Two project
management programs have been suggested for use in this module: Microsoft
Project and OpenProj.

Microsoft
offers a free 60-day trial of Microsoft Project 2007. The retail price for
Microsoft Project (standard version) is $599.95. Microsoft Project runs on
Microsoft Windows XP (with service pack 2), Microsoft Windows Server 2003 (with
service pack 1), or a later operating system. Installation support is free, as
is some support after installation. Further support can be purchased as a
pay-per-use service or on an annual subscription. Documentation and tutorials
are readily available. A server-based version is also available. You can access
Microsoft Project using the University of Liverpool online library linkhttps://portal.liv.ac.uk, by following these steps:

1. Log on
   using your user name and password.
2. Click
   on the Apps Anywhere link.
3. Install
   the CITRIX application on your computer if it is not already installed.
4. Click
   on Office> Project 2007.

OpenProj 1.4
is available as a free download from the Internet. OpenProj has fewer features
than Project-ON-Demand, which is software that you can access for a monthly
subscription fee of $20.00 per user. OpenProj runs on Linux, Unix, Mac, or
Windows computers. Limited documentation exists regarding OpenProj, and support
may be available only if newer versions are released.

You are a
project manager in a newly established construction company. The company
comprises 12 team members working under two project managers. The company’s
chief executive officer (CEO) is not keen on investing too much in a project
management software tool without being convinced about the value of such an
investment. Which project management software tool would you recommend to the CEO
and why? Discuss the parameters that you would consider while making your
choice.