Seven years ago, the International Institute for Learning released UPMM, an enterprise-level project and knowledge management suite. Short for Unified Project Management Methodology, UPMM is fully aligned with the PMBOK Guide methodology, a project management standard, and provides templates, examples and guidelines for putting together a thorough project and knowledge management process. (Our sister site WhatIs.com defines knowledge management as the process by which a company "gathers, organizes, shares, and analyzes its knowledge in terms of resources, documents, and people skills," for what it's worth.)

Last month, the New York-based IIL released new Standard and Professional editions of UPMM, bringing the product to smaller teams.

"We had some individuals and small groups who wanted to purchase [UPMM] but lacked the resources to install it on a server," Sasha Law, UPMM product manager, noted in a chat with ConstructionSoftwareReview.com. So, Law continued, the IIL made the product more accessible -- the new editions are hosted on the IIL website -- and less expensive.

As a UPMM demo shows, the application's user interface uses a graphical flow chart to divide each process into a stage. The number of stages is contingent upon whether a user has deemed it a small, medium or large project.

Within each stage is a common interface that includes Microsoft Word- and Excel-based templates, related project management knowledge resources such as white papers, and links to applicable tools required to complete that stage. (It is here that UPMM can link to construction scheduling tools such as Primavera and Microsoft Project management software. All UPMM editions provide an interface with MS Project, Law said.)

According to the aforementioned WhatIs.com definition, "A knowledge management plan involves a survey of corporate goals and a close examination of the tools, both traditional and technical, [which] are required for addressing the needs of the company. The challenge is to select or build software that fits the context of the overall plan and encourage employees to share information."

The hosted UPMM Standard Edition could be a good fit for small contractors that need help defining the precise steps in construction project management; the ties to the PMBOK Guide and to the IIL itself mean that users are going to get an established knowledge management methodology.