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Open the Door to Open Source
Andrew Makar, PMP (July 28, 2005)

The growing trend of open-source software development provides a compelling alternative to commercial applications. However, project leaders should consider the potential drawbacks as well as benefits before adopting an open-source project management solution. This new series will offer guidance.

Before e-mail, web browsers, and collaboration software, project management was still executed with a pad of paper and a No. 2 pencil. Even before modern writing tools, The Great Pyramids, the Great Wall of China and the Roman Coliseum were all managed without a single email or a Microsoft Project license. Fortunately, project management tools have advanced to automate previously manual and time-consuming tasks.

As an organization’s project management discipline matures, project management tools are provided to support projects, ranging from simple Microsoft Excel spreadsheets to robust enterprisewide portfolio management systems. The tools provide a wide range of functionality with proportional price tags — a single MS-Project 2003 license is $599, while a full-feature project portfolio management system can cost more than $100,000 depending on the enterprise’s scope. Additional training, consulting and ongoing maintenance costs also increase the total cost of ownership.

The growing trend of open-source software development provides an alternative to commercial software products.

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