MOSS 2007 Integration with Project Server

About Microsoft Project Server

So, you want Project Server? You’re curious if it integrates into WSS and MOSS? The answer is yes, but of course you’ll have to actually do some work. Unfortunately, things don’t just magically appear.

Office Project Server 2007 does include the Office SharePoint Server 2007 core and administrative services and the Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 components. This can give you a nice enterprise-level project management solution.

What can MS Project Server do in WSS and MOSS 2007?

Project Server can import a task list from Office SharePoint Server 2007 or a Windows SharePoint Services site and convert the task list to a Proposals and Operations project for management by Project Web Access with simple timesheets, and task and resource management. Project Server can also convert a Proposals and Operations project to a full enterprise project management solution that includes schedule recalculations, cost management, and comprehensive reports. (I didn’t say all that, about 100 other blogs did, I just repackaged)

It can also make use of KPIs that are exposed in reports managed by SharePoint Server. (The KPIs actually come from SQL Server 2005/8 Analysis Services.)

And: Project Server can maintain multiple documents and workflow within a SharePoint environment. As a result of this integration, a new Site is created for every project in Project Server.

What are the benefits of using MOSS with Project Server?

Using a dedicated site and its respective document library, project manager can manage physical deliverables such as software files and attachments within SharePoint. So, you can retrieve documents attached to each project.

SharePoint Server obviously brings all its "stuff" to the table for use in your company besides just Enterprise Content Management (ECM), Document Libraries and Workflows. MOSS has built in cool stuff such as Survey Management, sites and sub-site management, custom web parts, custom lists, site search and, well pretty much the ‘kitchen sink’.

With Project Server SharePoint integration, you can use many SharePoint Portal Server features for reporting to the ‘big cheese’ and for project tracking within your organization. Project Server and SharePoint both take advantage of your active directory security model, so you’ve got single sign-on and security taken care of.

What are the benefits of using Project Server with WSS?

Microsoft Project Server can be integrated with Windows SharePoint Services to maintain project documents within SharePoint document library.

Document workflow can be implemented to manage project schedules, deliverables and document versioning using these enterprise server applications.

What are the benefits of using both Project Server and CRM?

Microsoft Project can be integrated with Microsoft Dynamics CRM application for opportunity management and resource management. In the words of Forrest Gump, "That’s all I’ve got to say about that."  (Meaning: It sounds nice, but I don’t really know what I’m talking about because I haven’t integrated CRM and Project Server myself yet.)

More great resources:

• Microsoft Project Server Experts
• Meetdux.com’s take on SharePoint integration with MS Project Server

The more I learn and integrate myself, the more you’ll hear about it. More to come…
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