use it to brainstorm the work breakdown structure (WBS), among other things, and then I export the results into Microsoft Office Project. In some cases, I have used the mind map “as is” for my weekly progress reports because the client prefers it that way. I print it in a PDF format though before I distribute it to them because not all of them have a copy of a mind mapping software.

By: Josh Milane

Josh Milane — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 02:47:16 +0000

What is wrong with Excel? It isn’t specialized enough? I do not understand this compulsion to make simple tasks complicated.

Try sending a MindMap to a Client, or asking a Client what their GTalk address is because it will be more efficient than a phone call.

I know what you’re getting at here, but I think wires are getting crossed.

Best,

Josh

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 03:04:50 +0000

Lol! Would you be surprised how many organizations have institutionalized many of the above attributes? On my last assignment my client insisted I used the yellow post-its for WBS development, it was part of their project audit!