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Project Tracking Software

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  • January 22, 2009 at 12:54 pm #24090

    Darrin
    ★★★★★★★★★★
    Participant

    I am currently looking at different project tracking software like Minitab companion and PowerSteering I would really be interested in comments and ideas on other software other Belts have used with recommendations or advice on steering clear.
     
    I am also keen on how people justified brining this to their organisation and what Justification they used to warrant the expenditure and payback of such programmes.

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    February 4, 2009 at 9:47 am #57693

    Norbert
    ★★★★★★★★★★
    Participant

    Hi,
    In the “Six Sigma & Lean Deployment” I am responsbile for (currently 9 countries across Europe) we use Programme Manager software (i-nexus, i-solutions) very successfully. The tool is more than flexbile, e.g. allows multiple currencies at the same time, there are a lot things in the system we can modify ourselfes (without extra pay to consultants!) and the supplier is very responsive and customer-oriented to our requirements.
    Payback is coming (and partly measured) from huge reduction of manual reporting effort (automated now), using the most current common workbook & methodology standards, the transperency across all projects in all countries/ locations, by re-using of results from other projects than my own and by the leveraging best practices across countries, by using the integrated (approval, notification, reporting) workflows as well as from avoiding redundancy of information in different local systems and various excel/access-sheets we had before.
    What you need to make it run is an appropriate amount of rigour & “discipline” in updating the project information by all project leaders (Belts). But this you also need if you decide to work with ms excel & co.
    Norbert, GE-certified MBB, LSS Deployment Leader Europe
     
     
     

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    February 4, 2009 at 10:02 am #57694

    Darrin
    ★★★★★★★★★★
    Participant

    Thanks Norbert,
     
    I appreciate your feed back I am looking at Minitab Companion 3 and Microsoft sharepoint and PowerSteering, Sharepoint looks out of the running but so far both PowerSteering and Companion 3 are close runners, I will have a good look at your suggestion and hopefully will have a good third option.
     
    Many Many thanks
    Darrin
    CSSBB

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    February 4, 2009 at 11:47 am #57695

    Peter van den Akker
    ★★★★★★★★★★
    Participant

    Generally I can echo what Norbert posted and would also say that without proper Project Tracking Software you shouldn’t even start LSS Deployment. We implemented the Instantis solution right at the beginning of our LSS journey. We have some areas where the also use the Minitab s/w that is very attractive for the Belts but as it is a single user system it is inappropriate for enterprise management. On this site you can buy a report where several dedicate Project Tracking Software solutions are compared.Peter van den Akker Deployment Manager Lean Six Sigma Xerox Europe

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    February 4, 2009 at 11:51 am #57696

    Darrin
    ★★★★★★★★★★
    Participant

    Hi Peter,
    Thanks and I agree with your statements about project tracking from the start of deployment.
    Regards
    Darrin
     

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    February 4, 2009 at 2:33 pm #57697

    DLW
    ★★★★★★★★★★
    Participant

    Peter,
    Did you intend to post a link to that software comparison site? I
    would be interested in knowing of it in order to have my company’s
    product considered for review.
    Thank you.
    David Wright
    Business Process Excellence LLC
    Developers of Applied Strategy Execution(TM)

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    February 4, 2009 at 2:51 pm #57698

    walden
    ★★★★★★★★★★
    Participant

    Darrin
    I have experience with two LSS project tracking applications – Quality Companion (w/ the dashboard) and TRACtion – both are very good.  I am also familiar with the standards – iNexus, PowerSteering, and Instantis. 
    I find it interesting that you are looking at both Quality Companion 3 and PowerSteering as the prices and value propositions between the applications are huge. 
    I think if you stick with the standard products in the industry you can’t go wrong as they all have good people and successful deployments, but don’t get over or under sold on features.  If you need all the advance features needed for a global deployment (links to SAP and other databases, multiple currencies, etc.) then go with one of the big boys, but if you need a simple, low cost, ease-to-use solution don’t get oversold.
    I hope this helps.
    Chris

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    February 4, 2009 at 6:22 pm #57699

    Peter van den Akker
    ★★★★★★★★★★
    Participant

    David, I was referring to the iSixSigma site and tried to find it back for you, but had insufficient time. I believe it was also publish in the magazine, so if you have access to the archive you can search there. I found this link to another article that might be useful, but I haven’t read it https://www.isixsigma.com/library/content/c080530a.aspSuccess & regards, Peter
     
     
     

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    February 4, 2009 at 6:34 pm #57700

    DLW
    ★★★★★★★★★★
    Participant

    Peter,Thank you for the clarifying response. I feel a bit stupid for not
    realizing that by “this site” you meant “this site” :O)I believe I have come across the report you refer to.
    Thank you.
    David Wright

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    February 11, 2009 at 6:59 pm #57702

    Cris Dreher
    ★★★★★★★★★★
    Participant

    Darrin
    I did a benchmarking and acquisition project for a program to support the enterprise LSS deployment in 2005/6.  The two top contenders were Instantis and PowerSteering (substantiated by the subsequent isixsigma review in late 2006).  We acquired PS and used it with great success for many of the reasons stated by the previous commenters.  The “benefits” that sold the adoption were two-fold.  First, the ability to accelerate project completion thereby capturing the value of the solution more quickly.  Secondly, the ability to manage the financial approval process for benefits and track the actuals to plan. 
    Cris Dreher
    Senior Manager | MBB with a global financial services company

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