By Helene Norris


Managing big projects is a complex task and there is a lot of pressure to bring them in on time and within budget. For contractors this is especially important, as penalty clauses can have a serious impact on profitability. Fortunately, there is some great project management software for contractors available online or as a package.

These packages usually have a list of tasks from which the manager selects those appropriate to the particular contract. This list acts as a tick sheet to make sure nothing is forgotten, and you should be careful to make sure they do not apply before ignoring them. It may be that the particular circumstances of a project do require this task to be performed.

The very complicated packages which are available might be overkill for what you need. Having too many details can easily prevent you from seeing the big picture, and you may get bogged down in all the detail. Of course, certain tasks which would not normally be likely to cause delays could become problematic depending on the particular circumstances involved in a project.

While most aspects of projects flow smoothly, you want the software to highlight areas which are a potential problem. The purpose is to help you focus your attention where it is most needed, to make the best use of your time. The diagrams should be clear, and any problems should be immediately obvious at a glance.

When selecting a package, it is best to choose one which is adaptable to your needs. It should be able to allow detailed data to be captured, but it is vital that it presents a complete picture of progress as well as potential problems. You can then decide what level of detail you need for a specific task, while not being overloaded with unnecessary details.

When estimating the time a task will take as well as the cost, you should be generous. If you shave the total time and cost to be more competitive, you really need to evolve an approach which will make these results achievable. Any project which has a large number of critical paths risks a slippage on at least one of them. Controlling a project where there is no possibility from the outset of remaining within the estimate is very disheartening.

Evaluating the available packages means that you be familiar with the type of contract you are normally involved in. Sub-contracting would normally require greater detail, but entail a much more limited focus. Overall responsibility for a project would point more towards having a comprehensive overview, and controlling whether the sub-contractors are on track, or you need to take action to minimize the consequences of a slippage.

Really great project management software for contractors is a very useful tool. It will pay you to investigate the different software fully, knowing what your specific needs, before deciding on the most suitable. The program with the most functions may not be the best for your projects, if all you need is something very simple to use and understand, not something that will confuse the issues.




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