Project Online home & roadmap – Track your projects
Microsoft has released a new update in Project Online by the name Project Home. To access this feature, the user needs to have a Project Online Premium or Project Online Professional subscription. Project Home has made the experience simpler and easier. In order to navigate to Project Home, click on App Launcher and select Project, in the O365 site. The home page displays all the recent projects which were visited by you within project web tenant. It essentially lists the roadmaps and projects for which you have the access. The Type column helps in the segregation of Roadmap and Project. It is possible to get different views like shared with me, created by me, etc. to filter information to another level. There is a Create New button at the top of the home page to create a project or roadmap. By clicking on Project, you can navigate to the new project creation page of PWA tenant where one can select EPT and create a new project as needed. Below the Create New button, there is a Favorites section. In this section, users can add projects for quick access. To add a project to the favorite list, click on start that appears in the projects lists when you hover on a project. You can also remove a project from the favorites list by clicking Remove from favorites. The Roadmap is a new feature introduced in Project online to view multiple project timelines in a single window. To create Roadmap, under Create New button, select Roadmap. Now you can give a suitable name to the new Roadmap in the blank page which can be editable. To add content to the Roadmap, click +Add row. The right sidebar gets updated with new attributes. Name the row and click Connect on a project under connection. This gives two options Project & Azure Boards. In order to connect to PWA tenant, select Project. Enter PWA tenant URL to which you need to connect. The connect to a project feature of the Roadmap, gives flexibility to a project manager to track the status of different projects regardless of their native tenant. For example, when you add another row in the roadmap you can add a different tenant URL or Azure Board url. This means all your projects can be tracked with regards to timeline in a single view. Once you connect to a tenant, you will have to search for the project in the search bar to add to the  roadmap. Once populated, click on connect. Notice the flow above the Connect button. When you set up a connection in the backend, the Roadmap creates a Flow to get the updates from the connected project. Once you click connect, you can see the project in the Roadmap, and you can also check the flow of the site. When you click on see details below the connect button, it displays the details as below: Once connected, enter the tasks that need to be tracked in the search box, as shown below. You can add as many tasks as you need to track. Once listed click Add button at the bottom of the page to add these to the roadmap. In the owner text box, specify the name of the owner of these tasks. Please note that this owner is different from the resources assigned to these tasks in the project plan. By clicking on Add Items, you will be able to add rows to the roadmap as below: You can also set the status of an individual bar from the available options. As you select the status, the color of bar changes accordingly. You can use this method to create rows for tracking multiple projects in a single view. Additionally, there is an option to add key dates which can be used to plan operational or strategic tasks. To add Key dates, click Add key date. In the pop-up, add the title and the date to complete the task. Key dates are hooked up as callouts at the top of the timeline in the roadmap, as shown below. Like taskbars in the row, you can set the status of key dates, which causes a change in the color of the circle. Once you create the roadmap, you can share this with your group to update the respective users. For this, click on Members at right top. You can add the name of the group or individual you would want to share. The option Choose an existing group will list all existing groups in the tenant. You may select one and share. Once shared, all the users to whom the roadmap is shared are displayed as members. Hence the new Roadmap feature is exciting and offers a intuitive and straightforward way to manage the high-level status tracking of the projects. For now, it connects to Azure Board and Project, but the plan is to connect it to Planner and other apps. We will keep posted about it. Stay tuned!
