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Project Solutions

Project Based Solutions Software (PBS)

The term “project based solutions” (PBS) with regards to a class of enterprise software was first advanced by the research firm Forrester in May 2007, based on the premise that while business practices in many industries were focused on tracking projects from inception to completion, most software solutions simply did not reflect this reality in their organization and logic. Subsequently, a number of vendors have embraced the concept, offering both proprietary and open-source project software applications which enable a business to track all activities relating to a single project, from customer management activities to product requirements to all aspects of resource management, via a single integrated database. 

Characteristics of Project Based Solutions Software

In order for a project software application to be classified as “project-based,” it does need to meet certain basic requirements. The most overarching requirement is that all of the contents must be managed according to a “project plan,” which is defined via the Project Management Institute (PMI) and the corresponding Project Management Book of Knowledge (PMBOK) as a, “Formal approved document used to guide both project execution and project control.”

While there are some variances among definitions of project lifecycles and systems software among competing authorities and within specific industries, in general terms project software which meets the broadest definition of a “project based solution” application must be able to address the full scope of issues arising during Project Management such as Project Initiation, Project Planning, and Project Closure. This generally would need to include the following:

  • Scheduling and budgeting of financial, human, equipment, materials and other resources necessary to define the project, contribute to its design and execution, and deliver it to the customer;
  • Requirements and specifications surrounding the project, which may be the creation of tangible products or delivery of services, the latter of which may involve physical deliverables;
  • Information relating to customer management, including contracts, business development efforts, communication, etc.;
  • Coordination and integration of project workflow or other contributions from suppliers and vendors whose products or services are necessary for the overall project’s success;



  • Time-tracking, scope monitoring and data tracking of other issues to ensure that any variables which may impact the project are reflected in a change management process.

Even a casual inspection of the above should make it clear that project software designed to support the project based solutions role must be robust, highly integrated (even though functionality is often modular and not all businesses will adopt the full functionality suite) and reasonably sophisticated from a technological point of view, yet preserve a user-friendly, intuitive interface and logic if it is to be commercially viable and successful. 

Is a Project Based Solution Software Truly Different?

Without overly complicating the matter, project based solutions do fundamentally alter the business and logistics processes of organizations with their emphasis on the “project” as the “building block” of an organization’s work, as opposed to a more general view of the enterprise as a whole. On the surface, project software designed for this purpose bears some similarities to Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) packages, which many in the IT industry are familiar with.

ERP software first came to prominence in the 1990’s and was designed to integrate both internal and external data from a number of functional areas within an enterprise including human resources, accounting and finance, manufacturing, supply chain management, project management and customer relationship management, among others. The initial focus was entirely on back-end operations (those not visible to a client or customer) but more recently, front-end operations have also been integrated, thus leading to some confusion with project based solutions approaches. Essentially, the planning and execution engine of a PBS package is oriented towards accommodating demands driven by customers, while ERP is inward-facing. While some may see this as a gross simplification, it cuts to the heart of the matter. 

Where Can I Learn More About Project Solutions Software?

For those seeking additional information about project solutions software in general and project software packages specifically designed to fulfill this need, there are a number of credible white papers, professional blogs and other sources that address its evolution and suitability to various businesses.

Those unfamiliar with the discipline of project management or some of the definitions of the terminology commonly used in describing product features may want to consult literature from the Project Management Institute (PMI), but other valid sources include collateral relating to PRINCE2 (Projects in Controlled Environments), a methodology developed in the United Kingdom by the Office of Government Commerce; or the MPMM hybrid methodology advocated by Method123 which incorporates elements of both PMI’s and the PRINCE2 approach.