In today’s competitive business climate, the organizations that ultimately prevail are the ones that are able to best establish a unique competitive advantage. For many organizations, this competitive advantage is realized through synergy and seamless teamwork.
To help organizations achieve this sort of synergy, Microsoft has steadily developed its latest version of Project. Microsoft Project is a management software that allows teams to collaborate, work towards a common goal; literally ensuring every team member is on the same page. Over the years, this software application has seen some dramatic improvements. In this guide we will explain what Project is used for, the differences between Standard and Professional, and how to find it online.
What kind of work is Microsoft Project best used for?
Since its initial release in 1984, managers across the world have learned to utilize Project to achieve a number of different goals. Because this software enables multiple people to be working on the same thing at once, and enables the project manager to coordinate and distribute work, essentially any sort of work that involves two or more people can benefit in some way from its use.
MS Project is particularly useful for the following (plus much more):
- Developing an initial project plan
- Communicating goals, timelines, and assignments to various team members
- Tracking progress on the different components of a given project
- Creating and managing a budget associated with a given product
- Analyzing workloads, readjusting project plans, and brainstorming
- Determining what has been completed and what still needs to be done
This software creates a competitive advantage for businesses in essentially every industry, and has been particularly utilized by entrepreneurs, middle management, groups that work in different locations, and university students everywhere.
This suite is very similar to the software programs available in the Microsoft Office family such as Excel, Word, and PowerPoint. If you have any experience working with any of these programs, learning MS Project should be very similar.
Which version should I buy?
Microsoft Project is a suite that has continually evolved, and is currently available in multiple different versions.
The three most recently released versions debuted in 2010, 2013, and 2016. Though all of these versions are relatively similar to one another, there still remain a few notable differences which—depending on what kind of project you are working on—can really make a big difference.
- Microsoft Project 2010– although considered to be relatively outdated by some in the industry, the 2010 version has been applauded for numerous features. These features include its interoperability, user controlled scheduling, graphical timeline, list synchronization, inactive tasks, and team planner view.
- Microsoft Project 2013– this version sought to be more compatible with other Microsoft software and dramatically improved its user interface. Notable developments made in 2013 include an improved reports section, the ability to trace task paths, compatibility with other Microsoft Office programs, and a superior sharing program.
- Microsoft Project 2016– as the most recent version of Project that is currently available on the market, it seems that 2016 was a year in which this software has been able to reach its most functional form. Notable improvements made here include backwards compatibility with Project 2013 (enabling an easier transition), improved communication between project and resource managers, coordination with Microsoft Office, and a dramatically improved (and easier) user experience.
Beyond the differences in that have emerged over time, prospective users will also have to make a choice regarding the specific type of software they want to use: standard or professional.
The standard version of Microsoft Project is less expensive but can also do notably fewer things. The version that will work best for you and your project team will largely depend on what it is you are trying to accomplish. The professional version of Project can be used on more computers, has a vastly superior planning and scheduling program (using Gantt charts), utilizes cloud-based services, and offers a wider variety of choices for managers.
How can I buy Microsoft Project?
Microsoft is a company that has achieved its current state of widespread praise not only because of the superior products it produces—including Project—but because of its highly developed and wide-reaching distribution network. When compared to alternative software providers, it is definitively easier to purchase Microsoft products than seemingly all others.
- Find an officially licensed Microsoft partner. Microsoft has a wide network of licensed partners who have been specially trained to distribute its products and find workable solutions for all of their customers. In addition to the excellent deals on software they can provide you with, these dealers are distinctively among some of the safest sources you can possibly buy from.
- Look for a software provider that can offer you a choice between the different versions of Project. The specific needs of your organization are uniquely your own. While some organizations will have no problem using the standard version of Microsoft Project 2013, other organizations will need to use the professional version from Find someone who is willing to offer you a choice.
- Compare different online retailers. Naturally, one of the best places where you can currently buy various software products is on the internet. By comparison shopping online, you will quickly be able to find the best deals available, use leverage to bring down prices, and learn what other possible savings opportunities exist that you may not have otherwise known about.
Overall, Microsoft Project is a product that seems to have certainly earned the widespread praise it has received. If you are a part of an organization with multiple moving parts, this particular product can help you execute projects with a sense of efficiency, synergy, and perfection.
Project comes in a lot of different trims and sizes, each with their own respective features. Use this guide as a resource. By keeping these simple pointers in mind, you should be able to find exactly what you need.