project management software

Allegedly, the first software support tool for project management was developed by Datasaab for their computer D21 in the early 1960s. It was tailored to support the PERT model. Nowadays project planning software is widely used and abused. The software industry research company, Gartner (http://www.gartner.com/), periodically publish the "Project Management Software Magic Quadrant Report", a review of major packages (2002 report in pdf here).

Problems with project management software

Few packages are built around a sound project management method. What is even worse, e.g. Microsoft Project encourages counterproductive behavior by inexperienced project managers by offering as the default start-up view the Gantt chart. This encourages too early focus on task identification and scheduling vs. proper formulation of project objectives and final deliverables. So, such packages implicitly force upon an unsuspecting user an unsound project management process.
Many packages also offer e-mail integration, which encourages automatic assignment of tasks and due dates. This universally leads to counterproductive, date-driven behavior (see: critical chain) and may contribute to improper setting of team members' performance expectations.
Software gives one the illusion that one can do without paper. See discussion on paper-ful project management.
Much software creates horrible project graphics. See discussion of project management graphics.
Compare the cultural effects of MS Power Point

Proprietary non-internet packages

Critical path support

TrackerOffice - A groupware solution which leverages Microsoft Outlook / Exchange
Tracker Suite - A groupware solution which leverages Lotus Notes / Domino
Microsoft Project -- a part of Microsoft Office, http://www.microsoft.com/office/project/default.asp
Primavera -- a high end solution, http://www.primavera.com/
Artemis -- a high end solution, http://www.aisc.com/
Asta Powerproject -- mid-range solution, http://www.astadev.com
Projetex - Project management software for expert teams

Critical chain support

ProChain (add-on to Microsoft Project), http://www.prochain.com/index.asp
Sciforma, http://www.realization.com
CCPM+ (add-on to Microsoft Project), http://www.advanced-projects.com
Asta Powerproject -- mid-range solution which includes Buffer Management http://www.astadev.com

Open source software

http://www.openworkbench.org/ An industrial-strength MS Project replacement made open source by Niku
http://www.tutos.org/ A powerful web-based multilingual tool to manage the organizational needs of small groups, teams, departments .... It contains calendar, mailbox, bug-tracking, project/product management, task management, document management,
http://webcollab.sourceforge.net A light-weight, easy collaborative web-based system for projects and project management; suited to tracking multiple projects and innumerable small tasks across an organisation of any size. Avoid reminder notes stuck all over your desk.
GanttPV -- project scheduling software for Windows & Mac, scriptable w/ python. http://www.pureviolet.net/ganttpv/
PHProjekt -- an open-source, internet-based groupware suite, http://www.phprojekt.com/index.php
DotProject -- open-source, internet-based, in early development, http://www.dotproject.net/index.php
MrProject -- was a part of GNOME but MrProject has been renamed as Planner (See next entry). There is no new development on MrProject and all new development is now done on Planner.
Planner -- a GNOME tool for planning, scheduling and tracking projects and is released under a GPL license. This evolved out of the MrProject code. The current developers of Planner include the original developers who now work for Imendio http://www.imendio.com/ . Planner uses an XML file format or PostgreSQL database to store the project details and is written in C programming language. See http://www.imendio.com/projects/planner/ for more details on where to get the code or how to join mailing lists.
KPlato -- a project management application KOffice suite (in early stages of development), http://www.koffice.org/kplato/
Project/Open -- open-source, internet-based "Project-ERP", with an emphasis on project collaboration and financials, http://www.project-open.com/
Gantt-Project -- written in Java for all OS http://ganttproject.sourceforge.net/
OpenWorkBench -- Open Sources successor to Project Workbench http://www.openworkbench.org/
Many more listed in the external link part of this page

Guideline of choosing them

large developer group: >5 members
large user group
both online(web-based) and offline(local machine) work model
multiuser, multigroup, multiproject,multilingual
recurring tasks support: example: monthly task define
To track multiple projects and innumerable small tasks

tasks and their dependencies: multiple dependencies: n to n dependence.
Gantt graph
Tree view for project and nested tasks and subtasks
Task completion statistics: status reports
archived projects/tasks
project calendars & reminder

resource management

resource constrains
resource usage tables
project accounting statements

extensible: easy to add new components or be plugged into existing components

bugtracker
email notification
forums
wikis

Proprietary internet-based

Project Arena -- http://www.projectarena.com
Celoxis -- http://www.celoxis.com/
ProjectWeb -- http://www.infograph.com/web-project-management.htm
Basecamp (simplicity and ease of use) -- http://www.basecampHQ.com
Infowit Creative Manager -- http://www.infowit.com/
Project.Net -- http://www.project.net
eProject -- http://www.eproject.com
Projectplace -- http://www.projectplace.com
TrioProject -- http://www.trioform.com/project_management_software.htm
ValleySpeak Project Server -- http://www.valleyspeak.com/ps.html
CoP -- http://www.s-m-c.de
TargetProcess -- http://www.targetprocess.com

External links

Project Management Software Directory http://www.thesoftwarenetwork.com/Project-Management-Software
Project Portfolio Managment increases profitability -- http://www.projectarena.com/partners/Apples_to_Apples.pdf
Two Models for Project Portfolio Management -- http://www.projectarena.com/solutions/Yes_or_No.pdf
Directory of project management software -- http://www.infogoal.com/pmc/pmcswr.htm
Open Directory "Top: Computers: Software: Project Management" -- http://www.dmoz.org/Computers/Software/Project_Management/
http://www.linux.org/apps/all/Office/Project_Management.html
http://sourceforge.net/softwaremap/trove_list.php?form_cat=130 sourceforege software map: Topic-> Office/Business-> Scheduling

Books

Eric Uyttewaal. Dynamic Scheduling With Microsoft(r) Project 2000: The Book By and For Professionals. ISBN 0970827601
George Suhanic. Computer-Aided Project Management. ISBN 0195115910
Richard E. Westney. Computerized Management of Multiple Small Projects. ISBN 0824786459

Project Management Software