P2ware Planner Suite 2011 - new project management software

A couple of months ago P2ware published new version of its successful project, programme and portfolio management software - P2ware Planner Suite 2011 or short Planner 2011. The version is heavily based on Planner 2008 and introduces many various changes based on customers feedback. I am not able to list them all because there are many important ones and lots of small and very small changes and improvements. Many of the major changes have special value for enterprises, professional project/programme/portfolio managers/directors. All in all the improvements are consistent with P2ware Planner Suite approach of creating top project management tools that support project planning, project execution, project reporting, resource management and support for programme and portfolio management. The software is an excellent solution for project management with PRINCE2® or PMO that implements other popular standards such as PMI® PMBOK®. Current version of P2ware project management software can be used also by various agile practitioners because it is now capable of storing data required in various agile diagrams and analyses, e.g. it is now possible to create Burndown Charts as work planned and performed can be stored in plan snapshots.


If you are new to Planner (either 2008 or 2011) you may find interesting following hyperlinks:

• P2ware project management software tools overview - brief description of selected functionalities of Planner 2011
• Screenshots of Planner project management software - to see all descriptions of views that support project management
• P2ware Planner project management solutions - to read how the software is used from large systems to small teams and individual project managers
• Free download of Planner project software - to try it yourself. There is a sample (plan of project management training) that shows how planning and project execution looks like in P2ware Planner.

Planner 2011 and Planner 2008
Quite recently I've been told that after a glance Planner 2011 is similar to Planner 2008 PM software and there seem to be very few changes in this version. And I agree with the former thesis: Planner 2011 and Planner 2008 share common user interface, user experience and workflow. Project managers around the world that use P2ware project management tool in 2008 version would probably be not content if P2ware Planner was completely new project solution that has completely new features and written from scratch user interface... Instead Planner 2011 is a perfect example of continual improvement in project management software and that guarantees that existing customers that mastered current version of the software will have no problems at all in learning new versions of P2ware PM software and receive some small changes in the application even in the same version of the software!


New project management functionalities in Planner 2011 software
It is difficult to begin :-) There are three types of new features

1. In dekstop - project software for personal computers,
2. In Planner Server - software for managing projects, programmes and portfolios,
3. In both versions - changes in how project plans are described.

Changes in Planner desktop project software

Lessons log in Planner project management software

Custom project template in P2ware Planner software

• Added a new view: Lessons Log. Lessons learned log is 
• Added a new view: Interface Customisation. This enables users to hide views, perspectives and properties that are not used in particular project, department or industry. The functionality is meant to make the software more approachable to project managers and make project management software contain data that is really required and avoid data overload.
• Added functionality allowing to localise properties names, i.e. translate them in any other language allowing to create custom multinational plan templates
• Added new view: Resource Assignments.  It has been an important upgrade since version 2008. The view allows to manage resource assignments more effectively, assign many resources to many various activities in just a few seconds.
• Added SharePoint (WSS, MOSS) integration to facilitate creating project documentation portals and document linking and management.
• New mechanism allowing to describe the plan templates. It will facilitate plan templates management and usage.
• Enhanced start screen to enable better plan templates usage.
• Reports control refresh (slightly improved UI).
• Added new data type - Rich Text Format (RTF). This allows to create rich documents describing plan objects.
• Added new functionality of renaming column headers in tables and trees across the application. It allows to create shorter and meaningful names adjusted to organisation.

Changes in Planner Server - project, programme and portfolio management software

Most of the changes in Planner Server affect Enterprise Project Management systems.

Enterprise project management system built with
P2ware Planner Server

• Planner Server user interface refresh.
• New set of sample Planner Server global reports: Organization Projects Chart (all projects in time), Plan Review (all plans with details), Planned Resource Assignments, Portfolio Budget, Portfolio Review (all important data in portfolio management), Programme Review (programme with all important data in programme management), Resource Review, Resources in projects.
• New set of sample Planner Server plan reports: Activities summary report, Highlight Report, Issue Register, Issues with Related Objects, Product Checklist, Products Descriptions, Resource Assignments, Risk Register, Risks with Related Objects, Work Packages.
• New set of sample Planner Server user reports: Issues With Related Objects, My resource assignments (by Date), Risks With Related Objects, Tasks List, Time Sheet report, My Work Packages.
• Added functionality of browsing resource load while assigning resources to activities via Planner Server. It allows to assign resources that are currently available.



Planner Server is a centre of project, programme and
portfolio management system - new user interface

• New and changed web services that enable development teams outside P2ware to create external components having access to all plan and resources data. This facilitates creating external synchronisation components, e.g. Importing or exporting data from/to ERP or other IT systems.
• Added organisational units support to Planner Server. It allows to organise resources into units and manage them more effectively.
• Added functionality allowing to show or hide reports on Planner Server. This can be used to create advanced reports visible only to selected users. What is more, access is managed by access control list.
• New control and enhanced security settings allowing to create detailed security settings for Planner Server users.