The 5 pain points of project management
Project management is very much at the heart of every organization. Roughly 1/3rd of organizations never or sometimes deliver projects on time, to budget and defined benefits. The next question is therefore key; what are the largest challenges your organization faces when it comes to project, programme & portfolio management? We have listed down the biggest project management challenges and how a PMO can tackle them. 1.Lack of project prioritization Can you easily prioritize projects? A project manager can use a PPM software to prioritize projects and break down larger projects into tasks for easy delegation, assignment, and organization. These programs can be especially valuable for creating project scorecard, define project scope, manage workload, estimate time, map out costs and create custom reports for various projects. You should also aim to simplify best practices across all your projects with process templates based on your methodologies. Standard and custom process templates can cut the time and effort needed for projects that your team runs. Look for project management packs/solutions that can help you simplify project processes. 2.Project Collaboration & Workflow Management Project documents, communication is shared in order to enable more effective team collaboration. It creates a work space for project teams & other required stakeholders to interact, monitor & manage the different project stages. It typically includes: Document management, work flow management, notifications, e-mails, and meetings. Standard intake and easy sharing of requests can cut time and effort. You can automate project processes with built in workflows with the help of AdValue. 3.Project reporting Is project reporting a pain? Do you ever realize how much time do you spend each month collating project status information? 47% of the people spend 1 day or more collating project reports each month. Project reporting is often the most time-consuming part of a manager’s work life. Collating, making a report and keeping track of numbers are processes essential to getting things done in a progressive manner. Click to publish status reports can sharpen project visibility substantially and cut time and effort to produce reports. Once this is automated, a manager can concentrate on other important responsibilities. Can you quickly find and see the status of all your projects? Data-driven dashboards can give you visibility into all the projects your team runs. Everyone on the project will gain deep project portfolio insights with dashboards for executives, PMO’s and team members
What’s the difference between a program manager and a project manager
The roles of a program manager and a project manager sound alike, and they are not without their similarities in terms of responsibilities and day-to-day activities. However, it is important to understand that programs and projects differ from one another in terms of scale, governance, financing, and objectives. It stands to reason, therefore, that the roles of a program manager and a project manager would also have substantial differences, and that program management courses would have different focuses to project management courses. In this article, we will take a closer look at the ways the two roles differ from one another. Understanding Programs and Projects First, it is important to establish the differences between programs and projects. Put simply, programs are concerned with long-term business strategy and operations, and have multiple components. By contrast, a project is more of an individual undertaking, with a clear start point and an objective that signifies completion when achieved. “Projects have clear end dates and short-term goals that give way to tangible outcomes or deliverables,” says Brianna Hansen, writing for Wrike. “Programs are composed of several underlying, interconnected projects. A successful program drives strategic benefits and organizational growth, rather than a single, tangible deliverable.” One way to think of this difference is that programs tend to be broad and made up of several different projects, which are managed collectively and coherently. Meanwhile, PM training courses tend to emphasize the fact that projects are much more individual, focused entities, with a clear objective and a deadline to be met. Exploring the Nature of the Two Roles Aside from programs and projects having clear differences, it is also important to understand that the roles of a program manager and project manager differ in their very nature. These differences mean program management courses and project management courses teach fundamentally different approaches to day-to-day work tasks. It is generally fair to say that a program manager has a broader range of responsibilities, while a project manager’s responsibilities are more focused. This is because program managers often need to oversee multiple projects and project teams, while project managers oversee their project, and their project team. “Project managers are more like engineers, who plan in detail and provide ways to enable the vision,” Wright1 Consulting explain in a blog post for Workfront, Inc. “Program managers are more like architects…they think about the structure of the program, organizing the projects within the program, to achieve success.” It is also sometimes said that program managers engage in day-to-day activities that are more strategic in nature, taking into account the bigger picture, as their results tend to have wider implications for the business. By comparison, project managers engage in activities that are more technical in nature, as they are primarily concerned with completing the tasks they need to, in order to deliver their project on time and meet the specification. Additional Areas of  Comparison One of the most interesting areas of comparison between program managers and project managers is centered around tangible benefits Vs. the collective benefits. More specifically, there is a difference in the way success is measured in either a project or a program for professionals working in the two roles. Again, this is largely linked to the differences between programs and projects. For example, with a program, success metrics tend to be less rigid, clear-cut or easy to quantify. This is because the outcome of a program is typically a much broader company benefit. Measuring success can be more nuanced because it depends on the benefit that was intended to be delivered, and the extent to which the program actually delivered it. Programs also have less obvious end dates, so the benefits may need to be measured continually. On the other hand, the outcome of a project tends to be a ‘thing’, which is either delivered or not. Success can  be measured based on whether the project was delivered on time, completed within the agreed budget, product quality, or end users satisfaction with the outcome. Finally, the issue of funding is also a critical difference for program and project managers. Program managers tend to have more financial responsibility because a program can have wider implications for the company’s financial results. This means their budget may not be static, and finances need to be continually managed. In contrast, PM training courses may not place such an emphasis on financial management for project managers. This is because a project will usually have a clear budget allocated to it, which the project manager will be aware of from the outset. From there, their financial management largely amounts to staying within the budget. Conclusion Ultimately, while there is plenty of cross-over, the roles of program managers and project managers are markedly different from one another. These differences can largely be explained by the differences between programs and projects, in terms of scope, financial management, objectives, and output, among other things. Put simply, the role of a program manager tends to include a broader range of responsibilities, as well as more continual financial management, while there is less emphasis on tangible output. The role of a project manager tends to be more focused, with more definitive budgets to work with, and judgments are based on the finished product. Need a solution to help organize and manage your programs and projects? See how we can help your team improve efficiency and meet deadlines faster!
