Long way to go

I like the concept very much of Zoho Projects, but the features and existing functionality is simply very very basic and unprofessional I am sad to say.

The product is clearly a long way from MS Project.

I would recommend too that you guys get certification as Project Managers with the Project Management Institute (PMI) and become PMP qualified so that you know what true project management is about and can develop the product with a complete strategy. This is an internationally respected certification and available world-wide.

Developing based on this adhoc piecemeal approach based on user requests is not suitable.

I am sad to see too that some users have made some good recommendations and the topic in the forum is pursued but NOT COMPLETED - with many many topics ending with the user asking a question months ago and no reply from yourselves.

At the moment I couldn't even use this product for project managing even a basic project because it doesn't work the way real project management is done. e.g. one of the first steps in project management is to list out all the work i.e. produce a work breakdown structure e.g. BUILD GARAGE, and then to subdivide this deliverable into sub-deliverables e.g. BUILD FOUNDATION, BUILD WALLS, etc etc, and go breaking these down. Next you sequence them, then allocate resources, then estimate durations (it might be somethings gets 2 people added to do it rather than 1 and therefore be done twice as quick). HOWEVER, your product forces me to enter start dates when I enter durations rather than allowing me to just say 'start this after the end of the previous'. A project doesn't go like that.

A project management too should have the project run, not just be a big rigid notebook.

Also there is no hierarchy to the tasks. I can see you have task lists. But I don't see a way to make a dependency on one task in one task list on another task in another task list. The hierarchy or work-breakdown-structure helps keeps things clear instead of a long list of tasks.

There's no concept of project float or critical path. These things are vital in project management - knowing and seeing on a gaant chart) that a task could slip by a certain time and still not affect overall project completion is vital to juggling resources.

Why are you reinventing things? Just copy MS Project and make it work online. Then you have a fantastic product. But at least, learn the basics of project management and create a tool that supports professional project management. At the moment Zoho Project is really Zoho To Do Lists.

Projects are about managing time, cost, quality/scope. Communication is vital. Change control is vital. Clear Project plans are vital.

Best wishes for a better and better product.

John
http://www.jejo.biz