Web Application Development with Microsoft Technologies

We started using Project Server 2007 in our software development company sometime ago, in order to unify the project management activities. When configured properly, this is a powerful tool, as it integrates into SharePoint to create pre loaded project workspaces whenever a new project is added to the project center.

It also integrates Microsoft Project  which means you would be able to use all its features for schedule, performance, costs and resources management (among many others). Microsoft Project can connect to the Project Server to retrieve the available enterprise resources and schedule for each of them, which is very useful when multiple PMs are working in project management across the enterprise.

A crucial aspect in every company is tracking the effort spent by the employees in project activities. We have been using different web tools in the past, but still not happy enough with the results.

Some months ago we decided to use Project Server features for time management. Project Server exposes a web access interface so resources can create their timesheets to report time spent in the assigned or not assigned tasks.

Managers have the ability to approve timesheets and generate dynamic reports by project, by resource, by task, by period and export it to Excel if needed.

So far the experience with Project Server features for time management has been really good. But configuring it for supporting all these, is not so trivial.

It requires to set up cubes and data views for reporting, build the enterprise resources library, internet explorer configuration, and many other steps. For those who are interested in configuring this powerful tool, visit my post about configuring project server timesheets in the asp.net weblogs.

I have been involved in Software Development industry for more than 6 years now, and right now I am living a very challenging stage of my career.

During the last few years I had the chance to lead several teams of talented developers, which gave me invaluable experiences and a lot of exposure to software development processes.

 I have worked in a CMMI level 5 corporation for 3 years, and I remember being tired of following processes and completing documents with almost no tangible value for our projects but for the organization itself.

After attending to my PMP course last year, I understood that traditional development processes can be customized depending on the projects needs, and also learnt about the added value of performing some of the activities specified in the PM-Book (guide for project management in general).

Since working at UruIT Global IT Services, I have been trying to adapt the best of a traditional processes to our agile style of development. Why we need to be agile ? Because our customers expect deliveries soon, and because we are focused in using latest tools and technologies in our solutions, usually increasing risks.

However, I think that defining a procedure for identifying and monitoring risks, performing final revisions and a few quality assurance activities, estimating and monitoring costs, schedule or purchases, are helping us to have more profitable projects and satisfied customers every month.

This could be related to our customer profiles and team structure, but PMI suggested procedures are being adapted to our real needs with good results. I hope this PMP certification can help me to adapt more and more process to our organization, always with the goal of improving team productivity and customer satisfaction.

As a side note:

At the beginning, I was mentioning a challenging period in my career, and this is to the fact that I am developing other skills rather than development.

During the last year I have been working in Sales and Delivery Management, trying to reach more and more customers interested in our nearshore development services, and trying to deliver on time and with the desired quality.

This PMP certification is part of this process. I don’t have much time available during the week and weekends due to the overhead caused by my various job assignments, and I can spend some time reading blogs and news about emerging Microsoft technologies because it is part of my sales function, but I have almost no time for piloting them, except when meeting with our teams and architects.

This blog will then turn more to a personal blog, focused in best development practices, software entrepreneurs and live experiences, but also a few technology sharing.I consider myself as a lucky guy but also work committed and very entrepeneur, allowing me to reach the point where I am now, leading a company to a global vision, and helping talented individuals to reach their dreams.

I hope you get inspired from my stories from now onwards.

Cheers,
Marcelo