LiquidPlanner
Encyclopedia
LiquidPlanner, Inc. is a project management software
company based in Washington. The firm was founded in 2006 and launched their first release to a public beta in 2008.
LiquidPlanner is a platform-independent, web-based project management system which uses ranged estimates (e.g. 3–5 days) to express the uncertainty in the estimate for performing a given task.
. The company employs alumni of Microsoft
, Expedia
, and Intel. LiquidPlanner launched a public beta at the DEMO 08 conference.
, LiquidPlanner claims to be the first SaaS
-based project management solution to allow users to express uncertainty in their task estimates using ranges. It then uses a probabilistic scheduling engine that is claimed to build more accurate schedules.
Several authors have noted that estimating in ranges (e.g. 3–4 days, 1–3 hours) is preferable to single point estimates (e.g. 1 hour, 2 days).
Steve McConnell
states "simplistic single-point estimates are meaningless because they don't include any indication of the probability associated with the single-point." Project management and scheduling methodologies such as PERT generate best-case/worst-case ranges. However the preponderance of popular project management software does not readily accept ranges as inputs for estimates.
LiquidPlanner accepts ranges as estimates and infers a probability distribution
from that range.
It then uses the distributions and the relationships between tasks and people to calculate a distribution for the project as a whole. By exposing the uncertainty in estimates the developers of LiquidPlanner claim that the uncertainty can then be managed. It then tracks the evolution of these estimates over time.
From these uncertainty measures over time it can plot the history of the project estimates. This type of plot is often referred to as the Cone of Uncertainty
.
Some feel that while the service is fairly comprehensive, that comes at the cost of complexity and a busy interface. Though this is disputed by others.
Project managers create workspaces and invite users to participate in a way similar to LinkedIn
or Facebook
. The workspace can contain multiple projects and keeps a running narrative of tasks, comments, documents, and other project collateral.
In September 2011, LiquidPlanner introduced their free mobile app that connects the LiquidPlanner online project management workspace to the Apple iPhone
and iPad
. This app is available through the Apple iTunes Store.
The LiquidPlanner application programming interface
(API) enables project managers to programmatically interact with their LiquidPlanner workspace. With the API, most of the LiquidPlanner project management actions can be automated. For example, you can create a task and then post comments, track time against it, and mark the task done when completed.
While LiquidPlanner is a licensed software, the company offers a 50% discount on each seat for approved 501(c)(3) non-profits and 15 free seats for educational use.
offers the free LiquidPlanner app compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. This app requires iOS
4.0 or later, and users must have a paid or trial LiquidPlanner account. Support for mobile devices using the Android operating system and other non-iOS-based systems is expected in the latter half of 2011.
Project management software
Project management software is a term covering many types of software, including estimation and planning, scheduling, cost control and budget management, resource allocation, collaboration software, communication, quality management and documentation or administration systems, which are used to...
company based in Washington. The firm was founded in 2006 and launched their first release to a public beta in 2008.
LiquidPlanner is a platform-independent, web-based project management system which uses ranged estimates (e.g. 3–5 days) to express the uncertainty in the estimate for performing a given task.
History
LiquidPlanner was founded by Charles Seybold and Jason Carlson, both former senior managers of ExpediaExpedia
Expedia is an Internet-based travel website based in the US with localised sites for 21 countries...
. The company employs alumni of Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
, Expedia
Expedia
Expedia is an Internet-based travel website based in the US with localised sites for 21 countries...
, and Intel. LiquidPlanner launched a public beta at the DEMO 08 conference.
Software
Built using Ruby on RailsRuby on Rails
Ruby on Rails, often shortened to Rails or RoR, is an open source web application framework for the Ruby programming language.-History:...
, LiquidPlanner claims to be the first SaaS
Software as a Service
Software as a service , sometimes referred to as "on-demand software," is a software delivery model in which software and its associated data are hosted centrally and are typically accessed by users using a thin client, normally using a web browser over the Internet.SaaS has become a common...
