Project-Management.com’s Top 3 Software RecommendationsLet Monday.com work for you.Start Free TrialWork smarter with Wrike.Try for FreeIncrease productivity with Smartsheet.Try Smartsheet for FreeIn 2018, Microsoft shared a new vision for work management to help teams collaborate on projects more efficiently. The definition of project has changed dramatically. Projects can take many forms, sizes, structures and durations. The new Microsoft Project offers work management tools that enable project teams to drive change, advance strategic initiatives, and solve problems through a redesigned user interface.
Table of Contents
What is the Microsoft Project?
Is Microsoft Project included in Office 365?
Microsoft Project Uses
The Advantages and Pros of Microsoft Project
The Pros and Cons of Microsoft Project
Top 3 Microsoft Project Alternative Software
Is Microsoft Project right for you?
Learn more about Microsoft Project
What is the Microsoft Project?
Microsoft Project is a project management tool that allows professionals to keep track of changing requirements in their jobs. It offers tools that are easy to use, flexible for all project types, powerful for initiatives of all sizes, and transparent for visibility throughout the organization. It has an intuitive interface that allows users to switch between boards, grids, and Gantt charts to track their progress. It integrates with Microsoft Teams for collaboration, allowing team members to share files, chat, and hold meetings. Distributed teams can collaborate on or edit the same task simultaneously. Teams can stay on track with automated scheduling that is based on effort and duration.
The new Microsoft Project for web is built on the Power Platform and gives users greater visibility to their projects. To visualize the key components of each project, they can create interactive dashboards using Power BI. With the new Roadmap feature, they can see the whole organization’s projects. Subscription Project Plan 1 is a project management service that allows teams to manage task-oriented projects. It’s easy to get started. Teams can assign tasks and determine dependencies. They can also track and schedule work. Project Plan 3 is for users who require both a web browser and a desktop client. Project Plan 5 is for those who need project portfolio management tools.
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Is Microsoft Project included in Office 365?
Microsoft Project is not part of any Office 365 plan. However, it can be integrated with Office tools. Microsoft Project plans that are cloud-based start at $10 per user per monthly, while pricing for on site solutions starts at $620.
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Microsoft Project Uses
The DOS program that was used internally by Microsoft to manage increasing numbers of software projects was the first Microsoft project management tool. It has been improved and enhanced since its original release in 1984. This product is now used in many situations including:
Project Management
Microsoft Project software includes familiar scheduling tools that allow users to list tasks, assign them team members, and specify details such as due date and duration. You can view schedules from different perspectives, including board view, grid view, timeline/Gantt chart view and board view. It is a collaborative software that allows project teams to collaborate with other stakeholders to update and modify task lists, project schedules and dependencies. It can be used by teams to submit timesheets. It captures project and nonproject time and is linked to invoicing or payroll.
Portfolio Management
Project allows users to manage multiple programs and projects within a company, and to provide information about which initiatives should be prioritized. Modern features include business intelligence.