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Processes and systems for project management
This post is inspired by @seanprice who recently asked:
"How do you manage projects either single projects or mulitple at the same time either personal or professional ones?" (Twitter: http://twitter.com/seanprice/status/7314573214) Firstly, systems. For me Drop.io and Box.net jump to the front of my mind. As background, both Drop.io and Box.net are designed for simple sharing and collaboration. Drop.io is built around drops which are realtime repositories of content which can then be shared, embedded, commented, downloaded and much more. Box.net is visually more analogous to a traditional files and folders system with much the same features as Drop.io but via the OpenBox eco-systems of integrations allows for use within structured business workflows. For example with Box.net it is possible to collaboratively author an agreement which, from Box, can be issued digitally via Echosign and the final signed copies be stored within Box making it a workflow hub. Other notable integrations include Salesforce, Google Apps, Zoho With Drop.io the collaboration functionality is equally there but inherently being designed around the drop, the workspace sits relatively outside the wider business workflow. And so to specifically answer @seanprice's question I would suggest that if for repeatable or always similar project workflows, especially within an established business environment of process and policy, the answer is Box.net. For everything else, be it small, larger, ad-hoc, personal or professional, then Drop.io. The second part of the answer is processes. Which to follow / learn from? Project management I believe has long suffered a schizophrenia of being about the personality of people whilst also having the cold regiment of repeatable, scalable process. Some project managers are successful for managing people, others for managing the process. In context of the social collaboration environment business are moving in to, I believe the people principle of project management will take a lead over success through process. Especially when considering the versatile tools such as Drop.io and Box.net which do not need nor care for a set process. So to answer @seanprice, the process for successful projects is to not rely on one. Instead focus on the facilitation of communication and collaboration. Within such an environment, inherently all the data needed to tweak and nudge productivity in the right direction, towards the team's common goal, will be available. Applications such as Milestone Planner from @socialoptic are a good example of this. The app is a gantt chart but the real feature of the app is bringing out the communication across the project team.So for me, the processes and systems, either personally or professionally for project management are:
Human and collaborative (for which Drop.io and Box.net are ideal). For further reading: Box.net for Project Management - http://www.box.net/solutions/project-managementDrop.io - http://drop.io/blog
Milestone Planner @socialoptic - http://socialoptic.com/
Box Paving The Way for Construction Collaboration
As you might imagine, a variety of industries are finding useful ways to put Box’s content management platform to use. Last month we joined the American Bar Association’s technology marketplace, advancing our position as a leading collaboration and document management solution in the legal field, and this month we’re making headway in construction as an official software alliance partner of Motion Computing.
Motion, a leading provider of mobile computing solutions, announced today that they are reselling Box.net to its construction customers so they can share, access and manage their project files directly from the work site with a Motion tablet PC. This is extremely valuable since construction firms need to be able to share building plans and contracts with a broad range of organizations, including external contractors, architects, and planning boards. And because of the portability enabled by Motion’s products, this content can be accessed and shared from construction sites just as easily as it can from a desktop. Our partnership with Motion brings Box directly to construction firms, helping them replace cumbersome FTP servers, facilitate electronic bid management, as well as centralize and archive project resources. Integrating Box.net with Motion Computing’s rugged tablets is an important step towards fulfilling Box’s mission of enabling businesses to easily share and access their content from anywhere.
Many construction firms have already realized the productivity gains and financial savings of implementing Box.net. EllisDon, an international construction services company, creates project rooms on Box for various team members that also provide stakeholders with access to the most current project data. California-based architectural firm ZON Architects uses Box to replace overwhelmed FTP and email servers for sharing files with local jurisdictions, cities, planning boards, project managers, clients and reprographics firms. Surprise Development Corp. reduces project expenses and lead time by sharing documents and large files with architects, general contractors and other partners on Box.
If you’re in the construction industry and want to learn more about how you can benefit from implementing Box, check out our construction resource center at www.box.net/solutions/construction. Want to hook your company up with Motion tablet PCs? Visit Motion Computing for more information or to identify a reseller.
Post by Matt Soldo, Senior Business Development Manager
This entry was posted on Friday, December 11th, 2009 at 12:56 pm and is filed under General commentary, Uncategorized, User Story. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Testimony to collaboration and 2.0 not just being for digital agencies, Box.net shows how collaboration platforms are relevant and beneficial to all industries.
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