Project Management Simulation Software

Project management simulation program is a computer-based solution that virtually simulates certain tools, leverages, controls and functions to let its user (project manager) administer a project. The point is making the project managers fully or partially free of different issues related to operating the paper documents and paper-based project workflow (or at least to minimize the time spent for allotting resources, assigning tasks, controlling work feedbacks, etc).

The techniques may include the following areas:

• The entire project’s electronic (virtual) representation – the process, its major components & parameters to be solely modeled, reviewed, studied and updated (once it is required). Such a presentation can be realized with a help of virtual WBS tool – a tree-like hierarchal structure of interrelated components (stages, tasks, goals, etc) to be parameterized with time, costs, and other attributes.
•  The ’s documents circulation – since almost any documentation can be digitized (turned into electronic formats), it makes sense to simulate (digitize) the document circulation by using virtual repositories where electronic documents are categorized, managed and searched with a help of computer-based means. Simulating document repositories and archives makes it much easier and faster to operate with information as any document can be found, accessed and edited with minimal consumption of time and energy.
•  The ’s electronic workflow – once the project’s initial structure and working parameters are simulated (inputted into special software), it is necessary to simulate the project’s actual life through applying regular updates and changes according to the real-life situation at the project. Operating the project’s live model helps the project managers to undertake analysis to qualify how well the different project’s components perform their work (to know if actual progress over the project meets the planned dynamics, milestones, costs, and quality).

Examples:

The simplest example is MS Excel which means registering the project tasks as a list-like plain schedule of activities to complete, so once something on the task list is accomplished, the schedule can be updated (the status of appropriate task changed) – this allows the manager to track where the project’s progress is now. Another tool that can be used for live modeling is VIP Task Manager that is software for planning, scheduling, categorizing, prioritizing and controlling (updating) the project tasks in realtime regime. With a help of this product you can do the following:

• Simulate the project’s body – you can use Task Tree mode of this program to outline the project stages, sub-stages and tasks to breakdown your project into smaller and more manageable pieces of work.
• Simulate the project’s schedules – with a help of Calendar mode of this program you can map out the project’s timeline on a time-grid, along with daily, weekly or monthly agendas of your employees.

•  Simulate the project’s parameters – with a help of special capabilities of this program you can plan and update the project’s whole package of parameters – costs (budget) per tasks and task groups, time metrics per tasks, task priorities to direct the workflow, etc.
• Simulate the project’s workflow – in order to reach life-related simulation of all these settings it is necessary to receive fresh information “from the field”. With a help of VIP Task Manager that is a client-server solution, multiple people engaged into the same team can update all the concerned information by themselves (update statuses and parameters of their tasks) using their client applications, so the project manager can operate the recent situation’s representation. 

This is not freeware, but a commercial program for tasks-oriented – planning, scheduling, reporting and controlling tasks via corporate network. You can do this software download to test its trial version out during 30 days to understand if this solution really works for your needs. As far as this tool is very simple in use, it doesn’t require any PM trainings, but you can learn its functionality through a set of free tutorial materials exposed on this web-site. Besides these supportive downloads, you can resort to a help of live-chat support operator, or send request into the email support service.