Changes both in Planner Server and desktop Planner project, programme and portfolio management software

• Enhanced unified plan and resource synchronisation. Data synchronisation is done in one intuitive way.
• PRINCE2® 2009 naming changes.
• Extended plan snapshots. New version adds more data on planned and actual timing and work.
• Added to Risk Register changes allowing to manage not only threats but also opportunities.
• Added new data type - object reference. This allows to link various objects with other plan elements.
• Added Integrated Windows Logon.
• Improved and faster data transfer protocol (desktop - server) with detection of version incompatibility.
• Changes in calendar management. Enhancements allowing to manage calendar setting across the whole organisation.

The list of changes (if I decided to list them all) would be impressive. For example one small but useful change that is not listed is in Product Flow Diagram and Product Breakdown Structure: you may select any number of products and create a new work package with these products inside - simple, brilliant and powerful. This particular feature was suggested by one of P2ware customers. Thanks!

P2ware Planner Suite 2011 is coming!

Yes, P2ware Planner Suite 2008 is about to retire soon! P2ware is going to release Planner Suite 2011 in a several weeks - end of August or early September. 
This is improved and much enhanced version of Planner - I published major changes below.  Also it is important to let you know that we are introducing some changes in product versions (more details below), but the end result is that more features will be available for less money :-)

P2ware Planner Suite 2011 has several new important features allowing to create Integrated Project Management systems. For more visit www.p2ware.com in September 2011, just after Planner Suite 2011 goes public.

Enterprise Project Management with P2ware Planner

If you are interested in purchasing P2ware Planner 2011 before final release - just contact us via website. 

New features

The list below sums up major changes introduced in Planner 2011.

• Added a new view: Lessons Log.
• PRINCE2 2009 naming changes.
• Added new view: Interface Customization. This will enable users to hide views, perspectives and properties that are not used in particular project, department or industry. The functionality is meant to make the software more approachable to project managers.
• Added functionality allowing to localize properties names, i.e. tranlate them in any other language allowing to create custom multinational plan templates
• Added new view: Resource Assignments.  It is an important upgrade since version 2008. The view allows to manage resource assignments more effectively, assign many resources to many various activities in just seconds.
• Added functionality of browsing resource load while assigning resources to activities via Planner Server. It allows to assign resources that are currently available.
• Added SharePoint (WSS, MOSS) integration to facilitate creating project documentation portals and document linking and management.
• New and refactored web services that enable development teams outside P2ware to create external components having access to all plan and resources data. This facilitates creating external synchronization components, e.g. Importing or exporting data from/to ERP or other IT systems.
• Extended plan snapshots. New version adds more data on planned and actual timing and work.
• New mechanism allowing to describe the plan templates. It will facilitate plan templates management and utilization.
• Added functionality allowing to bind a plan file to a documents library on disk or network share. Documents can then be easily linked with plan objects (e.g. products, activities etc.)
• Enhanced start screen to enable better plan templates usage.
• Added to Risk Register changes allowing to manage not only threats but also opportunities.
• Reports control refresh (slightly improved UI).
• Added organizational units support to Planner Server. It allows to organize resources into units and manage them more effectively.
• Added new data type - Rich Text Format (RTF). This allows to create rich documents describing plan objects.
• Added new data type - object reference. This allows to link various objects with other plan elements.
• Added Integrated Windows Logon.
• Enhanced unified plan and resource synchronization. Data synchronization is done in one intuitive way.
• Improved and faster data transfer protocol (desktop - server) with detection of version incompatibility.
• Added functionality allowing to show or hide reports on Planner Server. This can be used to create advanced reports visible only to selected users. What is more access is managed by access control list.
• New control and enhanced security settings allowing to create detailed security settings for Planner Server users.
• Changes in calendar management. Enhancements allowing to manage calendar setting across whole organization.
• Planner Server user interface refresh.
• New installation and activation functionalities. Offering more options for current and future activations.
• Added new functionality of renaming column headears in tables and trees accross the application. It allows to create shorter and meaningful names adjusted to organization.
• Added functionality allowing to initialize property of an object using predefined formula.
• Propagation of plan setting from Planner Server plan.

New Planner versions

Applications of Planner Suite 2011 are

• Planner Server (server application, installed on organization server, center of integrated systems)
• Planner for Project Support Office (highest version, all features, integrated systems)
• Planner Enterprise (advanced features, for project managers, integrated systems)
• Planner Premium (highest version not for integrated systems, it's like For PSO but does not connect to Planner Sever)
• Planner Professional (advanced features, major application for project managers, not for integrated systems, it's like Enterprise but does not connect to Planner Server)
• Planner Standard (the most basic application, intended for student)

Planner for PSO is the highest version of Planner desktop software

So to sum up new licenses, there are 3 different kind of applications

1. Server: Planner Server
2. Desktop apps for integrated systems: For PSO, Enterprise
3. Desktop apps for general project management use: Premium, Professional, Standard.

New applications are coming with new prices. Pricing will be available upon launch. Important is that dekstop apps for general project management use will be cheaper than these in point #2.