-based project management solution to allow users to express uncertainty in their task estimates using ranges. It then uses a probabilistic scheduling engine that is claimed to build more accurate schedules.
Several authors have noted that estimating in ranges (e.g. 3–4 days, 1–3 hours) is preferable to single point estimates (e.g. 1 hour, 2 days).
Steve McConnell
Steve McConnell
Steven C. McConnell is an author of many software engineering textbooks including Code Complete, Rapid Development, and Software Estimation...
states "simplistic single-point estimates are meaningless because they don't include any indication of the probability associated with the single-point." Project management and scheduling methodologies such as PERT generate best-case/worst-case ranges. However the preponderance of popular project management software does not readily accept ranges as inputs for estimates.
LiquidPlanner accepts ranges as estimates and infers a probability distribution
Probability distribution
In probability theory, a probability mass, probability density, or probability distribution is a function that describes the probability of a random variable taking certain values....
from that range.
It then uses the distributions and the relationships between tasks and people to calculate a distribution for the project as a whole. By exposing the uncertainty in estimates the developers of LiquidPlanner claim that the uncertainty can then be managed. It then tracks the evolution of these estimates over time.
From these uncertainty measures over time it can plot the history of the project estimates. This type of plot is often referred to as the Cone of Uncertainty
Cone of Uncertainty
In project management, the Cone of Uncertainty describes the evolution of the amount of uncertainty during a project. At the beginning of a project, comparatively little is known about the product or work results, and so estimates are subject to large uncertainty...
.
Some feel that while the service is fairly comprehensive, that comes at the cost of complexity and a busy interface. Though this is disputed by others.
Project managers create workspaces and invite users to participate in a way similar to LinkedIn
LinkedIn
LinkedIn is a business-related social networking site. Founded in December 2002 and launched in May 2003, it is mainly used for professional networking. , LinkedIn reports more than 120 million registered users in more than 200 countries and territories. The site is available in English, French,...
or Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
. The workspace can contain multiple projects and keeps a running narrative of tasks, comments, documents, and other project collateral.
In September 2011, LiquidPlanner introduced their free mobile app that connects the LiquidPlanner online project management workspace to the Apple iPhone
IPhone
The iPhone is a line of Internet and multimedia-enabled smartphones marketed by Apple Inc. The first iPhone was unveiled by Steve Jobs, then CEO of Apple, on January 9, 2007, and released on June 29, 2007...
and iPad
IPad
The iPad is a line of tablet computers designed, developed and marketed by Apple Inc., primarily as a platform for audio-visual media including books, periodicals, movies, music, games, and web content. The iPad was introduced on January 27, 2010 by Apple's then-CEO Steve Jobs. Its size and...
. This app is available through the Apple iTunes Store.
The LiquidPlanner application programming interface
Application programming interface
An application programming interface is a source code based specification intended to be used as an interface by software components to communicate with each other...
(API) enables project managers to programmatically interact with their LiquidPlanner workspace. With the API, most of the LiquidPlanner project management actions can be automated. For example, you can create a task and then post comments, track time against it, and mark the task done when completed.
While LiquidPlanner is a licensed software, the company offers a 50% discount on each seat for approved 501(c)(3) non-profits and 15 free seats for educational use.
Growth
LiquidPlanner was founded in 2006, released to the public in 2008, and has gone through multiple upgrades since.Devices
LiquidPlanner is web-based software, and as such runs on any Internet-enabled computer. The Apple iTunes StoreITunes Store
The iTunes Store is a software-based online digital media store operated by Apple. Opening as the iTunes Music Store on April 28, 2003, with over 200,000 items to purchase, it is, as of April 2008, the number-one music vendor in the United States...
offers the free LiquidPlanner app compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. This app requires iOS
IOS
iOS is an operating system for iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch, and Apple TV.IOS may also refer to:-Companies and organisations:* Illinois Ornithological Society, American state-based bird club...
4.0 or later, and users must have a paid or trial LiquidPlanner account. Support for mobile devices using the Android operating system and other non-iOS-based systems is expected in the latter half of 2011.