[UPHPU] Request for recommendations for a Project Management/CMS system

[cole at colejoplin.com]

Dear Jonathan,

Thank you so much!!! I haven't laughed that hard in several weeks. Priceless.

I don't have many great suggestions past run away as fast as you can.  
I can make recommendations about existing technology, but I would feel  
more confident talking to a head of lettuce (which when a human head  
is talking about the prowess of Microsoft's cutting edge technology,  
it is virtually indistinguishable from aged grocery produce). But I'll  
try and be serious here. Definitely off-the-shelf, because doing this  
from scratch is totally crazy.


> A. Ideally our interactive team flow-chart, should be CUSTOMIZABLE, and
> highly ADAPTABLE.

MS Visio

> B. Our overall platform or scenario, should allow for LAYERS of DATA.
>
> 1. Revealing our full 'TEAM' and each 'bio./ individual specialized
> 'I.D.'; as well as dynamic interactive flow-charts showing various TEAM
> RELATIONSHIPS. . . (also as required, highly SECURE OPTIONS for
> walled-off compartmentalizations of all critical data, which is
> available on a strictly, 'need to know' basis to protect proprietary
> 'inventions', 'trade-secrets', potential 'patents' or 'provisional
> patents', potentially still in the early R.&D. stages of development,
> etc.).

Web Expressions

> 2. It should have the expandable capacity and 'user-friendliness' to
> act as an ongoing, MIRRORED DATA BACK-UP (for all ACTIVE, WEBSITE PAGE
> PROTOTYPES; PRINT COLLATERAL PROTOTYPES in progess; POWER-POINT
> PROTOTYPES; GRAPHIC DESIGN of all kinds as they develop and evolve into
> actual, 'Comp's', which can then be electronically submitted for
> review, editing sessions, and final approval, etc.).

MS PowerPoint/SharePoint Server

> 3. All, TIMELINES, DATES, DEADLINES, etc. for all team member
> PROJECT(S) and DELIVERABLES.

MS Project

> 4. Act as a, DYNAMIC (real-time) EDITING FORUM for all our far flung
> international team members who may be contributing to our various
> project particulars and new developments, according to their
> specialization and phased inputs, each in turn.

SharePoint

> 5. Should be highly ADAPTABLE and EXPANDABLE, allowing us to
> immediately adapt and upgrade, incorporating any superior new
> tecnological developments such as, 'SilverLight' etc., without getting
> bogged down, or slowed down in any way.

(So funny, I'm crying) Oh God, lie, lie like a dirty dog! They will  
never know.

> 6. Etc.
> Possible 'off-the-shelf' recommedations??? (Microsoft's "PROJECT"
> software tool).
> Other better solutions???

If they like Microsoft, let them buy it. Something like Huddle would  
be good for part 1, but not part 2, so maybe that just got misplaced.  
Huddle is a possible solution as well.

Part 2 has a good solution, which would be some Adobe products. The  
server-based solution is InCopy, which works with the Creative Suites,  
maybe Lightroom as well. This is truly awesome stuff -- BUT -- if you  
are a Windows shop, most of the people who do this stuff won't go to  
work for you unless they can do it on a Mac.

I would recommend ImageSpace from Innersync  
(http://www.innersync.com/web-based-image-management-software/index.cfm). They  
are an Adobe Solution Provider, and can wrap up the Adobe stuff in a  
nice bow for you. They do free demos, so I'd gather these marketeers  
and have them watch and ask all the questions they want.



> ------------------------------------
>
> Part II - MASTER PHOTO-ARCHIVE
> ------------------------------
> Criterion:
>
> A. Our 'ideal' Photo-Archive, should be HIGHLY SECURE. (Password
> protected and tamper-proof, to prevent any of our valuable images from
> potentially drifting away, or becoming 'clip-art'. We must ensure in
> all apporpriate ways that our entire image-bank can never be copied in
> whole or part, for any unauthorized uses. Obviously we should then
> build our own proprietary, non-public archive).
>
> B. UPGRADEABLE and HIGHLY ADAPTABLE over time (as new tools,
> information architecture, improvements, etc., become available.).
>
> C. Globally ACCESSABLE. (24 / 7) accessability by our authorized team
> members for 'image - inputs' building our master archive, or 'image -
> review and selection', for specific ongoing, Design / P.R. project(s).
>
> D. HIGHLY EXPANDABLE in every way! (Allowing ongoing archiving of:)
> 1. 'Still-Photography';
> 2. 'High-Definition Film Selects'; Video of all kinds, etc.
> 3. 'Power-Point Presentations' (for all such tentative
> work-in-progress, or fully finished presentations ready to be entered
> into our permanent archive);
> 4. 'Steaming Video'; 'Flash-Streaming'; or 'Streaming-Flash';
> 'SilverLight', clips / selects, etc.
> 5. 'Etc.'
>
> E. VERY 'USER - FRIENDLY' IMAGE DATA-BASE: (ability to adjust any and
> all images for proper, 'raw-files', adjust 'resolution' at will, etc.).
>
> F. Our, 'Master Photo - Archive' should also serve as a valuable,
> 'MIRRORED COPY, BACK-UP DATA BASE';
>
> G. 'Etc.'
> Possible 'off-the-shelf' solutions??? ("Joomla"; or "Bridge", etc.???)
> NOTE:* Or "other", even better solutions like, *** "HUDDLE" ! ***, etc.

Good luck, Jonathan!

-- Cole