Social Task Management and the Renewed Focus On Getting Work Done
December 29 2011 11:45:00 AM
Add/Read Comments [10]
In my Predictions for 2012 blog post I wrote that one of the trends I'm seeing is a surge in new project/task/time management tools focused on Getting Work Done. To learn more on the topic, you can purchase a full version of my report on Social Task Management.
The following is the list of products I follow in this market. They do not all fit into exactly the same bucket though. Some have been around for a few years while others are still in private beta. Some do just project management while some are part of a larger collaboration platform. I'd appreciate your feedback on tools that are missing plus ideas on how to best group the various offerings.
Social Task Management Vendors
Last updated May 3rd, 2013 (latest additions Twoodo and Wunderlist Pro)
* projects/tasks are integrated into the vendors collaboration platform
Some of the key items on the history and evolution of Social Task Management platforms:
1. The web - Back in 2004, 37 Signals pioneered web-based project management with Basecamp. Today people are more accustomed to web-based solutions than they were back then.
2. Mobile - Similar to the point above,
people today expect easy access to their information anytime anywhere. Mobile task list and notifications make this simple. The cameras on mobile devices are also handy tools for helping with task management by adding photos or even video conferencing.
3. Social - Activity streams have made broadcasting what we're doing commonplace. This lends itself well to task management, allowing people to discover, comment on and even favourite what people are doing.
4. Analytics/Gamification - Badges, leader boards and Infographics are all useful features to help motivate and reward people as they complete tasks/projects.
5. Simple - You don't need to be a Sigma Six blackbelt to use these new emerging tools. (Unlike the perception around overly complicated tools like MS Project)
Additional Reading:
Time/Task/Project frameworks: Getting_Things_Done , Kanban , Covey
The following is the list of products I follow in this market. They do not all fit into exactly the same bucket though. Some have been around for a few years while others are still in private beta. Some do just project management while some are part of a larger collaboration platform. I'd appreciate your feedback on tools that are missing plus ideas on how to best group the various offerings.
Social Task Management Vendors
Last updated May 3rd, 2013 (latest additions Twoodo and Wunderlist Pro)
* projects/tasks are integrated into the vendors collaboration platform
- AgileZen
- Any.Do
- Asana
- Atlassian Confluence *
- AtTask
- Azendoo
- Basecamp
- Bettermeans
- Casual.IO
- Clearvale (by Broadvision) *
- Crocagile
- Cubevibe
- Do (by SalesForce)
- Fellowstream
- Flow
- Goshido
- Huddle *
- HyperOffice *
- IBM Connections *
- Igloo Software *
- Jive Software *
- JoinCube
- Kerio Technologies
- Kibits
- Kona (by Deltek)
- LiquidPlanner
- MangoProjects
- Mavenlink
- Microsoft SharePoint *
- MindJet *
- Neudesic Pulse
- Offiria
- Podio (by Citrix) *
- Producteev (acquired by Jive)
- Rule
- Saba People Cloud *
- Sandglaz
- SAP Jam (formerly Streamwork) *
- Siasto
- SmartSheet
- Socialcast Projects (by VMware) *
- Socialcast Strides (by VMware)
- Sparqlight
- TeamBox
- TeamWork Live
- Traction Teampage *
- Trello
- Twoodo
- Wrike
- WorkSimple
- Wunderlist Pro
- Yodiz
- ZoHo Projects
Some of the key items on the history and evolution of Social Task Management platforms:
1. The web - Back in 2004, 37 Signals pioneered web-based project management with Basecamp. Today people are more accustomed to web-based solutions than they were back then.
2. Mobile - Similar to the point above,
people today expect easy access to their information anytime anywhere. Mobile task list and notifications make this simple. The cameras on mobile devices are also handy tools for helping with task management by adding photos or even video conferencing.
3. Social - Activity streams have made broadcasting what we're doing commonplace. This lends itself well to task management, allowing people to discover, comment on and even favourite what people are doing.
4. Analytics/Gamification - Badges, leader boards and Infographics are all useful features to help motivate and reward people as they complete tasks/projects.
5. Simple - You don't need to be a Sigma Six blackbelt to use these new emerging tools. (Unlike the perception around overly complicated tools like MS Project)
Additional Reading:
Time/Task/Project frameworks: Getting_Things_Done , Kanban , Covey
Hi Alan - FYI Activities *is* available standalone - although the vast majority of customers do use it as part of Connections.
