Project Management in the Cloud

By the very definition, an Operating System is,

an interface between hardware and user. An OS is responsible for the management and coordination of activities and the sharing of the resources of the computer. The operating system acts as a host for computing applications run on the machine.

So what if that operating system is only installed on the hardware and then used to reach out to the web and connect you with cloud based tools?  If you’ve been playing around with Google Chrome, Google says You’re already running Google OS. Even last year when Chrome was announced others caught on to the fact that Google launched an OS and called it a browser, perhaps as a way to not confuse customers yet.

The Google OS could mean that the now popular Netbooks can really become more feature-filled, relying less on Windows based software and operating systems, since the majority of the hardware churning apps is done on the cloud.

For project management, the Google OS is somewhat of a dream.  It means that less hardware can perform for longer before it’s considered obsolete and connect more team members with more features, functions and apps.

Tags: Google, Google OS, Operating Systems
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Spreadsheets are a necessary evil in the business world.  Their cells are used for complex math algorithms, charting, graphs and sometimes, as an easy way to show simple lists of things like inventory.  Moving your spreadsheets into the cloud removes the necessity to install software on each workstation and email the file back and forth to multiple team members, wondering who has the most recent version. Collaborating on spreadsheets in the cloud allows for (in some cases) real time edits that are viewable by all and a centralized location to keep data.

Wikipedia has a great list of Online Spreadsheet Software, most powered with AJAX technologies.  For a more in-depth comparison, check out Edit Grid who built one based on the six most popular options and displays it in one of their own spreadsheets.

Tags: Spreadsheet
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Managing a virtual team can be challenging, but project management software that is cloud based has helped make it a lot easier.  There are other tools that can also help, like a team built Wiki.  The definition of a how a Wiki is used:

are often used to create collaborative websites, to power community websites, for personal note taking, in corporate intranets, and in knowledge management systems.

Because they are dynamic, cloud based and easy to edit, it allows virtualized team members to create and share notes faster than email and colloborate on projects together.  A great resource for deploying your own Wiki can be found in the book, Managing virtual teams that Google has a complete cache of for easy reading.

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Because virtual teams are more likely to be under your wing than under one roof, properly managing everyone becomes critical.  Since you can’t swing into someones office to run an idea by them if they are in a different state, utilizing tools and techniques to keep everyone on time and accountable is essential.

B Wyze covers Five best practices for managing a virtual support team, pretty much essential steps to not having a daily headache. Some great downloadable PDF’s on team management at a distance can be found here, and Tech Republic has some more great tips here.

The key has to be implementation of open communication, utilizing that, along with the tips listed here and you are sure to have a smooth running team that always performs tasks on time, and proficiently.

Tags: Tips
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Since one of the major benefits of cloud computing is the ability to access and share data anywhere there is a computer and Internet connection, how useful are paper files anymore?  They serve a purpose, but if you’ve started to make the move to cloud computing, the rest should soon follow.

Added with sharing and easy access, fast search-ability is also a key reason to put paper files in the cloud.  No more looking through old drawers or wondering if something ended up in the shreder that shouldn’t have.

Lifehacker put together The Complete Guide to Going Paperless, a great step by step way to ditch the paper and utilize digital and cloud computing techniques.  Services like SnapScan can also help convert your older documents.

The added bonus to moving paper work to the cloud is not only a savings in overall office expenses, but you will be moving to a more earth friendly, green way of running things.

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Part of the concept of cloud computing is off-loading processor and memory needy applications to more powerful servers running web based applications.  The appeal is, less hardware is needed to do the same work and each application becomes drastically more scalable.  This is also provided you have an Internet connection for most apps.

Google has helped by bringing the cloud local with gears, but being online is crucial to most applications.  Compiled here is a list of sites that you can use to find free Wi-Fi spots so you can work wherever you are.

• Wi-Fi Hot Spot List
• Wi-Fi Free Spot
• Open Wi-Fi Spots

Each of them operates based on user input, so no one is better than the other.  Because users are responsible for posting the location, connection speed and review, it’s impossible to say that when you arrive at any location, it will in fact be working properly, so cross referencing might be a good idea.  The Simple Dollar also did a round-up of ten places to find Wi-Fi in stores and restaurants that comes in really handy if you like to eat and work at the same time.

Tags: Wi-Fi
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Changing times are ahead of us, and cloud computing is leading the forefront in regards to how we utilize computers, applications and even operating systems.  New clouds seem to be popping up everywhere, but what about ones that target and fit your needs specifically?  How about your own cloud?

The time is now, and shows in a recent article on Agares Media where they cover the announcement of GroundOS. A new operating system, based totally on the cloud, and customized to your specific needs.

The so called mini cloud is actually a double negative, as Dev Central explains, a cloud is meant to be public, building a mini cloud, or private cloud, is counter productive.  It is however, of total sense to many projects that are better managed internally, say in a law office for example.

Creating the personal cloud with cloud operating system can serve certain needs, and is definitely worth exploring more.

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Any project that involves more than one person is depending upon open communication and some form of collaboration.  Email changed how we communicate but wasn’t much good for collaboration.  Things are changing now.

MHT’s article on collaborating in the cloud focuses on the cost savings companies can make by utilizing cloud based software.  Law.com has a great round-up of why cloud collaboration works for lawyers, it’s actually usefully for just about any business model though.  Lastly, ZDNet recently interviewed drop.io’s CEO Sam Lessin, a service that offers real-time collaboration in the cloud, designed to cut costs and boost productivity.

The cloud offers so much, it’s nice to finally see dedicated software and development towards bridging the gap for email, instant messaging and virtual white boards.

Tags: Collaboration
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With hundreds of cloud applications out and even more coming daily, selecting the right one isn’t as easy as a Google search anymore.  Run down this list of criteria and answer the questions before you start to utilize any cloud application.

1. How long has the company been in business, will the be in business next year?  Utilizing something like Google Apps is probably a safe bet, I don’t see Google going out of buisness tomorrow.
2. Does the company make any claims for data storage and integrity? Important if you’re using an online backup solution and their servers crash, with our only copy of data.
3. What is the cost of ownership over the span of time I will use it?  $10 / month may sound cheap, but if it’s $10 per license, per month and you need 100 seats, that small $10 monthly app just turned into a $12,000 yearly bill.
4. Will the application grow with you, or will you outgrow it?  Sometimes it’s hard to plan two to five years down the line, but if the application can’t grow with your needs, why bother using them to start with?
5. Can you download all your data from them, whenever you want? Is there a fee to do so?
6. Read the TOS, make sure you actually agree with everything.
7. Is there an efficient way to contact the company? A contact form is nice, but if you are on a time critical job you probably can’t wait several hours for an email response.  Check to see if the company offers telephone and or chat support, and that the time it’s available meets your needs.
8. Is the application cross browser and computer compatible? Chances are, someone on your team will utilize a different browser or computer that you use, everyone needs to access the data though.

Tags: Cloud, Security
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SaaS, an acronym for Software as a Service, is on a rise, and it’s easy to see why.  The Wikipedia describes SasS as,

a model of software deployment whereby a provider licenses an application to customers for use as a service on demand

Because the actual software lives on another computer, often on a web server to the parent company of the SaaS, it puts less load on localized computers. Additionally, since it’s only used when needed, the billing periods are often much lower.  A list of SaaS applications for project management is:

• Severa
• Viewpath
• Qtask
• Clarizen
• Google Apps
• Intuit
• @task
• Daptiv
• Zoho Projects

Free and fee based services are available and small groups to enterprise levels of tools to fit the needs of just about any project are available.

Tags: SaaS
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