Is project 2k3 server overkill for a medium sized company?

Hello.

I'm looking to learn if Project Pro is sufficient for my needs, or should I
go with Project Pro -and- Project server.

I have a need to share project artifacts across global teams, to push to
SharePoint, and have teams contribute through standard (ITIL) change
management practice.

Do I need only one copy of server for the entire company? Would one copy of
project pro per business unit do what I need?

I could use some advise. It is my understanding that even in many large
corporations, Project Server is considered overkill.

Aside from this post, I can be reached at:

steven.seim@us.wdsglobal.com

I am located in the Redmond Washington area. A quick phone call or meeting
is an option, if appropriate.

Many thanks to you.

Steven

Rod
Fri May 20 15:58:06 CDT 2005

One copy of Project Server is fine. Larger organisations may have several
copies where they have independent divisions, each with their own project
office.

You need one copy of Project Professional for each project manager to
schedule their projects with and one CAL for each person who is going to use
Project Web Access which is the web interface displayed using IE5.5+

Project Server returns the best value when you are operating at a high 3
level of project management maturity or higher. Saying Project is overkill
in a large organization is possibly to say we don't do resource management,
manage issues and risks or share much project data: this is maturity level 2
or less behavior!

--

Rod Gill
Project MVP
Visit www.msproject-systems.com for Project Companion Tools and more


"Steven Seim" <Steven Seim@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:B2BA2289-47E7-45C0-B788-6DE77106D2CB@microsoft.com...
> Hello.
>
> I'm looking to learn if Project Pro is sufficient for my needs, or should
> I
> go with Project Pro -and- Project server.
>
> I have a need to share project artifacts across global teams, to push to
> SharePoint, and have teams contribute through standard (ITIL) change
> management practice.
>
> Do I need only one copy of server for the entire company? Would one copy
> of
> project pro per business unit do what I need?
>
> I could use some advise. It is my understanding that even in many large
> corporations, Project Server is considered overkill.
>
> Aside from this post, I can be reached at:
>
> steven.seim@us.wdsglobal.com
>
> I am located in the Redmond Washington area. A quick phone call or
> meeting
> is an option, if appropriate.
>
> Many thanks to you.
>
> Steven

Steven
Fri May 20 22:57:01 CDT 2005

Thank you Rod.

I'm getting the impression that with Project server and Project Pro,
projects can be generated such that they create a web presence in SharePoint,
that at the same time grants access to parties outside the company that
generated the project to begin with.

If I have this right, this would be useful to project managers that are not
very technical.

Am I on track here? If so, this would be overhead savings to a point.

Thanks

Steven
Steven.Seim@us.wdsglobal.com



"Rod Gill" wrote:

> One copy of Project Server is fine. Larger organisations may have several
> copies where they have independent divisions, each with their own project
> office.
>
> You need one copy of Project Professional for each project manager to
> schedule their projects with and one CAL for each person who is going to use
> Project Web Access which is the web interface displayed using IE5.5+
>
> Project Server returns the best value when you are operating at a high 3
> level of project management maturity or higher. Saying Project is overkill
> in a large organization is possibly to say we don't do resource management,
> manage issues and risks or share much project data: this is maturity level 2
> or less behavior!
>
> --
>
> Rod Gill
> Project MVP
> Visit www.msproject-systems.com for Project Companion Tools and more
>
>

Rod
Sat May 21 03:12:11 CDT 2005

Yes the project can be published to Project Web Access (based on SharePoint
Services) but you do have to be careful and follow recommended architecture
to make the whole system secure over the Internet.

--

Rod Gill
Project MVP
Visit www.msproject-systems.com for Project Companion Tools and more


"Steven Seim" <Steven Seim@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:AA3786EB-3486-446A-8F26-12E089CD429D@microsoft.com...
> Thank you Rod.
>
> I'm getting the impression that with Project server and Project Pro,
> projects can be generated such that they create a web presence in
> SharePoint,
> that at the same time grants access to parties outside the company that
> generated the project to begin with.
>
> If I have this right, this would be useful to project managers that are
> not
> very technical.
>
> Am I on track here? If so, this would be overhead savings to a point.
>
> Thanks
>
> Steven
> Steven.Seim@us.wdsglobal.com
>
>
>
> "Rod Gill" wrote:
>
>> One copy of Project Server is fine. Larger organisations may have several
>> copies where they have independent divisions, each with their own project
>> office.
>>
>> You need one copy of Project Professional for each project manager to
>> schedule their projects with and one CAL for each person who is going to
>> use
>> Project Web Access which is the web interface displayed using IE5.5+
>>
>> Project Server returns the best value when you are operating at a high 3
>> level of project management maturity or higher. Saying Project is
>> overkill
>> in a large organization is possibly to say we don't do resource
>> management,
>> manage issues and risks or share much project data: this is maturity
>> level 2
>> or less behavior!
>>
>> --
>>
>> Rod Gill
>> Project MVP
>> Visit www.msproject-systems.com for Project Companion Tools and more
>>
>>

StevenSeim
Sat May 21 12:01:03 CDT 2005

Understood Rod, and thanks.

Issues associated with publishing can likely be covered through training.
As a second step, it might be wise to push the project to MIS/OPs folks
first, and let them guarantee security and rights before posting.

Now for installation and configuration: on a scale of 1 to 10, where 10 is
expert, our companies MIS/OPs group would rate a 4.5. Given the scalability
and complexity of the Project server, SharePoint and SQL combo, my guess is
that we should hook up with a consultant type post purchase.

Many thanks to you

Steven


"Rod Gill" wrote:

> Yes the project can be published to Project Web Access (based on SharePoint
> Services) but you do have to be careful and follow recommended architecture
> to make the whole system secure over the Internet.

jlarscheid
Sat Sep 01 16:52:01 PDT 2007

If you use the Project Publisher for Microsoft Office Project utility it can
Publish and Update Microsoft Project tasks, project and resource information
to and from SharePoint. You also can publish multiple Microsoft Project
plans to a single SharePoint site so you can create lightweight EPM solutions
around the SharePoint platform.

They have a free 30 trial at http://www.projectpublisher.com





"Steven Seim" wrote:

> Hello.
>
> I'm looking to learn if Project Pro is sufficient for my needs, or should I
> go with Project Pro -and- Project server.
>
> I have a need to share project artifacts across global teams, to push to
> SharePoint, and have teams contribute through standard (ITIL) change
> management practice.
>
> Do I need only one copy of server for the entire company? Would one copy of
> project pro per business unit do what I need?
>
> I could use some advise. It is my understanding that even in many large
> corporations, Project Server is considered overkill.
>
> Aside from this post, I can be reached at:
>
> steven.seim@us.wdsglobal.com
>
> I am located in the Redmond Washington area. A quick phone call or meeting
> is an option, if appropriate.
>
> Many thanks to you.
>
> Steven