Basecamp - A Project Management Tool

Basecamp Project Management System

Basecamp Project Management System

Basecamp is a good project management tool over the internet.  Project management is difficult because we always face these challenges:

  • Information is scattered in separate systems, getting too hard to manage
  • Files can be filed in different locations, different servers/computers and by different people
  • The individual calendar is separate from shared calendars
  • Some team members not notified, or losing tracks

Basecamp features 6 areas for each project:

  1. Message Board - where messages can be posted to notify everybody in the project team.
    • Draft mode is available so user can select to post or save as draft
    • Classification of messages is available, and categories can be edited, so user can create their own categories.
  2. To-dos - Creation of to-do lists
    • Assignment is available, so to-do-list can be assigned to a team member
    • Notify when done feature so that jobs finished can automatically notify other selected members
    • Due date is available
    • File attachment is available
    • Discussion area is available for exchange of ideas or information
  3. Schedule - a schedule calendar where events can be created according to dates
    • Participants can be specified
    • File attachment is available
    • Events can be added to individual's calendar, including Google Calendar, Apple Calendar and Outlook
    • Discussion is available so people can have discussions of the event prior to or after the event
    • Can be used for meetings, gathering, kick-off announcements, etc.
  4. Docs & Files - a shared document management system
    • Text files can be created
    • Files can be uploaded
    • Folders and sub-folders can be created
    • Color coding can be applied to files or folders
    • Bookmarking is possible
    • Can be linked to Google Drive, Dropbox, Box and OneDrive
    • Download of entire folder is possible
  5. Campfire - a simple group chat
    • A chatting utility to all members
    • Files can be uploaded
    • Pictures can be posted in the chat group by copy/paste
    • Smiley icons are available
  6. Automatic check-ins - check project progress and status by asking automatic pre-set questions
    • Check project progress automatically from team members
    • Questions can be pre-set, and configured by day/time or by frequency

In addition, the following features are very useful too, such as:

  • Pings - enter a private chat with individual or a few team members
  • Activities - show latest activites, or email a daily summary, or even view someone else's activities, assignments, or to-dos
  • My Stuff - everything about the team member himself, including assignments, bookmarks, schedules, drafts and recent activities
  • Opt-in Link - an opt-in link can be created for users to join a project.

It is a good tool for project management in business, which charges for US$99/month, all-inclusive without per-user fees, which is good for the entire company's projects and communication in one place.  A Basecamp Personal version is also available free of charge which limits to the following but still good enough for individuals and small projects:

  • 3 projects
  • 20 users
  • 1GB storage space

For business version, following is available in addition:

  • Client access - allow clients to be added, and control is available for what they can see
  • Project templates - create templates for easy deployment of new projects with similar settings

Different versions of Basecamp are supported:

Brief Intro
Features

 

Why Bsaecamp
Basecamp vs Trello

 

Comparison with Trello:  Author's Personal Experience

Trello is used by a lot of people too.  It seems to be more suitable for something in every detail, which is both good and bad.  Being too detailed will results in too many cards.  It is probably good for those hands-on people at the working level so they need to know every bit of the information.  However, it is difficult for the non-working level users because it is easy to lose track.  It is designed to be very flexible, but then different users have different practices.  Probably an onboarding training would be good or even necessary at the beginning to get consent for all the team members.

Basecamp (ver 3) has a different structure, basically only 6 key areas right at the top, which make it easier for onboarding.  The to-dos feature has a better sense of "assignment of jobs" which results in a better sense of accountability.  Due dates and overdue are available for task tracking which makes things easy for management and overall tracking.  To-dos appears as 1-line in the board which creates a much easier overall view, but details can also be added.  In addition, pictures such as screen captures can be added to the to-dos detail notes by copy/paste, which makes things much easier for users.  Window size for users is larger which makes contributions easier for users.

According to the experience of the author, preference is made for Basecamp over Trello, but this would be different for different people.

There are article on the web about:

  1. Merge Weblog:  Build Your Own Basecamp with Drupal
  2. Merge Weblog:  Basecamp built with Drupal - Part II

 

 

The author does not agree building systems using Drupal for something cheap and already available on the market.  The essence for BYOS is not only Drupal.  We should always consider integration especially in areas of expertise where other people are more focused on a continual effort.

However, this might be an interesting project for experiment for the purpose of learning and experimenting with Drupal.