Support enterprise-level program management Open Plan helps balance limited resources across multiple projects by allowing business managers the ability to review work across the corporate portfolio. It also shows the impact of an individual projects performance on the rest of the program so project priorities can be established.
| Feature |
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Benefit |
| Multi-project analysis |
Cross project reporting for optimization of resources across the enterprise. The relative priority of projects can be adjusted to ensure that the most important projects have access to resources first. |
| Shared Resource Pools |
Planners have full visibility when scheduling resources so that project deliverables are not delayed, affecting schedule and cost. |
| Reserved Resources |
Key project resources can be targeted for specific activities so they are not delayed, running up costs. |
| Shared Ancillary Data |
Calendars, RBS, WBS, custom coding schemes, etc. can be developed at a corporate level then made available in the Open Plan library. Assures plan, cost, and reporting consistency across the enterprise. |
| Flexible Views and Reporting |
Graphical views can be configured to fit corporate requirements and standards for both reporting and data-entry. Views can be configured to produce sophisticated reports and high-quality printed output. Using Open Plans unique WebWindows capabilities, users can create their own custom views, better leveraging project data. |
| Integration |
Open architecture facilitates integration with other corporate systems, making it easier to share information across the enterprise. Data can also be shared with other planning tools, including Microsoft Project and Primavera. Open Plan can also link to ERP systems such as Oracle Projects, SAP, and Deltek Costpoint. A powerful import/export language supports a variety of data formats. A documented Application Programmer Interface (API) makes it easy for organizations to create additional interfaces to their other systems with the need for an additional software development kit (SDK), for which some competitors charge. |
| Customization |
Open Plan derives its name from the philosophy of creating a product with a truly open architecture. This extends from the open database with published data schemas through the published Application Programmer Interface (API) to the highly configurable reporting system. Combined with configurable features to exchange data with other systems this makes Open Plan the cornerstone of any integrated project environment. |
| Robust Scheduling Engine |
The power and speed to accurately process large amounts of data saving time. |
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Advanced Resource Management — Allows projects to be prioritized, ensuring that resource allocation always reflects an organizations overall business objectives. For maximum efficiency, resource managers can create and share resource breakdown structures across the enterprise.
| Feature |
|
Benefit |
| Resource Breakdown Structures |
Open Plan's Resource Breakdown Structures (RBS) allow any organizational hierarchy to be modeled easily. Individual resources can be grouped into pools within the RBS hierarchy and linked to their respective skills. This gives great flexibility when subsequently defining the types of resources or skills required to accomplish any given task. The RBS can contain information on labor, material, subcontractor, and other direct costs associated with activities. |
| Resource Selection |
When assigning individual resources to tasks, resource managers are presented with information about current availability (taking into account commitments to other projects). They are also offered alternative resources so the project is not adversely impacted or delayed. |
| Graphical Resource Views |
Resource histograms and S-curve reports (based on either quantity or cost) are easily produced. Cost histograms can optionally take into account cost escalation over time. Resource quantities are displayed as either totals per period, cumulative, or full time equivalents. Highly configurable bar charts display slippage due to resource constraints, allowing the cause to be readily identified and managed. |
| Dynamic Resource Views |
Using the Resource Management Wallchart and Resource Utilization Chart, users view resource assignments for one or more projects. The resource information displayed updates automatically as the user moves through different activities or different projects. Provides a graphical, high-level view of constraining resources that need attention. |
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Robust Project Planning — Deltek Open Plan facilitates fast and realistic planning through rapid data entry and analysis, and powerful reporting on project status and progress.
| Feature |
|
Benefit |
| Dynamic Loop Detection |
Automatically alerts users if they attempt to create a relationship that would cause a loop. This helps substantially reduce logic errors when building a plan. |
| Unlimited Calendars |
Supports ten shifts per day with separate calendars for activities, relationships, and resources. |
| Multiple scheduling increments |
Ability to schedule in months, weeks, days, hours, and minutes within the same project. Valuable to specific industries where activities are planned in minutes. |
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