Project Management in the Cloud: The Next Level By: Abram Harrell

Table of Contents
Executive Summary...3 Introduction...4 Revamping Project Planning..........4-6 Conclusion.7 Works Cited...8

Executive Summary
Since the onset of cloud computing back in mid-2008, the implications of IT services and collaborative efforts peaked. The concept behind cloud-based computing is to share information and processes in as expeditious of a manner as possible. As of recent developments, businesses are utilizing project management solutions as a means to optimize production, rollouts, and software development. Currently, the majority of all small to mid-sized companies (such as Public Consulting Group) are using out dated software to facilitate project management. As asserted by Daniel Stang, the principal research analyst at Gartner on the creation of project management offices a PMO can provide a common planning process with artifacts, a common reporting process and oversight and a common IT modernization process (Newsroom 2013). Time is money for all companies, and the more efficient use of it the better. Collaborative process planning optimizes use of time, which correlates to less monetary costs to the firm.

The management consulting industry is now attempting to utilize more IT solutions in order to manage clients more effectively. Public Consulting Group falls into the category of a consulting firm that maintains its own in-house software solution. With school districts across the country as its client base, cooperation between client representative teams and the core development team play an integral role in optimizing client satisfaction and ensuring that utilization hours do not run over the allocated time per production project. There are various cloud project management services on the market that offer user-friendly solutions to the complex core project management business problems. With the ability to simultaneously build, update, improve, and execute project plans, businesses can now add a new robust tool to their arsenal; one that can provide the necessary edge in the competitive consulting market.

Introduction
Envision a world that has become a more complicated place with IT constantly changing all around us. Idealist may find this world intriguing and fathom about the future, while realist will simply see this world as the one we live in now. Since the release of software such as Google Drive and Microsoft SharePoint, collaboration has increased exponentially. Everyone is looking for a solution that will enable him or her to work as quickly and efficiently as possible. It is commonplace to hear the phrase working smarter, not harder in the office atmosphere. In fact, serving as a former business analyst intern at Public Consulting Group, I heard this phrase used almost daily. At this firm, just like many other small to midsized firms, Microsoft Project was the software used as a means for creating a project planning method for clients. Those who did not have knowledge of the software had to individually learn how to use it and all of its complexities. The software also uses the traditional file approach, which made the user send large project plans via e-mail each time there was an update after a conference call, client meeting, or staff meeting.

Collaborating with other client representatives and the developers proved to be rather difficult when priorities in client project developments changed. Those using cloud computing can avoid not only major capital investments, but also the ongoing complexity of managing the technology challenges (Rao 2013). Based on this assertion, the aforementioned software complexities found in Microsoft Project and the ongoing overage of development hours at the firm for clients can be resolved at a low cost in investment as well as ease of use. One resource introduced of this caliber did just that. The resource known as Smartsheet is the cloud computing project management software that allowed for creation, management, and collaboratively improve the project plans currently implemented for two of the largest clients in the firms southeastern customer base. The dynamic interface of the software allowed swift work of the once tedious and training-intensive tasks allocated to that of a business analyst.

Revamping Project Planning

Before the emergence of cloud computing, the world was a very different place. People who had to collaborate on a group project or task had to engage in an elaborative back and forth exchange of files, and a bombardment of e-mail messages in order to achieve a result. Even now, to this very day, businesses and the less tech savvy engage in this process that can prove to be quite
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long and difficult. It is commonplace and intuitive for a business project to have at least one project manager on the job. Nowadays, more businesses are actually creating teams of people to manage projects due to increase in government compliance and the need to satisfy the everchanging business atmosphere. Companies that span across a larger geographical area on the map often have people from different teams planning, creating, and ensuring that projects are optimize for their clients. It is actually quite common for management consulting firms to participate in such practices. Firms are constantly striving to improve their processes and with cloud computing available in project management, change is on the horizon. How can we make what we do better?

Problem
For the people who are not very tech savvy (most CEOs are not), yet want to keep up with the times, simplicity is necessary. Public Consulting Group has been around for quite some time now and is constantly on the move to improve its processes. IT modernization has become not only an increasing topic of discussion in business (especially in consulting firms), but also a pressuring force on business performance. With the world changing and becoming more dependent on IT, firms must also change and shift more adhere to these technology pressures. Gartners theme for closing this gap between yesterdays IT implementations and tomorrows demands in IT has proven to be the greatest shift in IT technology skills that has been seen in the history of computing (Newsroom 2013). Technology serves as both a great benefit for those companies who follow the notion of IT modernization. Conversely, those who do not make strives to modernize their IT efforts will be left behind and incur more upfront costs to tech improvements as demand increases while supply decreases. Acelify, a competitor for some of the core services of Public Consulting Group, has emerged as a new company and has captured some client services with their robust cloud-like technology. How can Public Consulting Group manage their expansive clientele more efficiently in this ever-changing IT world that we live in?

