What the best way to track my work projects?
May 28, 2009 2:38 PM Subscribe
What the best way to track my work projects? I usually have thirty to fifty different projects going on simultaneously, all in various stages of completion.
I am interrupted often during the day, need to switch from project to project quickly, and I spend half the day out of the office sometimes. Ideally, I could see the customer, contact info, due dates, notes, color-coding based on status, that sort of thing.
I'm looking for something either electronic or physical or transcendent - all suggestions will be considered.
I am interrupted often during the day, need to switch from project to project quickly, and I spend half the day out of the office sometimes. Ideally, I could see the customer, contact info, due dates, notes, color-coding based on status, that sort of thing.
I'm looking for something either electronic or physical or transcendent - all suggestions will be considered.
I haven't gotten to try these, but here are Gantt Charts set up for EXCEL by others.
posted by filthy light thief at 2:46 PM on May 28, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by filthy light thief at 2:46 PM on May 28, 2009 [1 favorite]
Ideally, I could see the customer, contact info, due dates, notes, color-coding based on status, that sort of thing.
This is exactly what online project management apps do. Try Basecamp (which everyone uses but I hate) or Teamwork (which I love.)
posted by DarlingBri at 2:49 PM on May 28, 2009
This is exactly what online project management apps do. Try Basecamp (which everyone uses but I hate) or Teamwork (which I love.)
posted by DarlingBri at 2:49 PM on May 28, 2009
Response by poster: I also just realized that I asked this question in Bizarro-grammar ("WHAT THE BEST WAY," etc.) and I am super embarrassed.
posted by Optimus Chyme at 2:52 PM on May 28, 2009
posted by Optimus Chyme at 2:52 PM on May 28, 2009
I use a tracking log set up in Excel as well. I tried Basecamp at one point for a different job & was less than thrilled.
posted by oh really at 2:55 PM on May 28, 2009
posted by oh really at 2:55 PM on May 28, 2009
Best answer: I use a separate Excel sheet to track each job. Each line is an action item with the date it was entered, from whom action is required, how long it is expected to take, when it is due, when it was completed, and any comments. Color-coded for in progress, complete, and oh no!.
posted by curie at 3:48 PM on May 28, 2009
posted by curie at 3:48 PM on May 28, 2009
Best answer: If you're on a mac, then check out Microsoft Entourage. I've never used it myself but heard it's pretty easy to use.
posted by sambosambo at 1:30 AM on May 29, 2009
posted by sambosambo at 1:30 AM on May 29, 2009
Best answer: If you're on a Mac, I'd encourage you to check out Things (the project-management app I've found best and most flexible for my needs, after getting a chance to try out most of the popular ones).
Alternative: my friend swears by DevonTHINK.
posted by kalapierson at 12:46 PM on May 29, 2009
Alternative: my friend swears by DevonTHINK.
posted by kalapierson at 12:46 PM on May 29, 2009
This thread is closed to new comments.
Spend an hour or two setting it up, and keep tweaking the layout, and you could be pretty happy with this. But it's really basic, in terms of set-up or programming reminders.
posted by filthy light thief at 2:43 PM on May 28, 2009