Project Service, the next generation of Microsoft Project
Microsoft has recently announced a new era of modern work management. The new Project Service – the next generation of Microsoft Project, offers better collaboration, improved extensibility and greater integration than Microsoft Project. Now, what does this mean? Does Microsoft plan to stop Project Online and Project Server? What is the platform for Project Service? Is it a new and redesigned service being introduced? Would Project Service support existing custom solutions/ applications? Such questions are evident for users. Key notable points of this announcement are as below: • Microsoft would continue to deliver performance and security improvements for Project Online • For Project On-Premise users, Microsoft has released Project Professional and Standard 2019 and will release Project Server 2019 in the next few weeks. • Moving forward, much of Microsoft’s focus will be on driving innovations in the new Project service. The new Project Service is based on Microsoft CDS (Common Data Service) for Apps. This is a revamp of entire base architecture. Which means it is a complete re-design of product to meet the changing needs of work management and hence it is being called a new era of modern work management. Using CDS as a platform, the Project Service integrates easily with other tools and systems like SharePoint, PowerApps, Power BI, Microsoft Flow, Office 365, and Dynamics 365. Benefits of Common Data Service platform are as below: • Build and consume solutions for web and mobile with PowerApps • Automate and integrate business processes with Power Automate • Put all your data to work with Common Data Service • Gain insights from your data regardless of where it lives with Power BI • Customize, extend, and build all the apps you need • Seamless Dynamics 365, Office 365, and Azure integration along with connectors to more than 200 data sources The first release of the new project management service will be available in the first half of next year. These services will be available to Project Online Professional and Project Online Premium subscriptions with no additional cost. You may refer the FAQ for more details. The first release of the Microsoft new Project Service will be available in the first half of next year. These services will be available to Project Online Professional and Project Online Premium subscriptions with no additional cost. You may refer the FAQ for more details. The revolutionary changes in Microsoft Project with the release of Microsoft’s new Project service have the vision to enable organizations to perform more productively and efficiently with a simple and intuitive range of tools across Microsoft cloud.
How to update project tasks using project server workflow
Recently we did a couple of Project Server/Online Implementation based projects which involved customization’s like Demand Management Workflow, Document Approval workflow, Issue or Risk Escalation workflow and much more. During these customization’s, we were posed with a challenge on updating the complete percentage of project tasks using the project server workflow of the project to submit an event. We assumed that there should be an easy solution using SharePoint designer workflow and it should not take much time to implement. But later, we realized that project tasks could not be updated in the same way in which project-level field can be. <!– ClickToTweet Embed Code Start –> <script type=”text/javascript” src=”//clicktotweet.com/embed/3De11/1″></script> <!– ClickToTweet Embed Code Start –> Below is the detailed solution to update project tasks using Project Server Workflow. In these steps, hard-coded Task Id and its Percent Complete value is used. In your case, one can use them from any custom source. Check Out project using action Call HTTP web service. We need to build the following dictionaries In this dictionary, we are specifying PercentComplete of task to be updated with given value   50. Call HTTP Web service to draft & update the task Update the properties as below: Publish and Check-in the project using action Call HTTP web service. This method can be followed to update project tasks using project server workflow. In case of query, add your comments below.
