The magazine of the Melbourne PC User Group
Project KickStart v1.5
Bob Burt
 bobburt@melbpc.org.au

This aptly-named business application is a project organiser produced by Experience Software Inc (EIS). It helps you compile your project tasks and resources and provides additional information like project goals and possible impediments.

Using Project KickStart (PKS) you can

  • Organise your project into descriptive phases, tasks and sub-tasks
  • Assign personnel to your task list
  • Set goals, determine resource requirements, relate to earlier projects and identify obstacles
  • Store notes on any phase of the design
  • Print reports
  • Transfer project information to MS Project
T he last item should give you a clue to the range and limitation of the application. PKS is not a scheduler like MS Project or Time Line. That is, it is not designed to provide linked tasks or time schedules that include details such as allowances for holidays, nor are there any critical path diagrams or Gantt charts to illustrate a project. You can, of course, simply add the time required for each phase and task within the project and this may be all you would need for a relatively simple design.

What PKS does provide is a well-designed front end that overcomes difficulties you might encounter in creating task lists in the scheduler.

The package

PKS comes on a single 3.5-inch diskette and is installed under Windows in the usual manner. A compact 68-page manual accompanies the program. This is clearly written and well illustrated. In addition to the "how-to" sections which relate to using the actual program, it includes a very useful Addendum on the design and preparation of tactical, strategic and operations plans and how to "brainstorm" them.


Figure 1. Giving your new project a name

Using the program

Navigating PKS is very straightforward. The much overused term "intuitive" can truly be applied to this program, assuming the user is reasonably familiar with the Windows interface.

The expected menu bar is present. It is not overburdened, using the standard File, Edit, View and Help menus only. Below this is the button bar, giving alternatives to the File menu entries - New, Open, Save and Print and adding some specials - Delete Row and New Row to aid in editing and Go to Web Site to access the EIS Web page, http://www.experienceware.com.

The step bar is a vertical array of eight large buttons, enabling logical and orderly development of the project

  • Name - name your project
  • Phases - identify your project's main phases
  • Goals - set the goals and related tasks
  • Similar - compare with earlier projects
  • People - identify who provides resources
  • Obstacle - anticipate obstacles
  • Assign - assign personnel to each task
  • Tasks - review information and revise if necessary.
A s you activate each button, you can read a brief instruction on what to do in that step. The instructions appear in an elongated window immediately above the project information in the centre section of the screen. If you need further help, though, you simply press the Advisor button at the bottom of the screen to display context-sensitive information from the Help file.

To furnish you with ideas, four of the steps are equipped with a library, which you call up with the Library button that appears, when available, to the right of the Advisor button. Thus there are libraries available for the Phases, Goals, People and Obstacles steps. Initially you draw upon the suggestions already incorporated in each library, but you can steadily improve this resource by adding your own items as your own experience develops.

Most of the steps buttons have two or three further steps within them. This is clearly indicated, when it occurs, in the title line of the instruction window.

You can move back or forward in these sequences quickly by using the Back and Next buttons to the right of the Library (or Advisor) button.

When you have completed the Tasks section, you can link your project to any of the following programs, provided you have it on your computer
  • MS Project - to schedule and track
  • SureTrak Project Manager - to schedule and track
  • Time Line - to schedule and track
  • Milestones, Etc. - to schedule and track
  • MS Word - to edit and format text
  • MS Excel - to perform calculations.
G iven all the guidance that is provided, much of it automatic, there is little doubt that most new users would find PKS a pleasure to use. You can modify any of the steps easily, no matter what stage of completion you have reached and the program lends itself to being used for "brainstorming" sessions to produce alternative models.


Figure 2. Setting goals (Goals Library accessible)


Figure 3. Assigning people to phases or tasks (People Library available)


Figure 4. Adding new tasks and assigning them to phases


Figure 5. Review of task list

You will need to establish your own guidelines about what you will regard as a phase and what you consider to be a task within that phase. Perhaps what you originally set down as a task might simply finish up as a note! You would certainly need to have an understanding of the differences between a goal and a phase.

Sample projects

There are six detailed examples of projects provided with PKS. These clearly illustrate how wide a field can be usefully encompassed by this program

  • Organise a company newsletter
  • Prepare for an information analysis seminar
  • Plan a company WWW page for the Internet
  • Develop a mechanical device from concept to production
  • Prepare for a marathon race
  • Design a deployment process for Windows 95.
Conclusion

PKS is a strikingly well-structured program for the organisation of projects. It is very simple to use and ensures that the user applies an orderly approach to the preparation of each project outline.

Reprinted from the July 1997 issue of PC Update, the magazine of Melbourne PC User Group, Australia
 

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