lifehacker.com: When your to-dos turn into projects, you need a tool that can help you organize all of the work you have to do, the work others have to do, and when it all needs to get done. Something bigger than a to-do list, but still easy to use. This week, we want to know which tools you think are the best.
14 comments:
(Psst. These are the results.)
I personally like Microsoft OneNote. It's often quoted as the redeeming application of the Microsoft Office package (well, for most users anyway). It's cross-platform, syncs well across all my devices, and is simple when I want it to be and less simple when I don't. The complaint though, is that it doesn't really come with anything. If you want something specific, you have to build it yourself through templates or Excel imports. But you can import pdf files! And with my tablet, scribbling all over my homework is better done digitally than in a notebook.
Additionally, I hadn't heard very much about Azendoo prior to this post, but it looks interesting and I'll be giving it some looking into. It looks rather user-friendly and seems to have rave reviews.
This is a great poll article. I’m going to download some of the free top rated software. I’m really surprised by how certain individuals define project management software. Some of the higher rated applications in this article are actually not what I would call project management software. The cool part is that the primary audience of this site is technology professionals, so they are typically up to date with the newest cutting edge niche software. Keep an eye on some of this software, it’s going to be pretty powerful mainstream project management software in a few years.
I agree with Frank. I was surprised to see that the most popular "project management" software wasn't really a project management software. Evernote isn't exactly a project tracking software, but is more just a fancy note-taking app that gives you a few extra perks. I feel like a lot of this project management software is also geared toward people in industries that are much different than theater. Microsoft One note works great at my father's engineering firm, but I can't imagine ever using it as a stage manager. My top project management tool will forever be my scheduling book in which I keep my schedule, my to-do lists, long term projects, due dates, and future goals.
I am still trying to figure out a good way of organizing myself and my project. I have recently taken up to using excel to organize my life. I dont know about project management, but I know that organization is SO much of the job that it is a good thing that there are different programs for managers. I am assuming that I will one day be a manager and I could really think one of these programs will help me. That is also why this type of poll is useful to look at now, I may bookmark the article. I like to see different comments on these programs and what they are best for.
I'm a big fan of Evernote for many things. I keep track of all sorts of info in there, from tax stuff to recipes I want to try to Christmas ideas and notes for school. I would love to be able to use Evernote as a project management software, but for me the way everything is jumbled together in notebooks, regardless of what kind of data the note contains is frustrating. I understand that the attraction and its value hinges on its robust search feature and it's lack of strict structure, but for me it doesn't quite work. I'm looking forward to trying something new (like Asana maybe?) to supplement my digital organization.
I haven't spent that much time with digital organization in my lifetime, but it's definitely something that I'm looking forward to doing since I'm (unfortunately) becoming more and more attached to my computer. This article, and especially seeing the results, will help me organize my life in the cyber space. I have Evernote at the moment, but I don't use it all that often, mostly because I'm so used to the Microsoft Office interface. I quickly dismissed OneNote simply because I haven't heard that much about it, but after reading this article, I'm going to open it up and play around with it for a while. Hopefully, it will help me transition from the paper world to the computer world.
Browsing through the Lifehacker comments, it seems like every commenter is voting for a different tool. I think this is because the "best" management tool is different for everybody. Everybody should find a system that works for them and the way they think. That being said, some of this software seems super cool. I'm a big fan of Evernote, but I'd definitely like to play around with Asana or Trelo to see if they might work better for what I do.
I agree with what Jess said... EverNote isn't really a project management software tool in the strictest sense of the term. However, if that's what works for you, more power to you. I think that the danger with any project management tool is that you need to factor in the time that it takes to maintain it, and if that's really worthwhile. For a project that spans months or even years, maybe a tool that takes an hour or two (or even longer) to keep updated each day is worth it. For a project that spans 6 weeks, like stage management, spending 2 hours a day updating your schedule and what you've accomplished isn't very useful.
I really wish that project management across the industry would pick an industry standard software system. Microsoft Project is great but I do not want to go through this list and find 8 systems that kind of work I just want a single program that becomes an accepted project management system. Even though it has its quirks the Microsoft office suite has been adopted for word processing and spreadsheets and I think that working with Project is just as easy as any of these options and it allows you to automate paperwork and link to other microsoft programs. With that said I agree with Cat and think that "whatever works for you" in this industry seems to be the way we are going.
So the manager within is gushing at the sight of so many different project management tools to try. The ironic thing is that I never really viewed many of these tools or software as project management resources before. I honestly saw them as more of personal life management type stuff. I agree with what some of my peers said though, that many of these tools probably wouldn't be suited towards theatre. Not just because these programs aren't functional to the way that our organizations operate, but more so that our culture isn't geared towards being totally digitally organized and managed.
It goes without saying that organization is entirely necessary, especially in this industry. There is a rule in biology that there is a certain degree of energy required to keep from all biological systems in form, simply preventing chaos. A similar principle carries in theatre, and time management. That being said, it is naive to think that a single platform or program can be one size fits all. Different programs perform different functions, and each has their own intricacies and shortcomings. It would be much more prudent to identify several programs, and to know their uses and shortcomings so as to match the appropriate platform to the appropriate project. This being said, to each and every platform you have the potential of collaborating with someone who is unfamiliar with the interface. Bearing this in mind, one must also account for training and familiarity of those involved. Sometimes, simple pencil and paper can be the most effective method. Technology can be a wonderful tool, but also a significant time suck and ultimately, a hindrance when not used cautiously.
You can ask 100 people which tool they think is the best and I am sure that everyone can argue about which one is better. I think that it just depends on what gets the work done for you the best.
I think that if I had to pick my favorite tool, it would be a simple notebook and pencil. Note taking and management softwares are great, but i feel a lot more comfortable formatting my own charts and being able to alternate between visual and written information in my own way. I also think that it is easy to remember information if I've written down and charted it myself. Of course software is better for the preservation of notes, but for the initial note taking I wouldn't us a computer at all.
When I was in the army I had a hard time managing all my projects because they changed on a daily basis and I had so many that were open at one time.
I eventually started using Microsoft Onenote. It's a program that allows you to write things in a notebook like way. I used to do long checklists there and that would usually be pretty good because I had the whole day in the army to work on my stuff.
Nowadays, I don't have all day to work on my stuff (because of classes) so I use Outlook and put tasks in certain days so I can see how my week is unfolding.
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