This of course affects available Planner solutions. E.g., if you are looking for several applications for your team and will not need server application, I would recommend 1 Premium + several Professional apps. If you are planning to build integrated system with server application then 1 Server, at least 1 For PSO and several Enterprise apps are the right choice.

Creating reports displaying single plan objects (e.g. issue, risk) in P2ware Planner

Quite recently I received an email with a question how to solve this problem:

There is, quite often, a need to send issues to some external stakeholders. I've got a report in P2ware Planner that creates for me whole dump of issues and saves it into one file (pdf, rtf...). The problem is that I do not want to send whole issue log but just one issue to this particular person.

The problem may be extrapolated to sending any single plan element description, e.g. product, activity, resource, issue, risk, etc. The final result should be similar to: I enter issue number and specific document is created.


Let's start with issues sample report (see hyperlink at the bottom of article).

Sample issues report

1. Click Design button.

2. Go to Report properties, Parameters group and find Parameters property.

Report --> Parameters --> Parameters property

3. Add parameter Issue number

4. Next step is to add filtering. You will have to filter all objects using just added parameter. Go to Report -> Data -> Filter String. 

5. Add filter string filtering all entries: 'Issue Number Equals [Parameters.IssueNo]'.

6. Save report and close report designer. Upon refresh you will see Issue number box. Enter issue number and click Submit. Your report will be generated!

Sample reports (from this article) can be downloaded here. 

How to customize sending work packages?

Not may P2ware Planner users know that they may customize template that is used to generate document sent as a work package description. There is of course default template but quite often you may require some additional fields or would simply want to have alternative format (e.g. more information but same "paper" usage).

This post pertains two options used when sending work packages, both without P2ware Planner Server (see screenshot below).

Sending work packages in P2ware Planner Professional

So, where to find work package report template?

Just navigate to Reports view, then open contents of Management Documentation folder.

Work package built-in template

If you click and try to generate the report it will remain empty. It is so because the report takes as a parameter ID which is internal identifier of each work package.

ID is used internally by P2ware Planner

So how to modify and test new template for sending work packages?

It is pretty simple: design built-in report, save it as your own report in My Reports folder and finally change Planner work package template setting in Planner Options. To do that: click Planner Suite button (upper left corner), click Options and then change property Work Package Documentation Template.

The only final method of testing the report is trying to send one using the work package template.

Configuration of work package template

For example, I was recently using template presented below. Work package is (in my template) described by: details about work package, details and description of product, activities brief info, checkpoints, risks, issues and hyperlinks to documents (details of my work package).

Risk management in P2ware Planner

P2ware Planner Suite is full and standalone project management software with support for programme and portfolio management. And as such it supports lots of project management processes. This time I'll write about risk management support. I heard once that if there weren't any risks (threats or opportunities) we would not have a project management, because every thing once planned would be finished (within certain limits). Unfortunately risk management is quite often overlooked or done in some text file... 
P2ware Planner supports risk management compatible with PRINCE2 and PMI PMBOK recommendations.


Risk register
It is probably obvious and natural that risk register is a central part of risk management in P2ware Planner.

Risk register - risk management in P2ware Planner

Key features of risk register are

• Separate risk register for a management of risks (threats and opportunities)
• Rich and meaningful risk description
• A lot of built-in fields used for describing risks
• Linking risks with other plan elements (e.g. activities, products, resources) that allows not to loose track of risks associated with particular project elements
• Built-in risk assessment (Severity = Probability x Severity)
• Risk summary by RAG signal (Red Amber Green)
• Risk assessment algorithm can be easily changed using P2ware Planner Developer
• Risk properties can be extended using P2ware Planner Developer (by adding own properties)
• Data from risk register can be used in custom reports in desktop and server software versions
• Can easily be used in PRINCE2 or PMI PMBOK projects or any other methodology

Data from risk register can be used in custom reports

Risk register can be easily tailored to one's needs not only by using P2ware Planner Developer. You may create perspectives and filters that allow to present most urgent threats or opportunities, that present the most immediate or sorted in some other custom order. 

Couple of weeks ago I was asked if P2ware Planner supports three dimensional risk assessment (severity = probability x impact x detection) like in FMEA. By default it has 2D risk assessment however there is no problem with adding third property called detection. Then you would have to add a formula that would compute overall severity. Last step is creating formula that would display RAG signal.

The formula can be created in Properties view in Planner Developer.

New RAG formula

Formula body is quite simple. Assumption is that maximum value can be 3x3x3 (=27:)) and if risk severity is less than or equal 10 it is considered green, if higher than 10 but less than or equal 19 it is amber and if higher it is red.

GetNUInt("New_Severity") <= 10 ? Decimal(1.0) 

: ( GetNUInt("New_Severity") <= 19 ? 0 : Decimal(-1.0)

)

What is the most tricky is that property of type traffic light has to yield some particular values in order to display specific RAG signals. The values are:

• 1.0 - Green
• 0 - Amber
• -1.0 - Red

I know that this may look complicated. It is not. Risk assessment methods are chosen and enforced by serious organizations and P2ware Planner helps doing that by having templates functionality. Once created template can be used in all organization's projects!