This white paper will discuss how organizations can adapt the useful elements of social networking into powerful project portfolio management tools. It will detail the goals of a social media strategy: closed networks versus open networks; strengthening work groups; sharing business information; collaboration; productivity and transparency. 

1. White Paper
The PM Challenges of Email, Excel Spreadsheets and Desktop Folders
DIANA ESKANDER
Genius Project by Cerri.com

2. GeniusProject.com
Abstract
It’s surprising how many people and companies still
try to manage their tasks and projects with old school
techniques like email inboxes, excel spreadsheets and
desktop folders - even physical notepads. While these
are all great tools, there’s a time and place for using
them, which in our opinion is best left for individual
projects. For organizations who wish to achieve
scalability and improve their bottom line, a detailed
view into the past, present and future is vital.

3. GeniusProject.com
The Case of Email
• The zero inbox challenge
• Endless distractions
• Hard to track
• Leaving stakeholders in the dark
• Pertinent background info

4. GeniusProject.com
The Case of Excel
Spreadsheets
• Limited information
• Collaboration challenges
• Absence of project management model
• Planning limitations
• Accuracy issues

5. GeniusProject.com
The Case of Desktop
Folders
• Limited space
• Vulnerability
• Turnover
• Duplicated Work
• Sorting criteria
• Information sharing

6. GeniusProject.com

7. GeniusProject.com
The Case for Project
Management Solutions
• Global view
• Improved accuracy
• Reporting & measuring
• Improved collaboration

8. GeniusProject.com
Are you ready for an EPM
Solution?
EPM Readiness Checklist
Does your organization have a growing portfolio of projects impacting the
bottom line?
Do not wait until your project pipeline becomes unmanageable. If you are in a
high growth industry where projects are central to your success, you may want
to incorporate an EPM strategy earlier (rather than later) when your projects are
manageable making the transition much smoother.

9. GeniusProject.com
Does your project pipeline exceed the abilities of your current resource pool?
The moment your pipeline of projects is quickly approaching your capacity of
resources and EPM strategy needs to be considered. People are the cornerstone
to successful projects and preparing your EPM resource plan before it becomes
an issue can avoid future losses in time and money.
Do you leverage any industry best practices (e.g. PMI)?
Getting ready for EPM means you need to build a project management best
practices approach to delivering projects. Formalizing your approach to project
management builds the ideal culture for the success and adoption of EPM in the
organization.
Do you have a formal process and/or governance framework in place?
Establishing a formal process and/or governance framework builds the structure
to support an EPM strategy. Furthermore, a framework should engage the whole
organization so that the holistic philosophy of EPM is setup for success.

10. GeniusProject.com
Are your existing tools and technology falling short?
Probably the best indicator you need to look at EPM solutions is when your existing tools
lag in delivering the information to effectively hit project timelines and manage your
distribution of work among resources.
Do you have executive buy-in for change?
With the introduction of any new EPM process or technology the change
management question cannot be ignored. Including a change management
component from the top down can mean the difference between successful
organizational adoption and the failure of EPM.

11. GeniusProject.com
The Genius Project Solution
If your company is experiencing growth and can
relate to most or all of the points above, an Enterprise
Project Management solution such as Genius Project
is something you need to consider. Choose a solution
that will adapt to your business needs – and not the
other way around.