USING PROJECT MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE

USING PROJECT MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE

Dear Mr. President: By definition, a project should have a beginning and an end. If it has no beginning, then it is not a project at all. That is like saying that a problem should have a solution, otherwise, it is not a problem. In other words, it could not be a problem if it could not be solved, at least mathematically. Continuing with this comparison, a project should have defined problem that has to be solved through a solution. Once that problem is solved, then that would mean that the project should already end.

The conventional wisdom in governance is that everything should start with a policy, in other words a policy framework. To implement the policy frameworks, there should be program plans that are derived from these policies. In theory, all project proposals should be derived from official policies that are derived from program plans. What that means is that there should be no projects that are not rooted in official policies.

Official policies could either be based on national laws, department orders, provincial board resolutions or municipal ordinances. It goes without saying that these policy statements should have corresponding provisions for funding mechanisms, otherwise, no program plans could be prepared, and no project proposals could be considered. A policy basis is needed for all projects, even if it does not involve costs on the part of the government, such as Public and Private Partnership (PPP) programs.

There are many Projects Management (PM) software that are available in the market, some are for free, while the others are not. Among those that are free are the PM software of ERP Next and Odoo. Among those that are not for free are the PM software of Microsoft and Teamwork. ERP Next and Odoo both belong to the “Free and Open-Source Software” (FOSS) category. However, it is only the software license that are free in the FOSS category, but there are optional costs such as customization and integration with the client’s existing systems.

In my many years of managing computerization projects, I have met many professionals who would rather use Microsoft Excel to create Gantt charts for the purpose of monitoring the progress. At best however, using Microsoft Excel might be good enough, but the best option is to really use real PM software such as MS Projects, Teamwork, ERP Next or Odoo, including the other options such as www.monday.com, Click Up and Wrike.

Regardless of what brand is used, the point that I am trying to make is that all managers of all projects in the government should be using PM software, not only because it makes project management more efficient, but also it makes project management more transparent, and thus are lesser prone to corruption. Add to that the fact that the data in the PM software are easily understood by most “laymen”, even if they have no technical background.

Mr. President, for those National Government Agencies (NGAs) and Local Government Units (LGUs) that would prefer to use FOSS because of budget constraints, I am willing to help them. Their only expense if ever, would be some consulting fees that they would pay to some Information and Communications Technology (ICT) professionals that are generally affordable. Hopefully, by using PM software, the NGAs and LGUs will no longer have projects that are not finished on time or are not finished at all, because of one reason or another. IKE SENERES/09-29-2024

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