Several unique terms and phrases describe the features of software we review on this site, some easier to grasp than others. This list briefly defines terms relevant to Project Management Software.

Ratings

Collaboration

The software should be easy for beginners and experienced computer users alike.

Resource Management

Project management software should have a lot of bells and whistles, including task and resource management tools.

Project Management

The software should be easy to install and use.

Ease of Use

Project management software should come with both a built-in help system and good online support, including resources like FAQs, email support and automatic updates.

Help/Support

The processes, practices and specific activities needed to perform continuous and consistent evaluation, prioritization, budgeting and selection of investments, which provide the greatest value and contribution to the strategic interest of the organization.

Collaboration

Dashboard

General Collaboration includes:

(1) Dashboards, which let you view all clients and current projects, and gives quick access to multiple areas such as reports and risk analysis.

(2) Team Calendars and Timelines, which displays project timelines and schedules that can be accessed by teams and individuals.

(3) Email Integration, which lets the project management software integrate with Microsoft Outlook or other similar email programs.

Issue Tracking

Tools that allow you to receive or track concerns from team members, team leaders, managers and executives and the tools needed to manage those issues.

Forums

A discussion board covering a broad range of topics used by team members to voice thoughts, opinions and suggestions about projects or tasks.

MS Project Integration

Microsoft Project is standard project management software for many companies. For those changing to online project management, using online project management that integrates Microsoft Project makes the change easier.

Resource Management

Resource Details

Allows you add contact information and attach documents and resumes, to resources.

Skill Sets

Allows you to input the strengths and weaknesses of each team or individual member in order to match skills to tasks better.

Timesheets

Typically records the start and end time of tasks or just the duration, as well as detailed breakdowns of accomplished tasks.

Materials / Supplies

Manage your materials through tracking system and alerts.

Check In / Check Out

Keep track of key materials and objects so that you know where something is at any given time.

Import Resources

Imports your list of employees or materials directly into the project management software.

eMail Addresses

Add email addresses to your human resources.

Costs

Calculate or add costs to your resource, whether it’s a material resource or human resource.

Resource Notes

Add notes about each resource.

Groups

Create groups for multiple resources, which allow you to assign permissions to a certain group and not only user by user.

Project Management

Task Management

Keeping track of tasks and projects via “to-do” lists, computers and other means.

Task Feedback

Allows those working on a specific task to give feedback to the project manager.

Recurring Tasks

Allows you to set one task that occurs regularly at the same time (such as Friday maintenance).

Scheduling

The project manager can schedule a number of different variables.

Calendars

Shows projects and tasks in a calendar layout.

Time Lines

Schedule timelines for tasks, subprojects, projects and resources.

Events

Project milestones as plotted on a calendar.

Gantt Charts

A graphical representation of a task's duration against the progression of time. Gantt charts allow you to assess how long a project should take, lay out the order in which tasks need to be carried out, and help manage the dependencies between tasks.

Reporting

The many reports available to the project manager.

Statistics

Reports on which tasks are finished, overall project progress and such.

Work Load

Measures individual and group task assignments and evaluates how best to effectively manage projects.

Financials

The projects cost, time, resources, materials and so on.

Custom

The ability to create reports based on custom criteria.

Document Management

The process of managing documents and other information from creation and review to storage and dissemination. It also involves the indexing, storage and retrieval of documents in an organized method.

Budgeting

The ability to add a budget to your project and manage it.

Critical Path Method

Work scheduling where all major jobs are laid out in a diagram to show the proper sequence of work and the necessary time required for each. This provides a visual indication of which operations are most critical.

Project Templates

Pre-built programs that already include generic information.

Scope

Define the overall theme of the project, as well as its goals and purpose.

Milestones

Usually pre-planned events where certain planned deliverables are provided. Milestones are used to organize the planning of long-term projects into smaller time intervals and to monitor the overall progress of the project.

Baseline

The completed project plan, which allows you to judge your actual progress against a defined point.

Help/Support

General Support

Project management software should have:

(1) Phone contact number with convenient business hours and no fee.

(2) A printed or electronic manual of instructions on how to use the software.

(3) A knowledge base of in-depth online articles and documentation that addresses specific questions and procedures.

(4) 24-hour email support.

(5) User forums where software users can post questions, comments and running dialogue about the software.

FAQs

Project management software should offer tutorials, which should be useful and relevant.

Online Video Demo

Some project management websites offer forums where peers can share questions, answers and experiences.

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