People keep wondering over this question. But the answer to it cannot be one word.
No one can say windows is better or one should go for cloud. There are many aspects
to vote for the two. A wrong choice will increase the problems instead of solving
them. If wrong choice is made, then project manager will then have one more additional
task – managing the software itself.
Ok, let us try to understand how we could make a choice. There is only one thing
that Project Manager needs to ask himself
Will I be the only one using the software or is there a need that my team members
will also have an access to the software.
This will help to make quick decision. Basically and traditionally, the cloud versions
are used when software needs to be accessed by multiple people in the organization.
The system requires flow of inputs and information to each and every node present
in the organization or people who are into process of building projects.
To execute a project, there are following roles involved :
Now, if project manager thinks that every role has to interact with the project management solution I am using, then he has no other alternative
but to go for cloud version of the software. With cloud version of the software,
the following becomes possible in the system :
-
The updation in the progress of the task will be made by each team member by himself.
-
The registration in the system can be done by member themselves.
-
The newly created task or project will be broadcasted to related or each team member’s
dashboard.
-
The project manager can view the status from any machine, not necessarily be present
on its own PC.
-
If possible in the software, there can be a place for discussion and debates in
the system itself where everyone can share and discuss their project challenges
and solutions.
-
With more advancement, the software can also have a feature of knowledge management
where all documents, rules, methodologies, general terms related to projects are
uploaded. With this, project manager do not have explain the repeated content to
each individual separately.
Above mentioned are those features which are additionally provided in cloud-based
project management. Ofcourse, these are apart from obvious features like recording
project information, division of project into tasks, assignment of task to team
member and so on.
Why have I taken only these features, is because these are the points which may
distinguish between the working of windows and cloud-based software. With these
features, cloud-based solution will promise to automate the task, to some extent
for project managers. But it may happen that there is loss of efficiency in work
of other team members as now instead of focusing on their core work (according to
the role assigned) they need to be interactive with the software.
Now, the activity for you.
Read again each of the point mentioned above. If you think you can manage your projects
without having any of these features because you are getting the core functions
in windows-based solution, then go for exploring the project management system which
is windows based.
In contrast to above 6 points, in windows-based, the project manager needs to manage
everything at its own end and this has few benefits :
-
There is no dependency on team member for updates with respect to the project status.
-
Correct data will be entered in the software as project manager is itself monitoring
the projects and their status. So if task is worth 40% of completion, it will only
be recorded with the same figure.
-
Being professional, it is important that company’s sensitive data should be
accessed within the premises. Hence, windows-based will help the higher management
control this factor as well.
There are few points which are not compared with the cloud-based system. We have
mentioned that on cloud-based system, team can discuss about project management.
This seems accepted and cool. But only for those companies who discourages the face-to-face
meeting among employees.
Quite a blunt statement. Right! It is actually right.
There are situation in company when higher management does not want that certain
roles discuss project development as it may happen that there are lots of discussion
and finally no solution. So it often happen that only few people decides what is
to be developed and then the idea/concept is floated among others. This ensures
the correct and timely delivery of the project. So if such is the issue with your
company as well, you have already made a choice for the type of software you want.
I am not at all saying that all the additional features provided by cloud-based
solution should be discarded; what I am saying is if you do not require them now,
then why to complicate the process. A simple, concentrated
windows-based project management software will give project manager a peace
of mind and concentrated management of process.
Finally coming to the heading of this blog : Which is better – Windows or
cloud based project management software. As I already said, the answer cannot be
of one word.
I hope you agree.
To try our standalone project management software, which we named Project Cafe,
download now and provide us your feedback on the software. We will induce new features for better user experience.