CIMA E2 Syllabus C. Managing projects - Project Management Software - Notes ^{1 / 16}

Many project management techniques are complicated and involve large amounts of constantly changing data. All of these techniques can be carried out quickly and effectively using a project management software.

Functions of a project management software include:

• Including central calendars for managing meetings during the project.

• Automatic creation of Gantt charts.

• Managing actual data to measure progress against the project plan.

• Creating standard and tailored project progress reports.

• Providing a central store for project documentation

• Handling multiple projects.

• Preparing resource histograms which help the project manager to identify the time in a project's life where there are either too little resources or surplus resources to carry out a particular activity.

All these functions make it possible to use the project management software throughout the project for planning and estimating.

Advantages of the project management software include accuracy, affordability and being easy to use.

Disadvantages of the project management software include emphasis on maintaining the plan rather than managing the project and estimates.