Evaluating Project Management Software Packages Using a Scoring Model—A Comparison between MS Project and Primavera

Hani Gharaibeh

PMPC Consulting Inc., Amman, Jordan.

DOI: 10.4236/jsea.2014.77050                

Abstract

Since the Mid 1980’s, an increasing number of project management software packages (PMSP) has appeared in the market to support project management organizations. Despite the wide spread of PMSP, projects based organizations are left unguided as to how they should select the most appropriate software tool for their intended business use. The aim of this research was to apply a scoring model developed using ISO/IEC 14,000 software evaluation criteria to evaluate the effectiveness of two software packages in terms of functionality and price, and produce a summary of the evaluation records. To achieve research objective, a questionnaire survey method was used to investigate the two different project management software packages. One questionnaire was circulated among software users in various locations and another was targeting the software vendors. The findings of this study revealed differences between the two packages under investigation and highlighted the strength and weakness of each package. The author was able to assess the efficiency of each software package and provided a score for each attribute which helps the user to understand how the software package performs. This investigation revealed that the software user is not concerned with the most sophisticated package, or the package that has more advanced tools and features. What is more important for the user is their need to produce simple time charts, simple resource and cost analysis and basic reports.

Keywords

Software Evaluation, Attributes, Evaluation Criteria, Scoring Module, Software User, Software Vendor

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1]	Suhanic, G. (2001) Computer-Aided Project Management. Oxford University Press, New York.
[2]	Gido, J. and Clements, J.P. (1999) Successful Project Management. South Western Hill, Berkeley.
[3]	Levine, H. (1986) Project Management Using Microcomputers. Osborne McGraw, New York City.
[4]	Connell, J. and Shafer, L. (1987) The Professional User’s Guide to Software Evaluation. Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis.
[5]	Law, D. (1993) Evaluating Methods and Tools in Software Quality Management, 17. American Elsevier Publishing Company, Inc., New York.
[6]	ISO/IEC DIS 14589-1 (1996) Information Technology-Software Product Evaluation. NY, USA.
[7]	Busha, C.H. and Harter, S.P. (1980) Research Methods in Librarianship: Techniques and Interpretations. Academic Press Inc., Orlando.
[8]	Mangonie, T.W. (1995) Mail Surveys: Improving the Quality. Sage Publication, Nostrard Reintold Company, New York, 129.
[9]	Shtub, A. and Brand, J.F. (1994) Project Management, Engineering Technology and Implementation. Prentice Hall Inc., Upper Saddle River.