 |
 |
> Simple todo's beat > complex task management every time. I was checking out Backbone.js the other day and they listed a number of interesting lean Project/Task Management Apps that were built with it. I haven't tried any of these, but they seem interesting, and "light": https://www.blossom.io/ https://do.com/ http://www.getflow.com/ https://trello.com/ -Shaun On 2/23/12 6:02 AM, Alexander Johannesen wrote: > Hiya, > >> --What project management software are you using? > > Semantic MediaWiki, xSiteable > >> --What made you choose the system? > > Most project management software is written by geeks, not for humans. They > all propose some methodology to go with their model, but either their model > is inflexible (and crashing with yours), or it is so flexible that any tool > might do the trick. Also, they are notoriously hard to configure on a > cumulative scale of the people involved. Also, people hate putting in their > data, so most software, even if they might just do the trick, fails for > human reasons. > > So, a simple wiki with some added ontology cruff, and xSiteable delivering > semantics and widgets across all people is enough. Simple todo's beat > complex task management every time. > >> --Has the system met all of your needs? If not, where does it fail? > > It only fails when we need average to higher degree of data, again, a human > problem. Oh, and it sometimes fails because the MediaWiki GUI sucks for > non-geeks. I think Confluence is better and overal pretty good. > >> --Overall opinions? > > I could write you a sonnett or two, but I have very little trust in > software helping much in project management (after having tried them all > over a span of 20 years). A joint platform for documentation (and for > heavens' sake, choose a Wiki that has a usable interface!) > > In fact, you'd be *far* better off getting "Making stuff happen" by Scott > Berkun ( > http://www.amazon.com/dp/0596517718?tag=scottberkunco-20&camp=14573&creative=327641&linkCode=as1&creativeASIN=0596517718&adid=1B6JF6HWHDT0S5RYZNNM), > the best book I ever got. Honest, I'm not affiliated. :) > >> --What systems did you evaluate and decide not to recommend? > > Hmm, I think I've tried too many. I'm sure there's software out there that > doesn't suck (ie. I hear good things about a few here and there), but far > too often do I see this usability parred with human engagement problem crop > up and ruin the best of software packages. > >> Any information would be great! > > Sorry to be so glum. I'm more happy with simpler approaches such as > "project on a page" (ie. one Wiki page with short description, people, > contacts, goals, and progress) and more agile ways of dealing with > requirements and development (reduces the need for approved paper, easier > to roll back bad decisions, etc.). The closest I get to a Gant chart is > that one of our vendors insists on sending me one every now and then, > despite that he has to come into the office and explain it to people every > single time. > > In other words; use software to document and drive forward, never use > software to measure progress and estimates. > > Regards, > > Alex (disgruntled ex-beliver in project management software) -- Shaun D. Ellis Digital Library Interface Developer Firestone Library, Princeton University voice: 609.258.1698 | [log in to unmask]