Coordinating projects demands managerial control over time and resources, and the more complex the project, the more expensive and time consuming it becomes. This has resulted in a need for a project scheduler program to help with these critical management responsibilities, and as always, problems are opportunities for entrepreneurs.

Tracking tasks, compiling costs and expenses, and managing people involved in business projects are all made more manageable when using a project scheduler. Now, there are quite a few alternatives on the market that can be considered the right tool for the job.

For a few years, Microsoft’s Project was a significant player in this field, since they were early into this market with their application. Because of the ubiquity of Microsoft Office in business, Project has naturally become one of the more well known applications in this growing field. However, the entrepreneurial spirit still prevails, resulting in many dynamic firms working on project scheduling software designed for simplicity and ease of use.

In 1983, the Experience in Software, Inc. company was founded in Berkeley, California to develop and market software for managers, entrepreneurs, consultants, and other business professionals. In 1992, Experience in Software, Inc. entered the project scheduling market, with this focus in mind, with their first DOS version of Project KickStart, followed in 1995 with their first Windows version. In 1997, Project KickStart began to be bundled with SureTrak Project Manager 2.0 as a front-end planning wizard, and in 1999, they began private branding of the program. In 2000, Project KickStart was bundled with SureTrak Project Manager 3.0.

Experience in Software, Inc. is a Solution Partner for Microsoft, Primavera, and Kidasa Software.

Operational Features

The main advantage of using Project KickStart over other more complex project management applications is its remarkable ease of use. This results in a very speedy learning process for new users, driven by the natural thinking process most folks go through as they begin new projects.

The interface presents a very nifty 8-step planning process, activated by the user. You give the project a name, and then begin to fill in fields to fully flesh out the project.

You first consider how the project breaks down into natural Phases, or main stages in which the project will happen. A library of existing phase statements to help stimulate your thinking is but a button away. These sample statements can be easily dragged and dropped into your project.

Next, you begin to add the Tasks to each of the phases. This is where you really begin to break down the work required in the project, and again, a library of sample tasks is easily accessible to help complete the lists of these tasks.

The Goals step allows you to determine and list the goals of the project. You then add any tasks required to achieve these goals, or you drag and drop sample statements from the library.

The next step shows how this software distinctly differs from other project scheduler programs. At this point in the project planning process, you select from the "Similar Project" group, where you consider tasks from previous projects you have created that may be similar to the one you now are working on. The program will show you the tasks used in these other projects and allow you to just copy and paste these into the new project into the relevant phases. Cool!

Next, you proceed to the People area, where you add the names of the people and groups who might serve as the resources for the project, and then you add any new tasks that you might think these people might need to do in the project.

You next deal with whatever Obstacles that may arise that might impede progress in the project. You write these in the fields, or you can drag and drop from the always handy library of samples. Then you consider any relevant tasks to anticipate and overcome these obstacles.

Next, you assign tasks to the people. You don't have to assign people to each task, and if you want, you don't even have to assign people to any task. Also, not everyone in your People library has to be used. At this stage, you can also add other resources.

In the Tasks area, you begin to really build the project. Here, you will see a list of all the Phases and Tasks in the plan, along with details about the resources at each level. Notes for any phase or task can be entered here.

Once you click on the Gantt chart tab, you then begin to enter start and finish dates, easily drag the duration time icon for a task, and very easily create a visually meaningful Gantt chart that provides the high level summary of the project.

The timescale and the groups of tasks can be shifted back and forth in time, and there is even a Done check box that will progress the project for you.

In this latest version, you can export a Project KickStart 3.0 project file into other file formats that can be read by other project scheduler programs, including Project, SureTrak, Primavera P3, FastTrack Schedule and Milestones. This is a very cleverly designed feature that ought to be replicated in all these other programs, but sadly, at this point this feature is not found in all these other programs. 

In addition, Project KickStart can also export an MPX file that can be read by Visio, Lotus Notes using Marin Research's Project Gateway, and VisiMap. 

Kudos to Experience in Software, Inc. for going this extra mile to provide interoperability with this program and these other applications.

