LisaProject
Encyclopedia
LisaProject was the first graphical project management software. Developed for the Apple Lisa
computer, LisaProject was conceived and implemented by Debra Willrett of SoloSoft and developed for Apple's Lisa computer.
This was the first GUI-based software application for project management. LisaProject was the first to simplify the project management process by allowing the user to interactively draw their project on the computer in the form of a PERT
chart. Constraints could be entered for each task, and the relationships between tasks would show which ones had to be completed before a task could begin. Given the task constraints and relationships, a "critical path", schedule and budget could be calculated dynamically using heuristic methods. Once this was complete, the schedule data could be viewed as a Gantt
chart.
In 1981, Willrett realized that project management was a universal problem and that a GUI-based application would be a useful tool. She proposed what became LisaProject to Trip Hawkins
at Apple. At the time, Apple was developing the Apple Lisa
computer which had limited software.
Although the Apple Lisa ultimately failed in the marketplace, its largest Lisa customer was NASA
, which had used LisaProject for project management. In response to the demand for LisaProject from NASA and other customers, a new version called MacProject
was made available with the first Macintosh
release in 1984.
Apple Lisa
The Apple Lisa—also known as the Lisa—is a :personal computer designed by Apple Computer, Inc. during the early 1980s....
computer, LisaProject was conceived and implemented by Debra Willrett of SoloSoft and developed for Apple's Lisa computer.
This was the first GUI-based software application for project management. LisaProject was the first to simplify the project management process by allowing the user to interactively draw their project on the computer in the form of a PERT
Program Evaluation and Review Technique
The Program ' Evaluation and Review Technique, commonly abbreviated PERT, is a statistical tool, used in project management, that is designed to analyze and represent the tasks involved in completing a given project...
chart. Constraints could be entered for each task, and the relationships between tasks would show which ones had to be completed before a task could begin. Given the task constraints and relationships, a "critical path", schedule and budget could be calculated dynamically using heuristic methods. Once this was complete, the schedule data could be viewed as a Gantt
Gantt chart
A Gantt chart is a type of bar chart that illustrates a project schedule. Gantt charts illustrate the start and finish dates of the terminal elements and summary elements of a project. Terminal elements and summary elements comprise the work breakdown structure of the project. Some Gantt charts...
chart.
In 1981, Willrett realized that project management was a universal problem and that a GUI-based application would be a useful tool. She proposed what became LisaProject to Trip Hawkins
Trip Hawkins
William M. 'Trip' Hawkins III is a Silicon Valley American entrepreneur and founder of Electronic Arts, The 3DO Company and Digital Chocolate....
at Apple. At the time, Apple was developing the Apple Lisa
Apple Lisa
The Apple Lisa—also known as the Lisa—is a :personal computer designed by Apple Computer, Inc. during the early 1980s....
computer which had limited software.
Although the Apple Lisa ultimately failed in the marketplace, its largest Lisa customer was NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
, which had used LisaProject for project management. In response to the demand for LisaProject from NASA and other customers, a new version called MacProject
MacProject
MacProject was a project management and scheduling business application released along with the first Apple Macintosh systems in 1984. MacProject was one of the first major business tools for the Macintosh which enabled users to calculate the "critical path" to completion and estimate costs in...
was made available with the first Macintosh
Macintosh
The Macintosh , or Mac, is a series of several lines of personal computers designed, developed, and marketed by Apple Inc. The first Macintosh was introduced by Apple's then-chairman Steve Jobs on January 24, 1984; it was the first commercially successful personal computer to feature a mouse and a...
release in 1984.