Primavera Project Planner (P3)

Prepared by:
Primavera Systems, Inc.

Prepared for:
Public purchase

Application:
Financial analysis:
Environmental impact analysis: ---
Waste management/P2:
Environmental cost listing/database: ---
Cost estimation: ---
Alternative product/process comparison: ---

Primavera Project Planner (P3) for Windows (or DOS) for project management and scheduling,

Elements of control:
Cost control
Resource control
Estimating control ---
Schedule control
Scope control ---
Risk control ---

Development data and updates:
DOS version was first released in 1983. Windows version was released in May, 1994. The current DOS release is version 5.1, released in May, 1993. The current Windows release is version 1.1, released in April, 1995.

Public availability:
Available

Purpose and current use:
Cross industry. P3 currently has approximately 40,000 users (not sites).

Cost information:
The single-user price for P3 is $4,000.

System requirements:
P3 can be used in the Windows or DOS format and on a network. Other system requirements:

Software summary

Size and complexity of projects:
Suitable for large projects. Can support unlimited projects, with up to100,000 activities.

Other compatible systems offered:
Primavera's line of project management software includes Parade for performance measurement and Monte Carlo for risk analysis, which are discussed elsewhere in the manual. It also includes Expedition Contract Control software for managing engineering and construction projects and SureTrak Project Scheduler for planning and presenting small- to medium-sized projects.

Nonquantifiable information:
Project logs. e-mail data exchange.

P3 has been designed for project scheduling and resource and cost control. It uses the Precedence Diagramming Method (PDM) for scheduling, and 14 types of schedule constraints and four different relationships can be used. Some features of P3 are as follows:

Life-cycle stages covered

Raw material acquisition ---
Manufacturing stage
Use/reuse/maintenance ---
Recycle/waste management ---

P3 is not designed to consider more than one life-cycle stage, which would typically be the manufacturing stage of the life cycle. That is, it does not have a built-in mechanism for differentiating between the various life-cycle stages. However, life-cycle stages could be distinguished within P3 indifferent ways, such as through the WBS levels.

Type of costs considered

Conventional
Potentially hidden ---
Contingent ---
External ---

P3 has been designed to consider only conventional costs. However information on other types of costs could be incorporated into P3 by adding additional cost categories, through activity information, and through coding(for example, codes can be assigned to work packages). However, activity codes for filtering data in P3 are limited (24) and this could become a constraint if that option is employed.

Method of cost estimation

The system is not designed for cost estimation.

Generation of financial indicators

Net present value (NPV) ---
Payback period ---
Internal rate of return (IRR) ---
Benefits cost ratio ---
Other ---

Ability to include environmental costs

User friendliness and flexibility

P3 can be extended for direct interface with other Primavera software such as Parade and Monte Carlo. It is also possible to exchange data with other Windows products, dBASE, Lotus, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers exchange format. It has a batch processor that allows import and export of ASCII data. P3 has many features such as the ability to handle multiple projects in a multi-user environment and to generate specialized reports and graphics.

P3 permits unlimited projects (master projects, subprojects, target plans),up to 100,000 activities per project, and unlimited cost accounts per project. P3 allows activity information to be organized and displayed by both resource and time period An unlimited number of resources can be used per project and per activity. Variable resource prices and availability can be entered and information on variable resource prices and availability can be entered. It also allows unlimited cost accounts per project. There is an autocost feature for user-defined rules for planning and updating costs. P3 can analyze the data from any angle to identify problems and isolate areas of concern or corrective actions required. The online Help makes using the system easier for inexperienced users. There is a Global change option for mass changes and updates. It is also possible to use parts or fragments of earlier projects(Fragnets) to build a new project.

The above mentioned features allow some flexibility in entering cost information. Thus users may be able to create a separate subprojects or activities within projects (e.g., "waste management" or "external costs").

User-support

Telephone hotline support and bulletin board. Working demonstration disks for P3 are available, that are limited by the maximum number of activities supported (60).

Limitations

P3 has been designed to consider only conventional costs. The system does not include information on other cost types in default information or sample projects.

Basis for evaluation:
:Based on information received from Primavera Systems in February 1995.

Contact information:
Primavera Systems, Inc.
Two Bala Plaza
Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004

NIcole Stephano

610-8600
610-667-7894 (FAX)

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