Microsoft Project 2021; Choosing between Standard and Professional as an organization

Microsoft Project 2021 is developed by Microsoft with features to support users or organizations with managing projects. With Microsoft Project 2021, a user who is a project manager can you the platform to record tasks of a project and observe its progress and execution. In other cases, a user is also able to use the same platform to create reports, schedules, plan projects, manage resources and follow statuses of a project on going.  

What are the features of Microsoft Project 2021  

Microsoft Project 2021 comes with a wide array of features that assist with project management based on what task the user wants to achieve. The features enable project managers to handle various task effectively knowing where to increase focus on and when to re-strategize it efforts when lagging all in the bid to improve task delivery using Microsoft Project 2021.   

1. Project Planning  

This feature helps with planning, organizing and tracking projects effectively. Teams working on a project with their managers can collaborate, stay on track and meet project deadlines. This feature of project management is advanced with capabilities that empower users to create detailed project plans that include tasks, resources, timelines and dependencies. This allows users to have a clear understanding of the entire scope of project from start to finish.  

2. Co-authoring  

The Co-authoring feature allows multiple users to collaborate on a single project simultaneously. This is particularly useful for team projects or when working with remote team members.  

To use the Coauthoring feature, the project must be saved on a shared network location or on a cloud storage platform such as OneDrive or SharePoint. Once the project is saved in a shared location, multiple users can open and work on it at the same time.  

As users make changes and updates to the project, those changes are automatically synced and updated for all other users to see in real time. This eliminates the need for constant file sharing and version control, making the collaboration process more efficient and streamlined.  

3. Communication and collaboration  

With this feature, users are enabled with real-time communication between collaborators. Users can leave comments and feedback on specific tasks or sections of a project, facilitating effective communication and coordination within the team.  

Also, Microsoft Project 2021 has a “Lock” feature that prevents multiple users from editing the same task at the same time. This ensures that each user’s changes are saved separately and avoids any conflicts or overwriting of data.  

Coauthoring feature in Microsoft Project 2021 promotes teamwork, increases productivity, and improves project management efficiency on especially complex project.  

4. Roadmap creation support  

The roadmap feature enables users to develop high-level strategic plans for their projects. It offers a visual overview of multiple projects, simplifying the process for project managers to monitor progress, identify dependencies, and make necessary adjustments. This feature allows users to create a timeline view of their projects, highlighting key milestones and deadlines.  

5. Project resources management  

The resources management feature in Microsoft Project 2021 is a powerful tool that allows project managers to effectively manage and allocate resources for their projects. This feature helps ensure that the right resources are assigned to the right tasks at the right time, maximizing efficiency and productivity.  

One of the key benefits of the resources management feature is its ability to track resource availability. By inputting information such as resource calendars and working hours, project managers can easily see when a resource is available or overbooked. This eliminates scheduling conflicts and ensures that work is not delayed due to lack of available resources.   

What are the Pros and Cons of using Microsoft Project 2021  

Pros  

1. Advanced features  

Comes with advanced features compared to other popular productivity tools. It is like Microsoft looked at competitor templates, customer feedback about previous versions to improve Microsoft Project 2021.  

2. Creation of advanced reports  

Users are able to easily generate advanced reports with access to a wide range of customizable report templates that can be tailored to fit specific project needs. Reports generated are clear, concise, and relevant to the project at hand. Also reports can be generated with visualization through charts, graphs, and other visual representations.   

 3. Automatically assigning task and dates  

Microsoft Project 2021 also has the ability to automatically assign task dates. This means that when creating a project plan, you don’t have to manually enter start and end dates for each task. Instead, the software will calculate and assign these dates based on various factors such as task duration, dependencies, and resource availability. It also reduces the risk of human error in assigning incorrect dates.   

4. Financial project management  

The financial project management feature in Microsoft Project 2021 is designed to help project managers and teams effectively manage their project budget and costs. This feature allows for accurate tracking of expenses, resources, and revenue throughout the entire project lifecycle.  

One of the main benefits of this feature is its ability to provide real-time insights into the financial health of a project. It can help identify potential cost overruns or delays, allowing for proactive measures to be taken to mitigate any issues.  

Cons  

1. Difficulty in learning and usage  

For beginners or those who have little experience with project management, the learning curve can be steep. The interface and features of Microsoft Project 2021 may seem overwhelming at first, leading to frustration and difficulty in understanding how to use the software effectively.  

2. Expensive to use  

Licensing fees required for each user can be expensive and quickly add up. For organizations who require advanced features this often comes with an additional cost, making the overall price even more expensive.  

3. Compatibility issues  

There may be compatibility issues when sharing files between Microsoft Project 2021 and different versions of Microsoft Project or with other project management tools. This can lead to delays and errors in project planning and execution.   

What are the versions of Microsoft Project 2021  

1. Microsoft Project Standard  

Microsoft Project Standard acts as an entry point into advanced project management, providing core features that meet the fundamental needs of teams and businesses. This version is crafted to streamline project scheduling, task assignment, and progress tracking, ensuring smooth execution.   

Microsoft Project Standard is ideally recommendable for small to medium-sized organizations. It offers a cost-effective solution for efficiently managing single projects without requiring advanced, enterprise-level features provided the user knows and understands what task they want executed.  

2. Microsoft Project Professional  

Microsoft Project Professional serves as a gateway to advanced project management, improving on the features of the Standard version to meet the complex needs of larger teams and organizations. This version offers sophisticated scheduling, resource management, and collaboration tools, ensuring adaptability and control in project execution. Designed for enhanced functionality and flexibility, it is the ideal choice for organizations aiming to elevate their project management strategies.  

What are the plans of Microsoft Project 2021  

1. Project Plan 1  

MS Project Plan 1 is ideal for an organization seeking a streamlined approach to project management. It seamlessly integration with Microsoft 365, offers a smooth and efficient project management and reporting experience.  

2. Project Plan 3  

This plan provides advanced project management and reporting capabilities, ideal for project managers seeking in-depth insights into performance and resource allocation.  

3.Project Plan 5  

All features from Plan 3, together with advanced portfolio management tools and support for Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) management are available.  

These features facilitate detailed analysis and optimization of project resources. Plan 5 users gain access to sophisticated scheduling and analytical tools, customizable views, and built-in roadmaps, providing a comprehensive overview of projects, programs, and portfolios.  

NOTE: All plans stated above are cloud based.  

Talk to our experts about using Microsoft Project 2021  

Our team of experts can assist you to understand which version and plan of Microsoft Project 2021 will best work for your organization. We will have a deep look into your organization’s need to understand if an on-premises version or cloud-based solution will be much more cost effective.  

We will have to understand if your users will be remote based and what level of access, they will require all depending on the scope of task assigned them. Understanding this is very important to prevent over purchase or under purchase of licenses which can lead to more expenses or non-complaint respectively.   

There are pricing models that come with purchasing cloud-based licenses and understanding how to use them can help with staying cost effective as an organization. This our team of experts are willing to share with you to save on cost.  

Whether you are looking for an on-premises or cloud solution, our team of experts is able to assist you make the best decisions today.