History: The Five Generations of Project Management Applications

The historical development of project management is reflected in the evolution of tools and software applications used to facilitate it. I see five different generations of such applications.

Of course project management was successfully performed (even though probably labeled differently) since ancient times. The following, however, focuses on developments starting with the PC revolution.

Technology: Reflecting or Driving Complexity?

• Generation 1: PC-Based Single-User Systems
  The first project management applications were PC-based. They had the ability to structure projects into tasks or activities, define durations and relationships, and assign resources needed to complete them. This introduced computer-based scheduling and reporting capabilities.
• Generation 2: Client-Server Project Management
  As client-server networks were introduced, project management applications started to use them to share data across multiple users.
• Generation 3: Portfolios, Programs, Internet
  Organizations started managing multiple projects at the same time, using a consistent set of tools. This is what most “best-of-breed” project management applications in 2009 are based on. They often name this “enterprise” software, a label whose accuracy can is questionable.
• Generation 4: Back-End-Integrated Enterprise Project Management
  Since the 1990s enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems have gained prominence in ever more organizations. It is becoming clear that project management cannot remain stand-alone and need to be integrated in back-end applications and data flows. Seamless back-end integration extends to all supporting corporate functions, including finance, procurement, and human resources.
• Generation 5: The Future – Net-Centric Project Management
  They are characterized by collaboration, and by behavioral aspects of complex systems. This requires the technical integration of data flows and processes, using web services or other tools. The Internet and Web will be their backbone.