Project management goal: Manage resources
Today, companies are under increasing pressure to deliver technologically innovative products and solutions with decreased budgets. Because of this, resources must be fully utilized and concentrated on the highest priorities at any time. Resource management is an essential element of project management. It makes certain that the project is implemented according to the scope and overview determined in the planning phase. The resource management team aids in the development and management of the project team as well. As individuals comprise teams, resource management also involves establishing various roles and assignments throughout the project. Unfortunately, ineffective resource management undoubtedly results in negative consequences like poor productivity, project delays, poor quality, increased costs, missed opportunities, and very low morale. A key part of the challenge is recognizing that high resource use is not an indicator of good resource management. The important thing is ensuring that your resources are working on projects aligned to strategic company objectives, which match their skill sets and in which they have adequate bandwidth.  Determining what work or need to undertake next and when funds will be available are enormous challenges too. The Benefits of Enterprise Resource Management Resource management is a complex process, particularly in an enterprise with shared, geographically dispersed resources. Nearly half of the organizations report that they are stuck in silos. With so many approaches to make a project complete, it should make sense that resource management approaches can also vary. Regardless, you will find three capabilities every resource management software should include: Capacity and Demand Management: Resource optimization usage by prioritizing high-value work with accessible resource capacity Resource Usage: Ensure that the right resources are available to help your strategic objectives Progress and Time Tracking: Ensure that progress could be tracked, which can be especially valuable when using time tracking. Compare planned attempt vs. real effort to improve estimates and better understand where your resources are truly spending their time. Microsoft Project – Solution for Resource Planning & Resource Management Organizations often rely on spreadsheets to manage resources and projects due to their ease of use, simplicity, and ability to prepare a document quickly. But, keeping multiple or even shared spreadsheets up to date does not scale well and frequently becomes infeasible. AdValue built on MS Project will be able to help you make the best use the tools out there. Learn how.
Agile Connector wins two PPM software awards from FinancesOnline
Advaiya’s Agile Connector recently underwent the scrutiny of trusted B2B directory FinancesOnline.com and emerged with a score of 8.0 out of 10 and an absolute user satisfaction rating of 100%. FinancesOnline, under its project portfolio management software category, awards deserving products that have gained traction with customers for outstanding features and total usability. We couldn’t be more thrilled when reviewers recognized Agile Connector as an add-on to MS Project Professional, allowing you to monitor and track projects using the Scrum and Kanban Methodologies. The solution designed by Advaiya includes task boards, backlogs, tracking sprints, and agile reports for you to have a comprehensive view of your projects. Advaiya’s Agile Connector enables a centralized project management. It seamlessly provides a unified view of agile, non-agile, and hybrid projects across the organization in one interface for you to be in touch with the progression of every enterprise. FinancesOnline also recognized our advanced Agile Connector features that allow for seamless synchronization of MS Project Professional agile planning with MS Project Online. This ensures that your projects are backed up and that everyone who is working on them is on the same page to avoid confusions, backtracks, and unnecessary changes. Agile Connector also enables swift custom fields updates by letting you or your personnel update the fields from a single interface. The solution allows you to track the metrics related to projects across the organization for you to have a pulse on issues and to act on them immediately and accordingly. All these capabilities led the reviewers to include Agile Connector in their comprehensive project management resources guide and distinguished us with the 2018 Rising Star Award and Great User Experience Award. Agile connector was promoted in the directory site’s rankings and is now among the leading add-ins to MS Project Professional, joining the elite group of top name and established add-ins selected by the experts. We share these latest achievements with our users and customers who have found Agile Connector to be highly useful and practical solution to manage projects and boost productivity and efficiency.
