Single-user And Group-user Project Management Systems

Project management is the science of organizing, planning and managing the resources of an organization in order to accomplish specific objectives. It includes developing an activity plan, quantifying the resources needed and those available, then proceeding to the implementation of said plan and controlling its development.

A project management system is a set of procedures and equipment used to collect, analyze and store data about the project's performance. Years ago, information systems consisted mainly of manual processes and physical storage devices; nowadays, many of them have the technical support of computers. They include calendars, budgeting and administration software and give the members of the team the opportunity of collaborating and communicating at all times.

There are two types of management systems: those conceived for single-users and those for multiple-users. Single-user systems are created based on the assumption that only one person will ever need to edit the project at a specific moment. They usually consist of desktop applications and are particularly useful for projects that require a small number of operators.

When acquiring such a system, one must be very careful not to mistake them for personal project management applications, which are also designed as single-user structures, but are much simpler and are destined for personal and household projects.

On the other hand, multiple-user systems can be edited by a larger number of persons at the same time. Each user works on the tasks that are given to him, then the information is embedded in the overall plan. A good example of a multiple-user system is the extranet, a web-based tool that requires constant Internet access.

When deciding on the system you want to implement in your organization, keep in mind that the most important thing is for you to be able to meet the project's goals. Any type of application can be the right one at long as it's productive and rewarding.