A recent review of Project Server 2010 from CapGemini – a strong global partner building a strong Project 2010 practice. The review is very thorough and, best of all, is available as a free download from CapGemini. The Microsoft EPM 2010 Functional Review gives a great overview of the latest features and functionality in Project Server 2010. A few excerpts from the report :
We believe that the portfolio management process incorporated in EPM 2010 is really a best-in-class solution . . .
We find reporting in EPM/SharePoint 2010 very powerful and considerably easier than in many other PPM platforms, including . . . CA Clarity.
The breadth and strength of the Microsoft SharePoint collaboration platform give the Microsoft EPM platform its greatest competitive advantage. No other PPM product supports the range of solutions that the Microsoft EPM platform can support.
IDC’s most recent MarketScape also positions Microsoft as a leader in the Enterprise IT PPM and Application Lifecycle Management (ALM). You can download an excerpt taken from the “IT Project and Portfolio Management 2010 Vendor Analysis – Four Views to Enable Effective Evaluation” from http://idcdocserv.com/225802E_MSFT.
The other two views in the report were the SaaS and Financial Market views in which Microsoft placed as a contender and major player respectively.
A few things worth calling out from the report:
- Microsoft integration with Visual Studio 2010 and evolution of portfolio management solution along with usability features such as the ribbon UI, “position [Microsoft] better for enterprise IT PPM. . .” and “make Microsoft Project more accessible to a broader base.”
- The report says for IT PPM/ALM, “Microsoft ranks in the leader segment, with excellent capabilities as a result of its close coordination between Visual Studio 2010, Microsoft Project Server 2010, the combined collaboration capabilities with SharePoint 2010, and emerging agile support.”
The recent release of the Visual Studio Team Foundation Server 2010 and Project Server Integration Feature Pack which further strengthens Microsoft’s Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) Solution. The integration between Project Server and Team Foundation Server is a considerable advancement for organizations that want to bridge the collaboration gap between the Project Management Office and software development teams.
The Feature Pack will enable teams to work together more effectively by:
- Providing up to date insight into portfolio execution, alignment with strategic objectives, and resource utilization of software development projects by leveraging the quantitative data stored in different systems.
- Automating the exchange and sharing of project information across teams and improving coordination between teams using disparate methodologies, like waterfall and agile, via common data and agreed upon metrics.
Enabling development and project management teams to collaborate and communicate project timeline and progress using familiar tools such as Microsoft Visual Studio, Project, and SharePoint.
So if you’re looking to replace, upgrade or deploy a new PPM solution for your organization today, I recommend taking a look at Microsoft Project 2010!
