The purpose of this memorandum is to answer to the memorandum previously received Re: Need assistance in coordinating virtual team schedules. The Virtual Team created by the company are currently working on different platforms supporting task management, scheduling and document repositories. To ensure a more efficient communication between and among teams, a unified environment is needed.
The secretariat is soliciting recommendations for a cheap or free cloud-based SAAS Tool that could support task management, scheduling and document repositories. Software that could deliver all the requirements is much preferred. The SAAS tool must have the capability to coordinate free or busy schedules to schedule meetings on common free times. In addition to this, the SAAS tool must also be able to create a team calendar that could be shared by everybody, task assignment and tracking and a cloud-based document repository that can be accessed by everyone on the team.
Based on the research conducted, the following SAAS tools with their corresponding features are recommended for implementation.
Clarizen
Clarizen is a cloud-based that supports among others, task management and scheduling. Clarizen is capable of creating schedules and viewing calendars of each team members as well as assigning tasks and updating each task on the schedule. Tasks can t ask interdependencies can also be tracked and related notes and comments can also be placed either directly or through integration of an email. It also comes with a simple GUI which makes it easy to understand. Aside fom these,clarizen also offers several other features like Project RoadMap, Personal Calendars and Time Tracking. Clarizen is not free but it comes with a 30-day trial. (Clarizen.com)
HiTask
HiTask is a relatively new SAAS tool that focuses on task management and scheduling. It is capable of categorizing task, prioritizing allowing the capability to view each task according to priority rather than viewing them by date or the assigned team member. It also allows the sharing of calendars and projects in addition to having capabilities of sorting tasks. It also have an easy to understand and simple interface. It is very affordable software with $15 a month. (Hitask.com)
Exo Cloud Workspaces
Exo Cloud workspaces are free SAAS tool that has the capability of task management, scheduling and document repository all in one. It also offers personal dashboards to personally arrange tasks. Other noteworthy feature is the fact that it is available for mobile devices for easy and timely collaboration. It also features an activity streams that lets you immediately view updates from other collaborators. (cloud-workspaces.com)
ZohoDocs
ZohoDocs provides secure online document services which allows the team to store, manage and keep track of documents in any format in one location. It provies features that makes the team members easily upload, share and update documents. In addition to these, documents can be directly emailed to ZohoDocs which reduces the burden of uploading files. It also provides chatting tools and full text tools. (ZohoDocs.com). It is hoped that the above recommendations for the SAAS tools will be considered for adoption. For inquiries and suggestions, you can send them at .
Works Cited
Clarizen.com (2012). “Features”. Clarizen.com, n.d.. Web. 15 April 2012
cloud-workspaces.com (2012). “Key Features”. cloud-workspaces.com. n.d. Web. 15 April 2012
HiTask.com (2012). “Features”. HiTaskorg, n.d. Web. 15 April 2012
ZohoDocs.com (2012). “Key Features”. ZohoDocs.com, n.d. Web. 15 April 2012
