Takeaway: Dooster is easy to use tool that is both powerful and flexible. In my opinion, the average project professional can be up and running with Dooster faster than any other project management software tool. I literally stumbled on this nice web-based tool after doing some online searching for project management and task managed tools. As you probably already know, there are hundreds of options for PM software now, but I’m recommending this highly as a tool to check out for 2012.
As soon as I logged into Dooster I felt comfortable, though I knew I was in for a different experience…which I considered a good thing at this point in my project management life.
I expected to find all the usual task management features, and I did. How you load information in for tasks and collaborate is a different process than most MS Project-type users will be used to, but I’m certain that after you’ve setup your first project through their helpful tutorial process, you’ll understand how easy it is to use. I liken it to my experience of switching from a Windows laptop to my Macbook. It was a different way of life for a few minutes, and then it felt like I had always been there. It made sense.
Who is it for?
Dooster is for anyone looking for a better way to organize their tasks or ongoing activities. It’s great for project management professionals in small to medium sized organizations, but it’s also great for volunteers, entrepreneurs, homemakers…anyone looking for an easy way to get up and running fast to track tasks.
Typical Dooster users include any individual or business that wants to organize their activities in a better way.
Why use it?
The key challenges when managing projects, tasks, and team members are organizing time and assignments, communicating with team and customers, and collaborating to share information. Dooster can help the project manager and team with all of these activities and the best thing is that it does it in an easy and cost-effective manner.
After playing with Dooster for a while and running it through its paces on some sample tasks, I could tell that it was very full-featured. While it’s very different from your run-of-the-mill Gantt chart software, it gives the user a new and refreshing angle on task planning and management. Look at it as keeping things fresh….
Special Features:
Helpful intro: The first thing out of the gate is a demo. As soon as you’ve signed up for the free trial, you’re taken to your dashboard and offered a setup video. Works for me… If you don’t want the video, then it takes you through the steps of diving right into your first project setup.
Task management: Dooster provides a very straightforward interface for setting up and tracking tasks for projects and for other non-project activities.
Status reporting: I really liked the Dooster dashboard features. I could see nice, detailed status information across projects and tasks at a glance – something that other software programs struggle with as they often try to make it too detailed. Dooster strives to simplify.
Timesheet tracking: Dooster includes a nice timesheet export feature for grabbing all task effort out into one reporting function. Nice feature to aid in your expense and budget analysis and forecasting processes.
Communication & Collaboration: Dooster allows the user to easily assign tasks to one or more resources and then allows for email alerts of all comments and changes on project tasks. All comments – from the program and through email – are centralized in the tasks themselves automatically keeping all information in one accessible location.
Support: I did test out support and found responses to be very timely and helpful. No 2-day wait to get your questions answered.
What is wrong?
Not your standard Gantt software: You’ll want to think outside the box a little if your mind is stuck on managing projects using a tool like MS Project. This isn’t your standard Gantt chart software. It’s focused more on managing the tasks, but it does a nice job of status reporting and providing the global picture with its dashboard feature. For those who can’t bear to live without Gantt charts in their lives, I have been informed that introduction of the Gantt chart feature is not far off – work is in progress on that functionality.
Bottom line for Business:
Dooster is not likely going to win over large corporate entities tomorrow. It is, however, great for small to medium sized businesses for managing projects and tasks and for anyone who wants to do a better job of managing their ongoing work and personal tasks. Signup for the free 30-day trial – you won’t be disappointed.
Rating: 5/5 stars
I’m rating this product highly because of its full compliment of features, its ease of use, and its price.
Specifications:
Product: Dooster
Web Site: www.dooster.net
Free Trial: Free 3 Project Signup
Company: privately held
Requirements: Current web browser
Packages: 4 projects up to 200 projects
Cost: from $3.97 per month to $97.00 month - additional pricing details at: dooster.net/pricing.htm
As soon as I logged into Dooster I felt comfortable, though I knew I was in for a different experience…which I considered a good thing at this point in my project management life.
I expected to find all the usual task management features, and I did. How you load information in for tasks and collaborate is a different process than most MS Project-type users will be used to, but I’m certain that after you’ve setup your first project through their helpful tutorial process, you’ll understand how easy it is to use. I liken it to my experience of switching from a Windows laptop to my Macbook. It was a different way of life for a few minutes, and then it felt like I had always been there. It made sense.
Who is it for?
Dooster is for anyone looking for a better way to organize their tasks or ongoing activities. It’s great for project management professionals in small to medium sized organizations, but it’s also great for volunteers, entrepreneurs, homemakers…anyone looking for an easy way to get up and running fast to track tasks.
Typical Dooster users include any individual or business that wants to organize their activities in a better way.
Why use it?
The key challenges when managing projects, tasks, and team members are organizing time and assignments, communicating with team and customers, and collaborating to share information. Dooster can help the project manager and team with all of these activities and the best thing is that it does it in an easy and cost-effective manner.
After playing with Dooster for a while and running it through its paces on some sample tasks, I could tell that it was very full-featured. While it’s very different from your run-of-the-mill Gantt chart software, it gives the user a new and refreshing angle on task planning and management. Look at it as keeping things fresh….
Special Features:
Helpful intro: The first thing out of the gate is a demo. As soon as you’ve signed up for the free trial, you’re taken to your dashboard and offered a setup video. Works for me… If you don’t want the video, then it takes you through the steps of diving right into your first project setup.
Task management: Dooster provides a very straightforward interface for setting up and tracking tasks for projects and for other non-project activities.
Status reporting: I really liked the Dooster dashboard features. I could see nice, detailed status information across projects and tasks at a glance – something that other software programs struggle with as they often try to make it too detailed. Dooster strives to simplify.
Timesheet tracking: Dooster includes a nice timesheet export feature for grabbing all task effort out into one reporting function. Nice feature to aid in your expense and budget analysis and forecasting processes.
Communication & Collaboration: Dooster allows the user to easily assign tasks to one or more resources and then allows for email alerts of all comments and changes on project tasks. All comments – from the program and through email – are centralized in the tasks themselves automatically keeping all information in one accessible location.
Support: I did test out support and found responses to be very timely and helpful. No 2-day wait to get your questions answered.
What is wrong?
Not your standard Gantt software: You’ll want to think outside the box a little if your mind is stuck on managing projects using a tool like MS Project. This isn’t your standard Gantt chart software. It’s focused more on managing the tasks, but it does a nice job of status reporting and providing the global picture with its dashboard feature. For those who can’t bear to live without Gantt charts in their lives, I have been informed that introduction of the Gantt chart feature is not far off – work is in progress on that functionality.
Bottom line for Business:
Dooster is not likely going to win over large corporate entities tomorrow. It is, however, great for small to medium sized businesses for managing projects and tasks and for anyone who wants to do a better job of managing their ongoing work and personal tasks. Signup for the free 30-day trial – you won’t be disappointed.
Rating: 5/5 stars
I’m rating this product highly because of its full compliment of features, its ease of use, and its price.
Specifications:
Product: Dooster
Web Site: www.dooster.net
Free Trial: Free 3 Project Signup
Company: privately held
Requirements: Current web browser
Packages: 4 projects up to 200 projects
Cost: from $3.97 per month to $97.00 month - additional pricing details at: dooster.net/pricing.htm
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