LiquidPlanner vs Microsoft Project

August 10, 2023 | Author: Adam Levine
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LiquidPlanner
LiquidPlanner is online project management tool you need to organize hundreds of projects and thousands of tasks with ease. Simple building blocks enable you to set up a workspace that reflects your organization's style and process. Work in traditional waterfall fashion, contemporary agile methodologies, or just run a lean ad-hoc process. LiquidPlanner can handle it all.
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Microsoft Project
Microsoft Project is a project management software program developed and sold by Microsoft which is designed to assist project managers in developing plans, assigning resources to tasks, tracking progress, managing budgets and analyzing workloads. The application creates critical path schedules, and critical chain and event chain methodology third-party add-ons are also available. Schedules can be resource leveled, and chains are visualized in a Gantt chart.
LiquidPlanner and Microsoft Project are both project management tools that provide features for planning, scheduling, and tracking projects, but they have different approaches and target different types of users.

LiquidPlanner is known for its dynamic and flexible scheduling capabilities. It uses an algorithm-based scheduling approach that takes into account task priorities, dependencies, and resource availability. LiquidPlanner also provides collaboration features, time tracking, and reporting functionalities. It is particularly suitable for teams working on complex and dynamic projects that require frequent adjustments to schedules and resource allocation.

Microsoft Project, on the other hand, is a comprehensive project management tool with a wide range of features. It offers traditional project planning and scheduling functionalities, including task management, Gantt charts, resource allocation, and progress tracking. Microsoft Project integrates well with other Microsoft Office applications and provides advanced reporting and visualization capabilities. It is often preferred by organizations that follow a more traditional project management methodology.

See also: Top 10 Project Management software
LiquidPlanner vs Microsoft Project in our news:

2019. Microsoft Project becomes user-friendly


Microsoft Project may be renowned as the most famous and legendary project management software, but it can hardly be described as simple and user-friendly, especially when compared to many of the new cloud services available, such as Asana, Basecamp, Trello, or Wrike. Recognizing this, Microsoft has undertaken a massive redesign of the system. As you can observe in the presentation video, the focus is on simplicity, aiming for a user experience so intuitive that even a child could navigate it. However, the developers have also successfully incorporated several new features, including a kanban board, resource management, budget analysis, and time and expense tracking. Furthermore, Microsoft Project is now available as a subscription service, with a cost of $10 per month per user.


2016. Microsoft unveiles Project Server 2016, inpired by Cloud



Microsoft has made an announcement regarding the general availability of Project Server 2016, a solution that brings significant project and portfolio management (PPM) benefits to our on-premises customers. According to Microsoft, Project Server is engineered to perform and scale just like their cloud service, as it is built using the same underlying code. In terms of functionality, the release of Project Server 2016 shares many similarities with its 2013 predecessor. However, it introduces enhancements in resource management, such as the inclusion of resource engagements with heat map displays, and improves the transparency between project planning and line planning. Additionally, the Resource Plan feature has been removed from the Project Web App interface, as it is now integrated into Microsoft Project 2016. Microsoft has also introduced a content pack for Power BI Dashboards, which seamlessly integrates with their cloud-based Project Online offering.


2012. Microsoft Project and SharePoint will join Office 365



Together with SharePoint 2013 (probably in early 2013) Microsoft will release its project management system Microsoft Project 2013. These two systems have become inseparable, because SharePoint is used as a collaboration layer under the administrative component of MS Project. With the new version, this integration will become even tighter. You'll be able to start a new project by creating a simple page with a task list and calendar in SharePoint, and only when you need more close control over the project you'll be able to turn on this project management in the MS Project. But of course, the main news about Project 2013 is appearance of the online version Project Online, that will be available in the Office 365 cloud. And, (like in case with new SharePoint Online), developers will be able to create their own add-ons and even sell them via Office marketplace. ***


2009. Project 2010 to become a part of Sharepoint



Today at the MS Project Conference in Phoenix Microsoft previewed the next generation of its project management system MS Project 2010. And the new version is quite interesting. It's generally known, that the main lack of MS Project is that it's not suitable for collaboration. Common users never understood its interface, and it never provided collaborative tools. Microsoft fixed this problem in its own way. First, MS Project will work only on top of SharePoint 2010 Server and will be integrated in it. So users will be able to create a project site (with Gantt Chart and task list) and easily share it in Sharepoint. Second, Project 2010 will be connected to Exchange Server and all the project tasks will be available in Outlook, Outlook Web Access and Outlook Exchange for Mobile. ***


2008. LiquidPlanner: Project Management That Deals With Uncertainty

The predictability of project timelines is often unreliable, with delays being a common occurrence. Moreover, the involvement of multiple individuals amplifies the uncertainty. Many project management software options are available to mitigate this uncertainty, including 37Signals' Basecamp, Clarizen, Daptiv, Huddle, Wrike, Viewpath, and Microsoft Project. However, a newly launched tool called LiquidPlanner sets itself apart by specifically addressing unplanned events and delays. It recognizes project management as a social application and emphasizes the need for personalization tailored to each project member. The developers refer to this approach as "Uncertainty Gantts." Team members can modify their range estimates as work progresses or encounters obstacles. If someone's estimate extends beyond expectations, it is highlighted in red, allowing a product manager to address the issue before it jeopardizes the entire project. Additionally, the progress of the project, including completed and ongoing work, is visible to all team members. Managers can identify individuals who consistently meet deadlines and identify any bottlenecks. LiquidPlanner offers free usage for teams of up to three people, with payment required for the addition of a fourth member ($35 per month per member or $300 per year). Subscribers also receive 50GB of storage capacity.


2008. LiquidPlanner: Sophisticated Online Project Management

LiquidPlanner positions itself as a revolutionary project management tool, offering a robust feature set that sets it apart from other online project management applications. Its standout feature is ranged estimation and probabilistic scheduling, allowing users to specify a range of time for each task instead of exact durations. By combining these estimates, LiquidPlanner generates a delivery date curve, providing insights into the most likely completion date and feasible commitments. The tool also tracks the evolution of estimates over time, enabling project managers to monitor task progress. Beyond estimation, LiquidPlanner functions as a social network for projects, creating a collaborative environment with multi-level task tracking, wiki-like commenting, and a searchable history of project-related activities. However, the user interface can be overwhelming for newcomers, and familiarity with project management concepts is beneficial. LiquidPlanner is currently in open beta, with plans to transition to a pricing model of $24.95 per month per member after the beta period, while single-member and educational usage will remain free.

Author: Adam Levine
Adam is an expert in project management, collaboration and productivity technologies, team management, and motivation. With an extensive background working at prestigious companies such as Microsoft and Accenture, Adam's in-depth knowledge and experience in the field make him a sought-after professional. Currently, he has ventured into entrepreneurship, owning a thriving consulting and training agency where he imparts invaluable insights and practical strategies to individuals and organizations, empowering them to achieve their goals and maximize their potential. You can contact Adam via email adam@liventerprise.com