Future of PM Software: WhoDoes

In my series called “Future of Project Management Software” I am talking with PM Software vendors about their view of the future. This time a conversation with Massimo Sgrelli from GotThingsDone, the Project Management Software company that brings us WhoDoes.

How do you think Project management Software will look like in 5-10 years?

Definitely easier to use and designed for the real world. Project management, as its usually understood, is a full time activity at least on medium-large projects. In such a project, when big changes have to be applied to the enterprise, you usually have dedicated teams from the Program Management Office “ PMO. You need them to manage information flow and make intelligible changes to the whole firm. However you have to remember that this doesnt fulfill actual teams needs. Complex projects have always been brought to succeed by a lot of small teams. Project management at this level, in the real world, is really different. Too often we try to control, instead of making people (e)talk to each other, improving information sharing and letting them know what is supposed to be done every day. What we really need are tools to manage the real world. So the natural evolution of PM software in the medium term will bring us to relax some misleading control leverages, making it easier for our people to know exactly what we expect them to do day-by-day, in order to make projects succeed.

What are the technologies that will be driving the software?

The Internet and mobile computing in particular could help us share information and have our daily to-do list on hand. They help keep the data and the team near us wherever we are. Also the web and technologies like Ajax or the emerging tendencies to mash up services, will be the driving force of the new software capabilities. When I say the web I dont only mean the browser, but a new breed of fat (or thin) client applications, specifically designed for mobile devices like the iPhone “ Ive got one and now I cant live without it. Things like the Internet and Google Maps API have enabled business companies like Apple to do Maps, a Google Earth interface for the iPhone. I can assure you that its definitely more powerful than its browser based version.

How do you think tools will support proper communication between mobile, multi-cultural teams?

In order to make project management tools really usable we need to make them really simple, easier to use – and also cheap. More and more companies will have people working remotely and living in different countries. It means different ways of thinking and intending project coordination. In these cases you will be forced to come back to the essential. Share the information as soon as you can and let people know every morning whats in their task list. Everything else is secondary.

How do you think tools will build a sense of community?

Actually, talking about community isnt as simple when applied to project management. Lets try it this way: To work well people need to be happy. They need to use essential and useful tools; it makes them happy because theres no wasting of time. Tools must be online and accessible. Communication among team members must be ubiquitous.

Its all a mix of “useful” and “fun”.

All these things together will help create a sense of community.

How do you think tools will keep the team focused on the overall goal?

Keeping people focused is always crucial to projects success. There are two main factors that will contribute to this goal: simplicity and method. A tool must adhere to these principles if you want to have a seamless adoption. Simplicity means including in your tool only the essential features: not everybody needs to access Pert diagrams “ probably no one needs at all. Less is more, in this case. Then you have to be clear about what information you want your users primarily, to manage. In my opinion the only important information people in a team must take under control is what they have to accomplish that day.

How will decisions be supported (about features, about allocation of resources)?

The only way I know to support decisions is talk about them with people. Even better, sharing thoughts in a forum or in a chat so you wont be interrupted when you work.

What makes your current product different than other Project Management Software?

We strongly feel that project success depends on two factors:

• Every person in your team must know what to do every morning
• Information must be shared in real time

WhoDoes, our project management product, has been primarily designed to fulfil to these needs. Planning project activities isnt a simple task and people must understand that you can solve 80% of the problem making people communicate effectively.