Rational Plan- project management software reviewed

RationalPlan is one of those software’s that you will- like coffee love instantly.

Simply starting out with the software will give you a fair idea about how you will create the entire plan for the project. Like MS project it guides you through the steps. If you are used to planning software’s- this one has a very short learning curve.

Incase you haven’t used one before, please don’t step back. This might be a great opportunity for you dear newbie to learn what planning software’s look like and learn using them for FREE. Download the free version and you get the opportunity to play around with the software and know what Project Managers deal with everyday.

The left navigation bar can be used to navigate among the pages for detailed planning. It includes:

• Project (Info, notes and links, calendar, assumptions and constraints, Risks)
• Planning (create Work Break Structure, schedule task, define resources, assign resources, levelresources, define additional)
• Controlling (update task completion)

One of the best feature is that after assigning resources and allocating them work, you can actually email them about it from right there. I loved it!

You can also navigate within multiple projects the same time by using the drop down projects list feature.

After the final creation of the project and inserting the data, you can click on any of the formats to view the Work Break Structure, Resource View, Task Sheet, Resource Sheet, Client Table etc available on the upper right hand corner.

Having used MS Project and Basecamp, I loved the easiness and the flow of the software and will use it for my future project planning venture. I’ve also heard about Workbench and will try my hands at it as well along with 5pmweb because it looks really fun! So, wait up for those as well

So, here you go Tiberiu (from RationalPlan) and thank you for inviting me to review it.

Picture Courtesy: RationalPlan screenshots

(Disclosure: the opinions regarding the software are entirely mine)

Videos on stepping into project management

I'm celebrating my bday today and am thankful for the way my life has shaped up.

This blog has been a wonderful way to learn more and connect with people who have become a part of my life. So, I wanted to do something very special today, something that I haven't done before.

I finally decided that I'll start with videos. Now, the reason I started this blog was to pen down my journey on trying to become a project manager- as days go by I realise that perhaps I've in a way stopped focussing on the initial days or how you can decide to become a project manager. The video/s will be more focussed on the jitters, the decision making and what you should do about it. Of course I'll still be writing regularly and the videos get posted once in a while. 

Hoping to connect with you all friends and thank you for reading my blog- it makes my day!

Cheers.

Treasure Bag for March

Here's some of my favorite articles for the month:

• Six Top Mind-Sets For Project Management Success And Beyond by John Reiling
• What is a program manager? by Raven Youn
• Networking- How to do it? by Elizabeth Harrin
• Strategies for Nurturing Your Professional Network and Professional Relationships by Sid Savara
• Quotable by Chris Brogan
• The Psychology of Automation by Tim Ferris

Here's the highlight of the month- Elizabeth Gilbert talks about Creative genius . Must watch.

Enjoy!

(Picture Courtesy: http://www.slideshare.net/AdamSinger/22-smart-inspirational-quotes-from-bloggers-in-2008?type=powerpoint)

Five things I want to do before I am 35

Two drafts later, I realise I'm more of a spontaneous writer than the well planned and thought out one, so here's my plan for the future:

• Be a project manager
• Write a book (on how to step into project management and overcome your obstacles on the way)
  
• Start my organization
• Maintain being 5, ok 8 pounds lighter (against current weight)
  
• Buy my house

(Picture: google images)

Ada Lovelace Day

Today’s Ada Lovelace day and what a feeling to be part of it.

As a woman who works in technology herself; I have had lots of influences, some of whom are men and some women.

Talking of my favorite woman whom I admire in Technology there are a few, however my Mom has to top the list. Anjana Bhattacharya, PhD in Chemistry (synthesis and structural identification of mixed chelate nickel complexes) and currently the Deputy Director and divisional head of a government (federal) research institute, she has handled herself most elegantly.

Her job among a room full of men hasn’t always been very easy - publications, research and conservation of energy (long before it was a fad) has always remained her true passion. Born in West Bengal, India in a family with exceptional vision and endurance she was taught early by my grand parents that nothing was impossible. She has always been an exceptional student, a scholar and has seen the tough times and fought against it.

Numerous papers and years spent on mentoring and helping others, I have seen her ethics as a child, most of it unknowingly seeping within me. Her dedication to her job, her compassion and love of science has always struck me.

One of most memorable influences that I have had is in an executive meeting, while visiting her. I happened to be in vicinity and saw most it unfolding before my eyes. The only woman in the meeting, she shocked me- with her knowledge, her expertise and the fact that she was talking about chemical components and alternatives as fluently as chopping veggies. Mind blowing I thought - it changed me completely, the way I perceived her.

Now, we often discuss about work together, the problems that we come across and how we are solving them everyday as “women”. We have three women in our family now- me, mom and my sister- all in Technology and enjoying every bit of it.

So, I ask her for the interview for today for the special occasion.

Has it been hard for you being in an era in Technology when there were more men than women?

No, not really. I think much of it depends on your mentality. Being in a research oriented job women can actually contribute same or more in most cases as men. Unfortunately, sometimes there has been one or two situations where being women came as a disadvantage and I along with other women in the profession and situation raised our voice against it till actions were taken. We didn’t want to sit and watch.

I also think mental structure is very important. You should be able to respect your peers and subordinates. It doesn’t matter whether they are male or female.

How does it feel managing projects? What do you like about it?

It’s great to work with people who want to work and enjoy doing it but difficult to work with a team who are more politically inclined or doesn’t really care much about their work.

What has been the most positive factor in your professional career?

The fact that my boss years ago gave me the freedom and the support to research and work on subjects that really interested me. That brought in a lot of recognition with international paper publications and invitations which came naturally because I enjoyed what I did.

What would you advise for today’s generation of women in technology?

Work for your dreams and try to achieve them. There will be times when perhaps you feel you haven’t been able to achieve it but the secret is to not give up. Women will always face situations where your work-life balance has to be maintained. It will be a lot of hard work, sometimes really hard but if you can put in the extra effort and get through it, rest should be ok.

Thank you.

If you would like to read more on Ada Lovelace day, click here

(Picture: Mom during her PHD days)