1. Project Management
On a Tight Budget!
By Michael Reina

2. My Background
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MIS major
Project work experience:
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Shell Canada
Calgary Airport Authority
University of Lethbridge
Zeilk Corp. & Freelance
Focus today:
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Freelance Project Management experience

3. Complex Projects
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Logos and branding
Websites
Mobile apps
Marketing

4. The Needs
Reliable...
● Applications for word processing & spreadsheets
● Software to create charts
● Way to collaborate and communicate
● Software to track time and resources
To meet the Project Management Processes:

5. The Issues
● Low budget
● Fast implementation needed
● Somewhat industry standard

6. The Easy Fix
Need
Standard Solution
Process Use
Application to create
documents and
spreadsheets
MS Word ~$100
MS Excel ~$140
All process groups
Software to create
charts
MS Visio ~$800
Initiating and planning
A way to collaborate
and communicate
MS Sharepoint Online
$4 - $8 per user, per month
MS Outlook ~$99
All process groups
Software to track time,
resources and cost
MS Project ~$1,500
Planning and executing

7. The Holy Grail?
Need
Standard Solution
Word processor to
create documents
Software to create
charts
A way to collaborate
and communicate
Software to track time,
resources and cost
Process Use
AtTask
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Agile
Centralized request mgt
Approvals
Time tracking
Document manager
Reports
Dynamic gantt chart
Portfolio optimizer
More
~$30 per user per
month
All process groups

8. Other Paid Options
Basecamp:
● 10 projects for
● $20/month
● Unlimited users
ActiveCollab
● $500 self-hosted (unlimited everything)
● or 25/month (5 users)

9. The Rebels!
Need
Free* Solutions
Process Use
Word processor to
create documents
OpenOffice Writer
Google Drive: Word
All process groups
Software to create
charts
OpenOffice Draw
Google Drive: Lucidchart
Initiating and planning
A way to collaborate
and communicate
Freedcamp
Google Drive
Gmail
All process groups
Software to track time,
resources and cost
Google Drive: Gantter
OpenProj
Planning and executing
*Some may have limitations

10. Quick Overview: OpenOffice

11. Quick Overview: Lucidchart

12. Quick Overview: Freedcamp

13. Quick Overview: Gantter

14. Quick Overview: OpenProj

15. Conclusion
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There are many options.
Companies can reduce project management
costs.
Inexpensive (or free) options can handle
complex projects.

16. Questions
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What are some of the risks associated with
using some of these cloud-based solutions?
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How about the benefits/opportunities?
Would it be wise for a startup company to
invest in traditional local applications or
invest in cloud-based solutions?
o
How does Project Management Maturity Level
influence this decision?