Planview Extends Enterprise Project and Resource Management

Contract, risk, and change management features in Planview Web software version 7.0 automates processes to put the right people on the right work

AUSTIN, TX — May 21, 2001 — Planview, the world leader in integrated project, service and resource management software and services, today announced the general availability of Version 7.0 of its web software. Planview Web Software Version 7.0 brings additional functionalities and partner offerings to its core features of managing multiple projects, service-level agreements, staff and contractor skills, and resource management and allocation functionality, all from a central repository.

New Version features include:

• Formal risk tracking and escalation processes which then evolve to change management processes.
• Budgeting and contract management functions which improve and drive complex billing and invoicing.
• A new feature called Scoreboard providing users access to work and resource performance indexes to compare indicators including budgets, schedule maturity, resource utilization, and enhanced earned value calculations.
• Enhanced collaboration and sharing features using popular web-based tools. Includes a bi-directional interface with Microsoft Outlook which communicates new assignments, sends alerts through email, updates Outlook's Task List, and schedules unavailability in Planview for standard work such as vacations or meetings.
• Support of the XML standard for simple integration of Planview with other business software tools.

"We are using XML to integrate Planview, SAP and other business systems into a single data-mining application," says Bernd Ewert, Project Leader with Allianz Lebensversicherung. "Our managers have an integrated user interface for financial, customer, project and resource information. Planview's implementation of the XML standard has given us excellent performance and very easy integration into our environment."

"Planview is a robust project and resource management solution for professional services organizations and internal IT," says Dave Hofferberth, Research Director with The Aberdeen Group in Boston. "The new project and resource management features in this latest release build on their expertise in the core functionalities of PSA. They are clearly one of the strongest best-of-breed PSA offerings."

Planview CEO and President, Patrick Durbin remarked "Extending our project and resource management processes with more front- and back-office functions, allows us to automate more of the processes needed to improve productivity for our customers in these volatile times."

Managing Contracts & Billing & Setting Budgets

Planview Web Software Version 7.0 formalizes the customer relationship, allowing all parties to control scope and changes. Roles for contract management might include an organization's financial group, an account manager, salesperson or another role. A contract may be a formal document or a statement of work (SOW) with a business unit and might also define billing rates and payment schedules. Contract detail can include billing, special work conditions (such as fixed-price phases) and links to related documents. Planview Version 7.0 also interfaces actual time spent and expenses to the budgeting system.

Formal Risk Escalation & Change Management

To better identify and manage project risk, Planview now includes formal issue and risk escalation and change management which follow PMBOK® guidelines as proposed by the Project Management Institute. The impact of changes to scope, budget, or quality of deliverables can be attached to any level of the work breakdown structure and includes an approval workflow by an authorized manager. The escalation process ensures that all appropriate project team members, managers and stakeholders are notified.

Knowledge Sharing and Collaboration

The Planview corporate portal, HomeView, available to every team member, manager, and stakeholder, gives real-time access to assignments, work, risks, and changes. Leveraging this connectivity, Planview Web Software offers the facility to share work, best practices, knowledge and teamwork via document management tools, on-line meetings, voting and polling.

About Planview

Planview Web Software is unique in that it allows an organization to manage its work based on the availability and skills of its people, both present and projected, including contractors and other outsourced staff. Founded in 1989, Planview is the world leader in integrated project, service and resource management software and services to Global 3000 organizations. Allianz, Baltimore Life, Discover, Katun Corp., National City Insurance, Pfizer, Reuters, Volkswagen America, Zurich North America, and others make up the over 350 clients who have licensed more than 200,000 copies of Planview software. The company has headquarters in Austin, Texas, with field offices across the US, in Germany, the UK, Italy, Benelux and France. Planview is privately held, financially conservative, and has enjoyed ten straight years of profitability and increasing revenue. For more information contact Planview at www.Planview.com.

Planview is a registered trademark of Planview Inc. All other trademarks are acknowledged.