My Essential Tools - For Work Anyway

My Essential Applications

For some reason I decided to do one of those posts where I go through and describe the things I just cannot live with out. At least from one perspective, applications I use for my job. If you don't know, I am a Product Manager for a software company.

Microsoft Disclaimer: I use MS tools. I know there are great alternatives. I just have not made it over that hump just yet. For the sake of this post I will be referring to MS tools (MS Word, MS Excel, etc) but I fully recognize that what I am using these for I could use other "brand name" tools that are similar.

1. Microsoft Office

I had to lump these together. I spend most of my day "coding" in Word, outlook or Excel. The hot days are when I get to use PowerPoint. Fact is that I spend so much time everyday writing documents, editing documents, creating spreadsheets, answering emails, etc. These tools are certainly essential to what I do everyday

2. Microsoft Project

I have to communicate so much information for so many different stakeholders along the way that MS project helps me keep it all together. Dates change? No problem; input the new date and MS Project (provided you know what you are doing and set the plan up right from the beginning) calculates the changes. I love it! Couple MS Project with other tools like SharePoint and project Server, you have got yourself a nice way to manage projects, products, departments, etc.

3. Microsoft Visio

OK, this is the last MS product, I promise. MS Visio allows me to create diagrams of processes and systems easily and quickly. A picture is worth a thousand words, right? Well that should make the Product Requirements Document (PRD) a lot shorter :) ! When presenting to my development staff, the more complex you can make the diagram, the more they like it. Just kidding. My development staff likes pictures...so does my 2 year old.

4. Blackberry

I am addicted to the CrackBerry. I recently upgraded to the BlackBerry Bold from AT&T (I like the Verizon network better, why can't we use the same phone on any network!?!). I love this thing. The UI is better than the old UI. I believe the Storm has the same UI but I have not heard great things about the Storm (I have not heard too bad either but no one "Loves" the Storm that I know).

5. TweetDeck - www.tweetdeck.com (and TwitterBerry for the BlackBerry)

How can anything Twitter be essential for work? I am still working on that. But, I use the search functions in TweetDeck to keep an eye on my competition and trends. I know before anyone else when iPipeline has a press release out. I am also using Twitter to network and research. As you have probably guessed from past Blog posts, I am a proponent of Twitter. TweetDeck helps me organize lots of different searches, Direct Messages, replies as well as integrates with URL shortners, TwitPic and many other features. Also, Tweetdeck is an Adobe AIR application. So if you download it, it will also install Adobe AIR.

6. Balsamiq Mockups www.balsamiq.com

Its simple. Make mockups that mean something. It is an Adobe AIR application. The 'controls' that are included in the base product make it easy to create screen mockups. I use their mockup tool to create mockups or even on web presentations to show what we are discussing and get buy in from stakeholders immediately. The tool is very inexpensive ($79 for a desktop install) for what you get. Balsamiq is also using Twitter and Facebook to not only get the word out about their product but also to provide updates. Periodic mockup templates are published and announcements are done via Twitter. Balsamiq as a company is doing very well. I love the ISV model and their business model. Peldi - Want to put me on your Board of Advisors!?! :)

7. Straight Forward Tools

This is just a simple collection of templates that are great for Product Management. I stepped into this role with when there never had been a formal Product Manager before. I used the Straight Forward Tools set of templates to help me design Product roadmaps, produce standard product info sheets and standardize on PRD and other document formats. To a lesser degree I have also used the 280 Groups free template sets to base some things from.

There are certainly many other tools that I use but these few are essential to my day to day.