Software for managing academic projects and workflow.
January 6, 2010 5:56 AM Subscribe
Anecdote-Filter: The best Project Management software for the academic sphere?
I'm trying to avoid turning the task of finding project management software into a project itself - t'would be ironic, to say the least. I've landed on Wikipedia's comparison of project management software:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_project_management_software but unfortunately this tells me so little about the how and the what of these programs.
Let's say cost isn't an issue, what have you used, or would you use if you could, for project management of a Master's/PhD thesis and of various other graduate school academic tasks (readings, papers, analyses). The grain of detail I need is daily, weekly, and monthly. Definitely not hourly. Also, I don't need to colab with anyone.
I'm trying to avoid turning the task of finding project management software into a project itself - t'would be ironic, to say the least. I've landed on Wikipedia's comparison of project management software:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_project_management_software but unfortunately this tells me so little about the how and the what of these programs.
Let's say cost isn't an issue, what have you used, or would you use if you could, for project management of a Master's/PhD thesis and of various other graduate school academic tasks (readings, papers, analyses). The grain of detail I need is daily, weekly, and monthly. Definitely not hourly. Also, I don't need to colab with anyone.
Response by poster: You might find this description of one particular digital academic workflow interesting. I am happy with most of the software cited.
Unfortunately, I don't have a Mac. Sorry, I forgot to specify that I am running Windows 7, x64.
posted by tybeet at 6:23 AM on January 6, 2010
Unfortunately, I don't have a Mac. Sorry, I forgot to specify that I am running Windows 7, x64.
posted by tybeet at 6:23 AM on January 6, 2010
The grain of detail I need is daily, weekly, and monthly. Definitely not hourly. Also, I don't need to colab with anyone.
You don't need project management software. You need a notebook with dates written in it. I honestly use flat text files for this (+grep), and it imposes the least overhead and the least opportunity, most portability, and no elaborate procrastination. If you want a little more fancy, a wiki-on-a-stick like tiddly wiki comes with nice features like date sorting, but I never felt the overhead was worth the added value.
For storing papers, I recommend zotero or Mendeley or buying a mac for Papers.
posted by a robot made out of meat at 7:18 AM on January 6, 2010
You don't need project management software. You need a notebook with dates written in it. I honestly use flat text files for this (+grep), and it imposes the least overhead and the least opportunity, most portability, and no elaborate procrastination. If you want a little more fancy, a wiki-on-a-stick like tiddly wiki comes with nice features like date sorting, but I never felt the overhead was worth the added value.
For storing papers, I recommend zotero or Mendeley or buying a mac for Papers.
posted by a robot made out of meat at 7:18 AM on January 6, 2010
er least opportunity for elaborate procrastination.
posted by a robot made out of meat at 7:18 AM on January 6, 2010
posted by a robot made out of meat at 7:18 AM on January 6, 2010
Response by poster: I realize I'm adding overhead, but to be honest I am hoping this can serve the dual-purpose of staving off my anxieties about where I am, and what I've accomplished so far. I keep feeling an overwhelming sense of having accomplished nothing and having everything to do. I would like to avoid that using a roadmap-type of tool.
I've used TiddlyWiki in the past, and I didn't see the overhead it provides as advantageous to using MS Word in the writing process.
I'm hoping for something along the lines of:
Beginning stages: plan for where to be, what to get done when
Along the way: look at where I've been, what I've done, and what needs to get done
In the end: reflect on what I did and how, and maybe consider improvements for the next time
Right now I'm looking at Microsoft Office Project. We'll see how it goes. I was hoping for something more streamlined and pretty, Web 2.0ish or something but maybe there just isn't a niche for it outside of IT/Business applications?
posted by tybeet at 8:04 AM on January 6, 2010
I've used TiddlyWiki in the past, and I didn't see the overhead it provides as advantageous to using MS Word in the writing process.
I'm hoping for something along the lines of:
Beginning stages: plan for where to be, what to get done when
Along the way: look at where I've been, what I've done, and what needs to get done
In the end: reflect on what I did and how, and maybe consider improvements for the next time
Right now I'm looking at Microsoft Office Project. We'll see how it goes. I was hoping for something more streamlined and pretty, Web 2.0ish or something but maybe there just isn't a niche for it outside of IT/Business applications?
posted by tybeet at 8:04 AM on January 6, 2010
My university spends a lot of money on a customized edition of JIRA for this purpose. I have never used it and have no idea if it meets your needs.
I have used Google Docs, and before that Trac / SVN, for collaboration with multiple users, but this doesn't help for project management in the sense you mean it.
posted by miyabo at 8:05 AM on January 6, 2010
I have used Google Docs, and before that Trac / SVN, for collaboration with multiple users, but this doesn't help for project management in the sense you mean it.
posted by miyabo at 8:05 AM on January 6, 2010
Response by poster: Err. The other part of the "dual purpose" is, of course organization and planning for the future. 1) Quelling anxiety about the past, 2) planning for the future.
posted by tybeet at 8:05 AM on January 6, 2010
posted by tybeet at 8:05 AM on January 6, 2010
Response by poster: My university spends a lot of money on a customized edition of JIRA for this purpose.
JIRA as it is looks to be for IT or software development, so unless I programmed my own customizations (whoa headache, a time). I don't suppose this is accessible outside your university? Probably not huh?
posted by tybeet at 8:08 AM on January 6, 2010
JIRA as it is looks to be for IT or software development, so unless I programmed my own customizations (whoa headache, a time). I don't suppose this is accessible outside your university? Probably not huh?
posted by tybeet at 8:08 AM on January 6, 2010
Best answer: In my experience, the software most often used is Microsoft Project. It's relatively easy to learn, and should meet (and exceed) your needs.
posted by damian_ at 9:29 AM on January 6, 2010
posted by damian_ at 9:29 AM on January 6, 2010
Best answer: Hmmm... I would perhaps try Zoho Projects and just don't worry about not collaborating with anyone. It still works. I *think* this has most of what you want and it's free for one project (which could probably include everything under your Academia umbrella).
posted by stefnet at 10:22 AM on January 7, 2010
posted by stefnet at 10:22 AM on January 7, 2010
Response by poster: Wow Zoho Projects looks like what I had in mind, thanks!
posted by tybeet at 2:52 PM on January 13, 2010
posted by tybeet at 2:52 PM on January 13, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by gene_machine at 6:18 AM on January 6, 2010 [1 favorite]