Manage Projects Smarter: Picking Tools for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises

dc.creator	Stefanie Quade
dc.creator	Frank Habermann
dc.creator	Marcus Birkenkrahe
dc.date	2012-08-01T00:00:00Z
dc.date.accessioned	2015-08-12T11:16:36Z
dc.date.available	2015-08-12T11:16:36Z
dc.identifier	10.3991/ijac.v5i3.2175
dc.identifier	1867-5565
dc.identifier	https://doaj.org/article/a323e3a29fbc4d5290071414c415c020
dc.identifier.uri	http://evidence.thinkportal.org/handle/123456789/25768
dc.description	Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are increasingly dealing with international projects and distributed (sometimes even virtual) teams. Consequently, they are looking for project management (PM) tools which fit their respective needs regarding communication and collaboration. Unfortunately, the majority of the PM software available in the market seems to be oversized for this purpose. Instead most project managers are requesting smart solutions that allow quick implementation without any significant organisational or technical change. Within the research project InterComp SME 2.0 we combine theoretical research and real business to develop hands-on solutions for SMEs. This paper describes an effective approach for a “PM Toolbox” that allows finding the right project tool for a specific project need. The toolbox has been developed in due consideration of user stories gained from business practice, a more detailed SME business survey, a theoretical PM meta model and a market of PM tools. Since the business survey revealed that the readiness to use and test a “toolbox” is highly dependent on the type of user and his or her technical background, we designed the system based on use cases and user typology. As a result, we suggest a framework of open, freely available, easy-to-install, single and multi purpose PM software tools which can be selected solely on a need basis. With this free platform we want to guide practitioners through the tool jungle with the potential to grow into a lively community.
dc.language	English
dc.publisher	kassel university press GmbH
dc.relation	http://online-journals.org/i-jac/article/view/2175
dc.relation	https://doaj.org/toc/1867-5565
dc.rights	CC BY
dc.source	International Journal of Advanced Corporate Learning (iJAC), Vol 5, Iss 3, Pp 43-47 (2012)
dc.subject	Business Community, Project Management, SME, Toolbox, User Stories
dc.subject	Theory and practice of education
dc.subject	LB5-3640
dc.subject	Education
dc.subject	L
dc.subject	DOAJ:Education
dc.subject	DOAJ:Social Sciences
dc.subject	Theory and practice of education
dc.subject	LB5-3640
dc.subject	Education
dc.subject	L
dc.subject	DOAJ:Education
dc.subject	DOAJ:Social Sciences
dc.subject	Theory and practice of education
dc.subject	LB5-3640
dc.subject	Education
dc.subject	L
dc.subject	Theory and practice of education
dc.subject	LB5-3640
dc.subject	Education
dc.subject	L
dc.subject	Theory and practice of education
dc.subject	LB5-3640
dc.subject	Education
dc.subject	L
dc.title	Manage Projects Smarter: Picking Tools for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises
dc.type	article