There are a few options available for managing projects available at the university that are no cost to you. Options are varied depending on your skills and the needs of your project. These include a variety of products from Microsoft as well as TeamDynamix. There are other PM tools used at the University for specific project management cases that are not listed here.
| Product |
Pros |
Cons |
Training |
| Microsoft Planner (basic) |
- Simple Kanban board style planning
- Close integration with Teams
- Easy to attach file to tasks
- Comments/discussion available on individual tasks
|
- Can't track dependencies between tasks
- Less customizable/flexible than other options
|
Get started with Microsoft Planner
Getting started with Planner in Teams
|
| Microsoft Planner 1 |
- Reduced cost license available through OIT Procurement.
- Includes features of Planner (basic) and ____
|
- Not available without purchase of enhanced Microsoft license.
|
The new Microsoft Planner: A unified experience bringing together to-dos, tasks, plans and projects |
| Microsoft Planner 3 |
- Reduced cost license available through OIT Procurement.
- Includes features of Planner (basic) and Planner 1, plus ____
|
- Not available without purchase of enhanced Microsoft license.
|
Microsoft Planner video training |
| Microsoft Loop |
- Templates available, Kanban-like boards
- Flexibility to add/remove modules based on what is needed
- Ability to create "workspaces" with multiple items for a given project
- Content from Loop can be shared via email, Teams, etc. AND shared item reflects changes in Loop after it is sent/shared.
|
- Can't track dependencies between tasks
- May require more manual setup than other options
|
Get started with Microsoft Loop |
| Microsoft Lists |
- Customizable data fields and views/filters
- Automatic notifications can be configured
- Easy to attach file to tasks
- Comments/discussion available on individual tasks
|
- Can't track dependencies between tasks
- Updating tasks is less efficient than other options
|
Microsoft Lists help & learning |
| TeamDynamix (TDX) |
- Waterfall and Card Wall project plan formats
- Ability to configure and customize reporting and views/filters
- Automatic and manual email notifications (with response capturing)
- For each task: ability to set dependencies, attach files, and capture comments/discussion
- Custom data fields available on project plans
- Risk register & issues log
- Budget management
- Resource management and time allocation/planning
- Baseline capabilities (for budget, timeline, resources)
|
- Does not leverage existing access and permissions (i.e. requires manual access management)
- Administrative overhead required to ensure alignment with system usage in multiple departments
- File sharing and general collaboration best served by use of a team in Microsoft Teams alongside TDX project
|
Getting Started with Project Management |