Primavera P6 and Microsoft Project are both robust project management tools, but they have some key differences:
- Scheduling Approach: Primavera P6 takes a top-down approach to scheduling, starting with the end result and working backwards to determine the tasks needed. Microsoft Project, on the other hand, uses a bottom-up approach, starting with a list of tasks and then grouping them under a summary task.
- Critical Activities: Primavera P6 uses the longest path critical activity definition, while Microsoft Project uses the critical activities to create the critical path. The longest path might not always be the same as the critical path.
- Enterprise Design: Primavera P6 was designed for enterprise use from the start, while Microsoft Project started as a desktop application and later added enterprise capabilities.
- Multiple User Access: Primavera P6 allows multiple users to work on a single project at the same time, while Microsoft Project does not.
- Baselines: Microsoft Project allows for 11 baselines to be created for a project, while Primavera P6 allows for unlimited baselines.
- Progress and Status: Primavera P6 offers a feature called Progress Spotlight, which highlights activities due for status in the next period. Microsoft Project requires the development of filters to select activities requiring status.
- Issues & Risk: Microsoft Project lacks a feature for tracking project issues or risks, while Primavera P6 can record issues and risks against a project, WBS element, or activity2.
- Web Support: Primavera P6 plans, documents, and other information can be converted to HTML directly from the software, while Microsoft Project does not have this option.
- Steps: The Steps feature in Primavera P6 allows you to create sub-activities (steps) of an activity, effectively a to-do list for discrete progressing.
Both tools have their own strengths and are suited to different types of projects and organizational needs. The choice between the two often depends on the specific requirements of your project and team.