Measure Your Project Performance – What & How
Measuring performance of any activity or task is essentially done to identify whether it is adding any value to your goal or not. This can be better understood by the example of arranging an event or building a house. In case of arranging an event, we manage logistics, contractors, and direct workers. Mostly, the objective of an event arrangement is ‘attendee’s satisfaction’ in line with the budgeted price. To achieve the desired goal, we keep a check on each aspect of the event, including verifying all materials used, communicating regularly with contractors to get the best work done at the estimated price and so on. While juggling with all this, we keep a tab on our planned budget, and schedule and compare it with actuals. Comparison of such key performance metrics provide direction and control and help us answer significant questions such as Where are we? How much have we spent? Are we over-budget? etc. Same is true for any project, measuring performance is as important as the project. The success of project directly or indirectly depends on good project performance scores. Measuring project performance while it’s in the execution phase is the best way to keep an eye on performance aspects. It not only gives reasonable room to take corrective actions but also increases your chances of project success. Now the major question is, what should be measured? Choosing measures which help in decision-making and insight alignment to organization objective is the key. For effective performance measurement following points must be considered: The measure should inherit from organization goals. Insight on how well the project has met its objectives. When detailed project planning is done at the beginning of planning phase, a baseline of this plan should be saved so that you may compare planned vs actuals. Performance measurement tracking rhythms should be set either weekly or fortnightly so that insight can be gained on the timely basis and corrective actions can be taken if needed. Know the difference between measuring the performance of team versus project. When team’s performance is measured, the impact of team’s performance on organization goal is measured. Whereas when project’s performance is measured, the impact of the project on organization goal, at a fixed period is measured. ‘What to measure?’ depends on a lot of factors such as who will use the measures and what decision they would make using this. In general, following are the key project performance measures: ROI (Return on Investment) Productivity Cost of quality Cost Performance Schedule Performance Customer Satisfaction Project Cycle time Alignment to strategic business goal Yes, we are talking about these measures and how those can be measured in Power BI in the upcoming webinar on Analyzing Project Performance with Power BI
MS Project Agile Connector Add-In | Advaiya
We are very excited to present the Agile Connector, an Add-in for MS Project Professional to facilitate agile methodology in Microsoft Project Online. What is MS Project Professional? MS Project Professional allow you to manage your projects more efficiently with the right timeline, budget, and resources. It helps you to improve project selection and delivery on time. Microsoft Project Professional now come with the Agile feature which allows us to create new agile projects or to apply agile views to the existing traditional “waterfall” project. The agile tools in Project enable us to track projects using Scrum and Kanban methodologies, including viewing task boards, creating backlogs and monitoring sprints, as well as displaying reports on agile statistics. Microsoft Project Online is a flexible online solution for project portfolio management (PPM) and everyday work. It enables organizations to get started quickly with powerful project management capabilities to plan, prioritize, and manage projects and project portfolio investments-from almost anywhere on almost any device. At the same time, if we open the project in Microsoft Project Online, it will display in the waterfall model. For now, the Agile feature is released only for MS Project Desktop version and is not available in Project Online. The custom fields used in Microsoft Project Professional for implementing Agile methodologies such as task boards, backlogs, tracking sprints and agile reports are not available in Project Online. To facilitate agile methodology in Microsoft Project Online and to provide the similar user view, Advaiya has developed an add-in for MS Project Professional which allows stakeholders to get insights into the agile managed projects in the equivalent way as they get with traditional projects. The connector provides features to synchronize Agile project tasks between Project Professional and Project Online. The Agile connector for Microsoft Project Professional add-in is designed to work with Microsoft Project 2016. Feature of Agile Connector Using the add-in, agile custom fields in Project Pro like Sprint, Agile & Board Status will synchronize with configuring enterprise custom fields in Project Online When a project is published from Project Professional – custom fields values will move from Project Pro to respective enterprise custom fields When the project is published from Project Online and is opened in Project Professional –the enterprise custom field values will move to respective custom fields in Project Pro. Key Benefits of Agile Connector: Sync Project Professional agile planning with Project Online Perform updates on agile based enterprise custom fields in Project Online Track all metrics related to agile project management across the portfolio of projects Get a unified view and centralized management of various agile, non-agile and hybrid projects across the organization Request for the Agile connector and Go Agile!