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Resource Tracking Tools + Project Management Tools
Our small post/design studio is growing fast. We have 15-20 artists and producers on staff and freelance. The various artists are working on multiple projects for multiple producers.
Soon keeping track of what artist is overbooked or under-booked is going to be difficult. Too complicated for a huge white board with grid to handle. Some projects are long engagements and others are quick turnarounds. Something like Microsoft Project is not a good fit.
What are the best practices to manage the challenge of resourcing your staff?
I’m interested in hearing about software, books, podcasts, or anything that can help find a great solution.
I know clients and profits is good to check on how many hours have been spent on a job by resource and materials but it isn’t so hot at keeping individual staff form being overbooked with too many jobs.
I have been part of organizations that use the massive Excel spreadsheet with daily or bi-weekly capacity meeting. The producers review the spreadsheet, update the status of their projects and then bater and/trade over staff resources. There has to be a better way.
Any ideas?
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5 Replies
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Here’s a couple of suggestions, but note they’re NOT cheap… which is why most people
use the “Excel” method until their organization hits critical mass.https://www.scheduall.com/about.aspx
Good Luck.
mark
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Mike,
We’re a bit smaller than you are, but have always run “lean and mean”. To that end, we’ve used software as much as possible to track time and jobs. This one little piece of software has been invaluable as it is a completely automatic solution for tracking time in FCP, AE, Photoshop and other software. It is server based with a tracking module installed on any machine that you’ll want to use for billing. We’ve integrated it with Filemaker Pro and Quickbooks to literally turn hours worked by any number of employees into an invoice with just a couple of clicks by our office manager. It is not a complete project management solution, but may be a cost effective component for you.
Chris Tomberlin
Editor/Compositor/Owner
OutPost Pictures -
Mark thank you for the leads. I appreciate it.
_______________________________________________
MIKE KROESEN | PRODUCER
P 206 604 4683
mike@mikekroesen.com
http://www.mike-k.comPlan The Work. Work The Plan.
Sent from my mobile device. Please pardon any typos. -
Thank you for the lead Chris. This sounds pretty cool.
Cheers!
_______________________________________________
MIKE KROESEN | PRODUCER
P 206 604 4683
mike@mikekroesen.com
http://www.mike-k.comPlan The Work. Work The Plan.
Sent from my mobile device. Please pardon any typos. -
Have you considered Daylite from Marketcircle? If you’re a Mac user, it might be a good fit.
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