Find answers to frequently asked questions (FAQ) about Portfolio Simulator

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General Project 2003 Information
Pricing and Licensing
Project Simulator Evaluation Kit

Portfolio Simulator Frequently Asked Questions
Updated: February 1, 2005

Find answers to frequently asked questions (FAQ) about Portfolio Simulator

General Information
Q. What is Portfolio Simulator?
A. Portfolio Simulator is a full-featured, stand-alone application providing scenario planning, simulation and reporting technology, so your organization can visualize, analyze and optimize their future portfolio of projects.

Q. What is Project Simulator?
A. Project Simulator is a scenario planning, simulation and reporting add-in for Microsoft Project enabling project managers to rapidly visualize, analyze and optimize their project plans.

Q. How do Project Simulator and Portfolio Simulator work together?
A. Project Simulator works seamlessly with Portfolio Simulator. Portfolio Simulator creates portfolios of your optimal, simulation-enhanced projects developed in Project Simulator. This allows you to simulate multiple projects and shared resources across the entire organization, as opposed to one at time, including portfolio sources of variability

Q. My organization is using an enterprise project management system. I use this tool in my portfolio strategic planning. Why do I need Portfolio Simulator?
A. The myriad of project management tools available today are superb at tracking and scheduling your portfolio of projects on a day to day basis. However, these same project management tools were not designed to accurately predict 6 to 12 months out, let alone 1 to 10 years. There is a real difference between strategic and tactical planning needs.

ProModel’s Portfolio Simulator is ideal for organizations serious about making their strategic goals a reality. Strategic planning deals with the future. The future is uncertain. Strategic planning requires technology that can handle uncertainty through variability in inputs as well as making the scenario creation process as quick and easy as possible.

Portfolio Simulator provides scenario management and simulation technology, so your organization can visualize, analyze and optimize their future portfolio of projects. The result: superior scenario comparison, quantified predictable outcomes, better informed decisions and a process for gaining the greatest business benefit from those decisions.

Q. My organization has invested in an enterprise project management system. Can I use the data in the EPM system to drive the portfolio simulations?
A. Absolutely! Portfolio has been designed to easily retrieve data from various different data sources, as demonstrated with the ability to use Microsoft Project files. Your Portfolio Simulator representative will discuss the various options available to you based upon your EPM or project management system.

Pricing and Licensing
Q. What does the Portfolio Simulator Evaluation Kit include?
A. The Portfolio Simulator Evaluation Kit includes an evaluation version of Portfolio Simulator, online User Manual, and a Getting Started guide.

The evaluation version gives you a license to use a fully functional version of Portfolio Simulator for 30 days.

Q. How do I get the Portfolio Simulator Evaluation Kit?
A. You can download the evaluation kit online or we can ship you a cd-rom.

Q. What does my computer need to run the Portfolio Simulator Evaluation Kit?
A. Find system requirements for Portfolio Simulator.

Q. Is technical support available for the Portfolio Simulator Evaluation Kit?
A. Absolutely.

Q. What happens when the trial period expires?
A. The evaluation copy of Portfolio Simulator expires 30 days after it is first started. If you try to use your evaluation copy of Portfolio Simulator after the expiration date has passed, a message will indicate that the evaluation period has ended, and the program is disabled.

For more information about Project Simulator please call (800) 816-5338 or email PortfolioVAO@ProModel.com.