Comparison of the Different Project Management Software used for a Commercial Project in the Philippines: A Case Study

Abstract

In the Philippines, many industries have progressed during the past decade. The construction industry is one of these flourishing industries that has contributed to the country's social and economic development. Several factors affect the success of construction projects and most explored among them are the different systems for proper budget allocation and efficient scheduling. Project Management Information Systems (PMIS) specifically Project Management Software (PMS) have been studied and utilized in the industry to provide management teams with possible strategies and a general overall look at the current status, budget allocation, and scheduling while at the same time having a domain on the quality control of their projects. This paper aims to compare the different PMS (Primavera P6, MS Project, ProjectLibre, and MS Excel) in terms of Project Scheduling capability and outputs for the construction of a commercial establishment in Metro Manila, Philippines. Results of the comparative analysis show that Primavera P6 and MS Project both can produce the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS), Gantt Chart, Critical Path, and S-Curve since it is incorporated in the program but both software also have limited accessibility due to subscription requirement. Moreover, Primavera and MS Project require familiarity in using the software to maximize its functions. ProjectLibre being an open-source software that is free for download and use can also produce WBS, Gantt Chart, and S-Curve but through derivation and programming since it is not readily available. Microsoft Excel on the other hand can also produce the same outputs but requires a higher level and laborious programming. These findings can help project managers decide on the PMS suitable for their projects for an overall view of the progress from planning to implementation in order to assure its success.