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resource schedules and loads (as well as costs). They would appear to be com-
plete systems for planning and control.

The issue is that these project management software systems are rarely con-
nected to the corporate accounting systems. Yet the latter are usually the only
complete and dependable repositories for resource charges (time sheets) and cost
data. Also, many of these project management software systems are optimized to
present a project-centric view of the work, often leaving functional and resource
managers with less information and control than would be desired.

So our discussion of computer support for resource management functions
would not be complete without mentioning some of the non-CPM tools that are
available for this purpose. Here are some options for software that can be used in
place of or to supplement our traditional project management software products.

Alternative Algorithms

A few alternative resource smoothing algorithms have been introduced during
the past decade. But these, too, have failed to be accepted thus far. Many of these
include some type of best-fit approach. One appeared in Best Schedule (Parsifal
Systems), but is no longer on the market. Another was built into Team Manager
(Microsoft). This product also failed to achieve significant position in the market-
place. Yet another best-fit concept was introduced in Project Toolbox (adRem
Technologies). This product is no longer available, but the technology was ac-
quired by jeTech Data, for inclusion with their Project Enterprise product. Proj-
ect Enterprise has since been acquired by Microsoft.

It is strange that despite the potential for these tools to provide improved re-
source scheduling results, interest in such solutions remains very low.

Non-CPM Resource Planning and Analysis Tools

Representative of tools that have been specifically designed to address these
deeper resource issues is Allegro, The Resource Management System, from Del-
tek Systems, Inc.

Allegro is not a critical path scheduling tool. It is a resource planning and
analysis tool, employing a spreadsheet metaphor as a convenient mechanism to
input to and analyze a comprehensive project and resource database.

Each Allegro installation is custom designed to interface with the company ac-
counting system. Most of the project and resource information can be brought
over to Allegro from the accounting system, and regular upload/download be-
tween these two systems (and to other data systems) is supported.

There are hierarchical structures for both projects and resources. The Proj-