Ask HN: What tool do you use for managing non-technical projects?

[bryanwb]

I have been looking for a decent non-technical group project management tool for years but still been unsatisfied. What do you use?

I am most interested in how to manage projects like launching a new product, server migration, designing a new marketing strategy, or hiring a design department. There are many great tools like Trac and Redmine for managing programming projects but afaik the same does not exist for non-technical projects.

Here is what I am looking for in project management software. Feel free to add your own requirements.

1. Tasks to be done, with deadlines

2. Important events during the lifetime of the project

3. Visualizations like Gantt charts to track the progress of the project, but aren't critical.

4. Tracking staff resources assigned to the project

5. Managing documents related to the project, like meeting notes, contracts, Service Level Agreements, etc.

6. Easy for truly non-technically inclined staff to use

At my past organization, a tiny non-profit, we used redmine for managing non-technical projects. It was functional but far from ideal. I now work for a giant multinational and there is still a tremendous need for a good, easy-to-use project management app.

[catlike]

I have almost completely migrated project management tasks to Basecamp, but if Gantt charts were important/needed for me (I used to generate them) I would go back to using http://www.omnigroup.com/products/omniplan/ it is OSX based, but has worked very well for me. There are a couple video tutorials on the site I suggest watching to get a feel for whether or not you'd enjoy using the software.

Good luck!

[bryanwb → catlike]

can you comment on how well basecamp has worked for you and what kind of projects you have used it for?

[brianwillis]

There's the very famous Basecamp (http://basecamphq.com/) by 37signals. No gantt charts though. If you buy 37signals' argument that effective project management is about communication and not planning then you won't really need them.

[bryanwb → brianwillis]

I agree that gantt charts aren't critical but I do think that planning is pretty darn important esp. when your staff is not entirely composed of well-organized self-starters