Solution
Imagine a software solution that has already adapted to and modernized project planning, as we know it. Picture project management software that coordinates and automates many of the more tedious functions of managing projects, such as graphs, task assignment, time sheets, milestones and the ever important generation of those Gantt charts that the clients want (Rudy 2013). As mentioned earlier, Smartsheet is an excellent example of software that has all of the pieces to satisfy the needs of analysts, project managers, and provide those colorful Gantt charts that the clients always want to see at each meeting, as shown in Figure 1.
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Figure 1. Software Interface Many companies are now phasing out of the waterfall technique of planning/development to the agile technique, which allows for continuous improvement of software applications. Since Public Consulting Group manages the software rollouts, releases, and constant client requests for development all in-house, the project plans for each client should accommodate them. With cloud computing serving as the worlds most effective way of data and process collaboration, Smartsheet offers the robust yet versatile solution that the business needs. Working in the field, this software piece allowed for personal cooperation with the development team and expedited the tedious back and forth file exchange that so many are used to. In this environment, users are able to make changes in real-time and simultaneously with other users. Now for the big question: How much does it cost? The most efficient way to work on a cloud towards a project plan is in a team. Smartsheet offers the low capital investment solution that every small to midsized firm desires. When paid annually, the cost per can range from $14 and $39 per month based on the services and data storage needed to accommodate any working atmosphere (Smartsheet 2013). Working smarter and not harder has never been easier and the cost to continuity of service to the firm is minimal compared to the aforementioned benefits offered.

Conclusion
In closing, the presence of cloud computing, alongside the many IT advancements made within the past half-decade, have proven to be monumental in the business world. Many firms have taken the initiative to invest in the future and make great leaps towards IT modernization. Within the confines of the modern day economy, clients want to spend less money on the old, and are willing to spend more on the new technologically robust services firms have to offer. Companies can take advantage of each of these factors and integrate them into their business plan. When a firm has its own software solution, clients expect their project requests implemented as efficiently as possible. They want to see results illustrated in those colorful Gantt charts from Figure 1. Not only should the client want to see results, but also so does the firm. Public Consulting Group has changed its environment towards a results driven culture. The smartest way to work is for members of a team to come together, plan the projects and software fixture issues, and optimize the time it takes to complete a process end to end. Cloud project management is increasing in popularity. The office that had me personally interface with the Smartsheet was full of young and more tech savvy individuals. With the learning curve on a project management tool as low as this one, it was easy to learn about the software functionalities and capabilities. Management consulting firms strive to discover more means of process improvement. Were still in the nascent stage of providing sophisticated integrated project management platforms in the cloud, but eventually, cloud computing will impact the way the project management is done in the future (Rao 2013) Collaboration through a cloud is of the new age. It truly is the next level.

Contact Information
For more information please contact me at abram.harrell@gmail.com. You can also reach me at (786) 991-4584. Thank you very much for allowing me to share some knowledge and research on the next stage of project management. The new era of technology is upon us. Lets work to improve business together.

Works Cited
Rao, V. S. (n.d.). Project Management Institute. Cloud Computing Helps Project Management. Retrieved November 20, 2013, from http://blogs.pmi.org/blog/voices_on_project_management/2011/11/cloud-computing-helpsproject.html E-newsletter. (n.d.). Cloud computing and project management. Retrieved November 20, 2013, from http://www.moorhouseconsulting.com/news-and-views/publications-and-articles/cloudcomputing-and-project-management Blumhorst, D. (n.d.). The Future of Project Portfolio Management Perspectives from the Gartner PPM Summit. Daptiv Blog. Retrieved November 20, 2013, from http://blogs.daptiv.com/2013/05/the-future-of-project-portfolio-management-perspectives-fromthe-gartner-ppm-summit/
Newsroom. (n.d.). Gartner Says a Project Management Office Can Streamline IT Modernization. Retrieved November 20, 2013, from http://www.gartner.com/newsroom/id/726908

Shartsheet collaboration. (n.d.). Online Project Management. Retrieved November 20, 2013, from http://www.smartsheet.com/product-tour/collaboration