With its ease of use and the fully developed project scheduling and managing process that has been cleanly integrated, Project KickStart 3.0 should be seriously considered by any organization that is genuinely interested in maximizing the resources devoted to their projects.

New Features

Project KickStart 3.0 now offers these new features.

Windows functionality, including support for long file names, cut & paste
Supports the html file format for posting Internet or Intranet files
Pop-up calendar
Up to 10 levels of subtasking - increase from the previous 4
Increased task and resource capacity - for both large and small projects
Easy editing of tasks, assignments
Reports Editor for enhanced report generation
Increased variety of report options
Gantt chart additions of "bumping" dates
Transfer of dates into Microsoft Project
Improved and expanded links for exporting to MS Project and Outlook
Enhanced help system
Still very easy to use

Typical Uses of the Program

You could use Project KickStart to help plan the following types of projects.

Installing a new computer system
Starting or expanding a business
Planning a career move
Delegating tasks to others
Launching new products or services
Organizing events of any type

Typical Output Reports

Project KickStart produces the following types of presentation-quality reports.

Gantt chart
Tasks & assignments
Assumptions
Notes
Tasks & notes
Assignments by people

Competition

While Microsoft’s Project may continue to dominate this field, Project KickStart 3 is certainly aggressively priced and very competitively configured. However, it is designed around the primary need for developing Gantt charts, and will not allow more complex resource management features that are built into Project. However, If you do not need the high power of higher-end project management packages, like Project, then Project KickStart is an excellent choice. Tracking projects in Gantt charts with revised and actual progress is very easy and it is a very flexible and customizable application that will allow much easier control over the presentation output and printing.

The many project schedulers now on the market vary from the very easy, introductory level in Kidasa’s Simplicity, to Kidasa’s Milestones, to AEC Software’s Fast Track Schedule, to the more complex applications such as CA’s Super Project and Microsoft Project. Each is an excellent tool with keen focus on features and capabilities that will relate differently in different types of organizations.

With its many new features, and its ease of use, Project KickStart 3 definitely should be considered in many organizations. In major architectural or construction firms however, this program may not have all the necessary tools they need in their complex work schedules.

For middle or upper management, Project KickStart 3 presents just the right tool to conceptually manage their different projects. If truth be told, I suspect many senior level managers will treasure this program's focus on ease of use and fill-in-the-blank design, and enjoy working with a program that while it is based on the principles of solid project management, does not overly complicate the technical aspects of implementing the program.

The new linking with MS Outlook and Project will certainly also build stronger interest with this program, making it a program to be considered for use by high level managers to help do what the program's namesake says, to "kick start" a project, to help get it moving and ready for active implementation by all the staff assigned tasks to be completed. The ability to use this program that will show up in task assignments in the Outlook program also is a super feature that will definitely be an asset for those companies that have committed to Outlook as their groupware application.

In construction firms, for example, I envision an important role Project KickStart could play in helping start project planning. The project then could possibly be further managed and controlled in one of the more complex project scheduler programs that are designed to provide a greater degree of control over the project. In many other organizations, the end result output from Project KickStart should provide exactly what is needed. You just have to match the right tool with the job, and in many cases, Project KickStart will be this tool.

Install and Setup

The normal installation process resulted in no complications on the machine used with this program. The program will also run on a network, if the customer purchases a network license. See below for pricing on various multi-pack network licenses.

Price

$129.95 street price
$  59.95 upgrade price
$339.75 5-pack price
$639.50 10-pack price

System Configuration Requirements

Windows 95, 98, NT 4, 2000
32MB RAM
10MB hard disk space
CD ROM for install
VGA or higher monitor
MS compatible mouse

Contact

Carolyn Burd
Marketing Manager
Experience in Software, Inc.
2000 Hearst Avenue, Suite 202
Berkeley, California 94709-2176
510-644-0694
800-678-7008
FAX 510-644-3823
cb@projectkickstart.com
www.projectkickstart.com

Acknowledgments

Thanks are in order to the excellent supplemental material supplied with the program that was of great assistance in the preparation of this review. Viewers are encouraged to also seek out other comments and suggestions from the reviews of this application found in the online versions of PC Magazine, PC World, and Windows Magazine.