Project management is one aspect of business communication that has not changed much with the advent of Web 2.0 technology. Collaborative teams still set firm deadlines, use email to communicate requirements and send documents, and if they’re lucky, use some form of project management software such as Microsoft Project. With the continued growth and popularity of Software As A Service (SAAS) tools, it was only a matter of time before innovative companies emerged with web-based models for collaboration. Two of these tools were recently profiled in eWeek, and they aim to attract users by modeling the way in which projects are actually completed.
LiquidPlanner was launched in a beta form in February, and the creative team behind this tool is led by two former Expedia.com managers. Their project management application is designed to respond to the uncertainty and flexibility that most business projects require. As eWeek points out, “Everything [in project management] has a due date, and, when a team doesn’t meet that date, members feel as if they failed…The funny thing is, almost nothing else in the world works that way.” Due dates are great for goal setting and retaining customers, but they don’t take into account the unexpected speed bumps that every team will encounter.
LiquidPlanner attempts to build this flexibility into their application by allowing users to set a range of projected due dates for each task. Users can easily switch between viewing the project in a timeline or by function. It also helps teams stay on track by providing vivid visuals that alert teams to upcoming requirements. It also features a collaborative space which is modeled on WIKI technology to facilitate clear communication and document sharing without versioning issues. And, as any good Web 2.0 application does, LiquidPlanner features a customizable dashboard which allows users to approach their projects on their own terms.
The other new tool which eWeek profiled is called Lunarr, and it acts as a virtual brainstorming scratch pad. The idea is simple: allow teams to collaborate not only on official documentation (like meeting handouts or presentations), but also on informal notes and ideas (like the notes you write on the back of meeting handouts or presentations). Lunarr calls this space a “back page”, and ideally it includes all forms of documentation for a given project, including emails, discussions, notes, and official documents. Their web-based tool gives teams a way to access all of this intelligence in one location.
eWeek has high praise for Lunarr’s potential: “Lunarr makes it possible to collaborate on pretty much anything, and, whether the service itself proves successful, points to true next-generation Web applications, where deeper functionality such as collaboration can be layered onto any other Web application.” The functionality resembles a rich WIKI page, and it allows users to access templates for ease of reading a variety of document types. Each team member can choose to keep their “back page” private or shared, while the front page reflects changes and keeps the latest version fresh. The application is current in free, invite-only beta, and pricing structures are yet to be decided for future releases.
The unique thing about these two Web 2.0 tools is how they attempt to reflect, instead of influence, the reality of project management. Their features are designed to compliment the changing nature of business projects, and help teams to make the most of organization applications.