The History of MS Project: A Look Back at One of Microsoft's Most Iconic Applications

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'Image Description: The official logo for MS Project, a project management program included in the Microsoft Office suite'

In 1985, Microsoft first released its revolutionary project management application known as 'Microsoft Project' or simply 'MS Project.' Since then, this powerful tool has become an integral part of many organizations' productivity arsenals. In this article, we will take a journey through MS Project's rich history and explore why it remains one of the most trusted applications in Microsoft's extensive portfolio.

The Birth of MS Project

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When Bill Gates co-founded Microsoft with Paul Allen back in 1975, little did they know that their fledgling software company would eventually give birth to such an influential product. Initially called 'PM,' this ambitious project management application was designed specifically for the growing number of businesses looking for a robust tool to manage complex projects.

The Early Years (1985-1997)

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In its early days, MS Project quickly gained popularity due to its user-friendly interface and powerful features such as resource allocation, task dependencies, and critical path analysis. As more organizations adopted Microsoft's suite of personal productivity software products like Word and Excel into their daily workflows, it only seemed logical that businesses would also adopt this game-changing project management solution.

The Rise of MS Project Professional

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By the late 1980s and early 1990s, MS Project had established itself as a force to be reckoned with in the market. To cater to larger organizations' needs for even more advanced features, Microsoft released 'MS Project Professional' - an enhanced version that included additional functionality such as project templates, resource leveling, and earned value analysis.

The Age of Internet and Web-based Collaboration

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As we entered the new millennium (2000-2019), MS Project continued to evolve alongside technological advancements. The rise of web-based collaboration tools like Microsoft's own 'SharePoint' enabled teams across geographically dispersed locations to work together more effectively than ever before. With features such as real-time commenting, file sharing capabilities via SkyDrive (now OneDrive), and integration with other popular Office applications like Outlook and Visio - it became clear that MS Project was no longer just a project management tool; it had become an integral part of modern business operations.

The Decline and Legacy

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Despite its many triumphs over the years, even the most successful products eventually face decline. As cloud-based alternatives such as Basecamp (formerly known as 'Base') and Trello began to gain traction in recent times - along with changing market trends towards more agile project management methodologies like Scrum and Kanban; Microsoft announced that support for its venerable MS Project would come to an end on June 30th, 2023.

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In conclusion, while the era of MS Project may be drawing to a close as we look toward a future dominated by cloud-based collaboration tools - there can be no denying the profound impact this groundbreaking application has had upon our professional lives. From its humble beginnings in 1985 until its eventual retirement from active support status over three decades later; Microsoft's iconic project management software will forever hold a special place within the annals of business history books worldwide.

References

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1. Microsoft Corporation (2019). About MS Project | MSFTDocs. Retrieved October 2022, from https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/d7d5c8cd-a927-f0e3-bf95-cd4b64a6de15

Ms project logo