Hi Jon, thank you for the update. Can you please link me to a site that lists Activities being available standalone, what the UI looks like when it's unbundled from Connections, etc.
Add: ZoHo Projects.
Hey Alan,
Nice round up of the choices that are available. I actually think there are too many options right now and it is hard to pick which one suits. It use to be a case of best of breed vs suite approach, now we are getting greedy and wanting best feature of the best of breed.
Have a look at "At Task", it is a very well rounded product that has it roots in what I would call pure Project Management and Program Management. I was able to get hardened MS Project based PM's to use this tool without them switching back to MS Project and it also had the flexibility for teams to use it as their departmental task lists. They integrated the social aspect earlier this year as well. Emily at RB was the guru on this implementation.
Hey Alan,
Thanks for the update on this subject. I'm researching PM tools for my company, and hadn't come across many of these. One notable one I might add to your mix is Smartsheet -- we've started using it on a trial basis. It has nice Gantt charts and task assignment features, and is available as an affordable subscription service. One unique thing about where I work is that we have very small, agile teams, and not all PM tools fit the scope and breadth of every project we work on. Other ones we've used, worth mentioning:
- I personally use the somewhat ghetto TurboProject for scheduling on a specific project, but it's not meant for large-scale corporate collaboration not to mention is Windows-specific. - Years ago we bought a license for an internal installation of AceProject, but it turned out to be too unwieldy to use, and eventually we got priced out of upgrades.
- Even more years ago we used Basecamp online, but at the time it didn't allow us to do everything we needed (task assignment, scheduling)
- We use Lighthouseapp.com for project-specific task tracking and bug assignment. It's pretty decent for a ticketing system, and even offers "milestones", but doesn't go much further than that
- I have used Trello on occasion, and like it for quick scrum-oriented projects
- I evaluated Action Method, and it offers a cool social collaboration atmosphere, but I found it TOO socially focused, to the point of being distracting
- I checked out the demo for At Task mentioned by Ben above, and it seems pretty robust, doing most of what SmartSheet does and then some. It's got the "social" interface of Action Method, offering the ability to engage users with recent updates in a clean, intuitive way. Couldn't find pricing though, which is ominous...
We'll continue to use a melange of tools (including Google Docs) until we find a service that is flexible enough to meet our needs, at a reasonable monthly cost. I'd say that as-a-service web-based apps are the way of the future, and simple, intuitive interfaces are a must. If social aspects are incorporated into these tools, it seems crucial to gear the stream to the appropriate audience (manager, worker bee).
Hey Stephen, great to interact with you here on my blog! Thank you for the list of additional tools to look at. Hope all is well.
I've got another new entrant to add to your list: CommitKeeper by 4Spires. Since we don't do Gantt and PERT charts we see our tool as either an extension to the heavy weight PM tools or as a big step up from tracking projects in email. Our new work management product on the Salesforce AppExchange (other versions coming soon) keys in on accountability, engagement and visibility. The first main differentiator is that software requires that every task request must get an explicit response from the intended performer, i.e. Agree, Decline, or Counter Offer. The performer has a real voice in taking on tasks and this starts off the work with real commitment and accountability. Once this negotiated commitment between the leader and the performer is achieved, then the software tracks the status and all the updates along the way. The performer is obliged to report in real time whether they are on track with meeting their commitment (i.e. G, Y, R). When the task is accomplished, the performer makes an explicit delivery and the leader is expected to make an explicit assessment of the delivery and indicate whether they were satisfied. Each request-to-delivery-to-acceptance is a closed loop that provides an opportunity for immediate feedback and adjustment for future tasks. Regarding visibility, the project leader has a comprehensive dashboard showing the status of all commitments across all people and all projects with the ability to drill down into the conversation details. It's a great tool for supporting the weekly status meetings or one-on-ones. Check it out here: { Link } .
Thank you for the respond David. I look forward to hearing more about 4Spires. I beleive you're setting up a briefing with my colleage Yvette and I.
Ive tried many of them. Favorites right now are Asana and Metalab's Flow.
Alan, regarding your thought on how to group these tools: a few possible dimensions including individual versus team, or priority versus task. Would also love it if you could consider Priority Matrix by Appfluence (www.appfluence.com).