MICROSOFT PROJECT REVIEW: PNM
REVIEW SUMMARY |
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Simpler can be better, especially for organizations with routine projects that do not require the sophistication of expensive construction project management software. That was the case for the Public Service Co. of New Mexico, which uses Microsoft Project management software to monitor its electric and gas transmission and distribution projects.
"We did look at utilizing Primavera products, but, for electric and gas transmission and distribution (T&D) projects, we could not justify the cost of going with its software when considering the low complexity of our T&D projects," said Armando Cordova, manager of construction project management at the utility company. "However, the generation side of our business does use Primavera for outage scheduling."
"Our projects are typically not that complex. Therefore we needed a simple [construction] scheduling tool vs. a high-powered one," Cordova said, adding that even people new to the world of scheduling can learn Microsoft Project management software in two days of training. Meanwhile, those who are proficient in this technique can generally pick up on the software through usage and trial and error.
In addition, Cordova said, Project's integration with other Microsoft solutions makes it both user friendly and efficient.
Cordova gave Microsoft Project management software a rating of 8 out of 10.
USER PROFILE |
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| User: | Armando Cordova, manager of construction project management |
| Company: | Public Service Co. of New Mexico (PNM) |
| Location: | Albuquerque, N.M. |
| Website: | www.pnm.com |
| Type of business: | Gas and utility company |
| Business size: | More than $100 million in capital projects per year; about 3,000 employees |
| Experience: | 25 years in engineering, construction and project management |
| Software tools used: | Microsoft Project |
| Tool & Version | Microsoft Project |
REVIEW DETAILS |
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What kinds of construction projects do you mostly work on?
How long have you been using this tool?
Where did you obtain it?
How much did you pay?
How are you using this product?
Why did you pick this product?
Did you look at other tools on the market before picking this one? What was it you didn't like about them (or made this product better)?
Comparing the way you work now with the way you worked before you bought this tool, what has changed?
Can you give us an example of a job where this tool really made a difference?
Can you estimate how much time or money you saved or other measurable benefits your firm realized using this tool?
What are the best features (for your business) in this tool?
Do you think it's a fair value for the price you paid?
What would you change about the product if you could?
Are there features that you don't use? Why not?
Who would you recommend use this tool?
How much computer experience do you think someone needs to use this tool effectively?
Did it take much training (or studying) to learn to use this tool?
Have you ever called the company's support lines and asked for help? What was your experience like?
How would you rate the user documentation? Is it helpful?
When the next version of this software comes out, will you upgrade to it?
Overall, on a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate this tool?
What kinds of construction projects do you mostly work on?
Public Service Co. of New Mexico is a utility company that does electric and gas capital projects for distribution and transmission.
I have been using Microsoft Project management software for more than 20 years.
Where did you obtain it?The company bought it directly from Microsoft.
How much did you pay?
I do not know. Our IT department purchased it.
How are you using this product?
I use it for the scheduling of gas projects of more than $250,000 and electric projects of more than $1 million.
Our projects are typically not that complex therefore we needed a simple construction scheduling tool instead of a high-powered one. In addition, the capability to interface between Microsoft Project and Microsoft Excel worked for our needs.
Did you look at other tools on the market before picking this one? What was it you didn't like about them (or made this product better)?We did look at utilizing Primavera products, but, for electric and gas transmission and distribution (T&D) projects, we could not justify the cost of going with Primavera software when considering the low complexity of our T&D projects. However, the generation side of our business does use Primavera software for outage scheduling.
Comparing the way you work now with the way you worked before you bought this tool, what has changed?Not much.
Can you give us an example of a job where this tool really made a difference?For many of our T&D projects, the ability to provide external stakeholders with quick and simple project summary schedules at the beginning of a project, as well as simply monthly progress report, is useful.
Can you estimate how much time or money you saved or other measurable benefits your firm realized using this tool?
We have saved two ways -- in the cost of Primavera software vs. Microsoft Project management software and in the costs of training associated with having to educate someone on Primavera vs. Microsoft Project.
What are the best features (for your business) in this tool?
For us, it's the simplicity in use for project summary reports and monthly progress reporting, as well as the ability to interface to Microsoft Excel or Microsoft Access.
Do you think it's a fair value for the price you paid?
Definitely.
I would provide it with some of the simple bells and whistles that Primavera SureTrak used to have.
Are there features that you don't use? Why not?
We don't use many of the canned cost reports in Microsoft Project. We transfer information to Microsoft Excel for monthly reporting and Microsoft Access for project archiving.
Who would you recommend use this tool?
It's good for any company that has projects that are typically low in complexity or for routine projects.
How much computer experience do you think someone needs to use this tool effectively?
You need to know the Microsoft Office suite so you can interface between applications.
Did it take much training (or studying) to learn to use this tool?
A two-day training class was sufficient for personnel without prior experience of any construction scheduling tools. For those with prior scheduling experience, a half-day or one day of self-tinkering with the product was adequate.
Have you ever called the company's support lines and asked for help? What was your experience like?
It's very rare that we ever call the support line, but when we have they have provided great support with a staff that's knowledgeable in construction scheduling principles as well as the product.
I don't use really use it.
When the next version of this software comes out, will you upgrade to it?
Since our company has many users of this product, our IT department will upgrade it over several business units.
Overall, on a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate this tool?
8, for our purposes.