How We Created Ellipse — Unique Project Planning Solution

We divided the workflow into 2 iterations:

1. Development of a basic visualization and task organization mechanism.
2. Implementation of additional options to customize the platform for corporate needs.

Iteration 1

We decided to start with core pages: Dashboard, Gantt Chart, and Kanban. This became the foundation for creating key functionality for planning, coordinating, and updating projects.

Completed tasks:

• interface design for each page based on user experience and behavior;
• dashboard implementation: View Portfolios, Log of changes, Phase project/Project Alerts, Upload and Download CSV Files, and more;
• implementation of Gantt Chart to enable users to: create relationships, view the calendar, manage activity, analyze risks, etc.;
• implementing a Kanban space to allow users to: make planning boards, add people (resources), configure alerts;
• setting up easy and productive user interaction with interface elements.

Iteration 2

In the second stage, we paid attention to hamburger options: Alert setup, Settings, Create User, Site Plan, and Saved Assets (resources and schedule activities). According to the client's idea, the user should be able to adapt the account to their needs as much as possible.

Completed tasks:

• creation of an alert system with the possibility of flexible configuration: choice of type of alert, schedule, resource, Kanban;
• implementation of options enabling the creation of a new user and select access rights depending on the role in the project: Project Manager, Portfolio Manager, Activity Lead;
• implementation of options for flexible asset management, including quick saving of actions and resources;
• development of plans for using the platform depending on the set of functions.

Portfolio creation

The user can create a portfolio (and sub-portfolio) and then launch new projects based on it. It allows you to multitask, plan numerous projects, and coordinate with multiple teams.

User creation

We made sure that a new user could be created in seconds. Just add a name, select access rights based on their role in the project (Project Manager, Portfolio Manager, Activity Lead), and specify an email for the invitation.

Gantt charts

This is an effective tool for organizing tasks. We have enabled the user to create dependencies between tasks and monitor project progress based on specific dates, milestones, and a number of other mandatory metrics.

Kanban boards

It is another planning tool that really works. Kanban creation always creates an activity. User adds individuals (resources) to choose projects or assign projects in its creation. Alerts for kanban are made by individuals assigned.

Critical path

We have implemented an algorithm for planning an activity sequence. The user can build a project model with it: describe the tasks necessary to achieve the goal and determine their specific deadlines.

Resources view

This is one of the useful scheduling features that displays the resources within the project, namely: total value and total hours. When necessary, the user can enable/disable the visibility of resource amount with one click.

Calendar view

Thanks to this function, the user views the situation in certain time intervals: quarterly, monthly, yearly, weekly. It allows you to realistically assess progress and distribute the workload to ensure that the goal is achieved by a certain date.

Filter

We have implemented convenient filter options so that the user can change the settings with one click: select only milestones and critical path activities, specify boundary indicators (date after, activity $ total above), etc.