Comparative analysis of the functional features of PM software packages

MS Project Spider Project Lite Primavera Project Management Open Plan Professional

Parameters and Functions

MSP STRUCTURES Portfolio Breakdown Structure Work Breakdown Structure Resource Breakdown Structure Cost Breakdown Structure ACTIVITY TYPES Duration Effort Volume (physical) Hammock (LOE) Milestone RESOURCE TYPES Labor Material Production Skills Multi-Resources (crews) DEPENDENCIES Standard 4 types (FS, SS, FF, SF) Time Lags Volume Lags Strict Links Multiple Links RESOURCE ASSIGNMENTS Individual Multi-Resources Independent teams (Shifts) Partial Workload Predefined Workload Profile Automatic Workload Profile Adjustment Material Consumption Material Production Materials consumed by Resources COSTS Cost Components Activity Cost Resource Hour Cost Material Unit Cost Planned Overload Cost Assignment Cost (Payment per Work) Income simulation Multi Currency Yes Yes Yes No

SPL No Yes Yes Yes

P6 Yes Yes Yes Yes

OPP Yes Yes Yes Yes

Yes Yes No 2 Yes Yes

Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Yes Yes No Yes Yes

Yes Yes No Yes Yes

Yes Yes No No No

Yes Yes No Yes4 No

Yes Yes No No No

Yes Yes No Yes3 No

Yes Yes No No No

Yes Yes Yes No Yes

Yes Yes No No Yes

Yes Yes No No No

Yes No No Yes Yes No Yes No No

Yes No No Yes5 No No Yes No Yes

Yes No No Yes Yes No Yes No No Yes6 Yes Yes Yes No No No No

Yes No No Yes Yes Yes Yes No No Yes6 Yes Yes Yes No No No No

No Yes Yes Yes No No No No

Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

CALENDARS Activity Calendars Resource Calendars Dependency Calendars SCHEDULING Without Resource Constraints Standard Priorities Custom Priorities Resource-constrained Schedule Optimization Schedule Stability Tools Scheduling with Supply Restrictions Scheduling with Financial Restrictions Backward Scheduling Resource Critical Path (Critical Chain) Resource-Constrained Floats RISK PLANNING Risk Simulation Probability To Meet Project Targets (Cost, Finish) Calculation of Necessary Contingency Reserves MONITORING AND PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT Duration Monitoring Resource Monitoring Volume Monitoring Supply Monitoring Cost and Income Monitoring Project Archives Reports for User Defined Periods Earned Value Management (EVM) Trends of any Project Parameters Trends of EVM Parameters Success Probability Trends Deviations from the Baseline Deviations by User Defined Period PROJECT PORTFOLIO Portfolio Scheduling and Levelling Project Priorities Portfolio Budget Portfolio Budget by Cost Components and Centers Portfolio Cash Flow Including Profits WORK THROUGH WWW Monitoring Performance Remote Work With Project Model
1 2

Yes Yes No

Yes Yes Yes

Yes Yes No

Yes Yes No

Yes Yes No No No No No Yes No No

Yes Yes No Yes Yes No No Yes Yes Yes

Yes Yes Yes No No No No Yes No No

Yes Yes Yes No No Yes Yes Yes No No

No No No

No No No

No No No

Yes Yes Yes

Yes Yes No No No No No Yes No No No Yes No

Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes

Yes Yes No No No No No Yes No No No Yes No

Yes Yes No No No Yes No Yes No No No Yes No

No Yes Yes No Yes

No No No No No Yes10 Yes10

Yes Yes Yes No Yes

Yes Yes Yes No Yes

Yes No

Yes No

Yes No

- unlimited number of WBS in one project - resources may be assigned to the project phases 3 - for resources with the same productivity 4 - resources of the same skill may have different productivities, automatic resource assignments based on skills and availability 5 - simulation of quantities and workloads, not just total workload 6 - cost accounts but not cost components, impossible to define that resource cost consists of salary, taxes, indirect costs etc. 7 - working calendars take into account both activity and resource calendars 8 - with the simulation of material supply or production 9 - with the simulation of project financing and income 10 - using FTP, access from Spider Project without using third party software.

Spider Project Professional

SPP Yes Yes1 Yes1 Yes

1

Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Yes Yes Yes Yes4 Yes

Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Yes Yes Yes Yes5 No Yes Yes Yes Yes

Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Yes Yes Yes

Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 8 Yes Yes9 Yes Yes Yes

Yes Yes Yes

Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes10 Yes10