Allegra: A MeisterTask Alternative

Looking for an Alternative to MeisterTask?

In this post we put the MeisterTask alternative Allegra head-to-head with the original and systematically compare the most important features. We need to keep in mind that MeisterTask is essentially a task management system and — like Trello — does not claim to be a full project management tool.

1. General Functionality

Deployment

Allegra can be operated on your own server (On Premises) or used as Software as a Service (SaaS) in the cloud provided by the vendor. MeisterTask is available exclusively as a cloud solution.

Both vendors guarantee compliance with European data protection standards. Data is stored exclusively within the EU.

Projects and Project Types

In the MeisterTask alternative Allegra, issues are managed within projects or workspaces. Workspaces have a type, which allows settings to be applied centrally to all workspaces of that type. In Allegra, templates can be created for projects or workspaces. In MeisterTask you can copy projects, but you cannot create templates or centrally reconfigure projects.

Issues and Issue Types

In task and project management, almost everything revolves around “issues.” In the MeisterTask alternative Allegra, issues have an issue type that can influence the behavior of the corresponding issues. For example, there are “tasks,” “action items,” and “problem reports.”

Custom issue types can also be created.

Issue types can have their own workflows and different attributes. For example, an action item optionally has a due date, whereas a task requires both a start date and an end date to be specified.

Issue Hierarchies

The MeisterTask alternative Allegra supports hierarchical issues to any depth. The hierarchy also creates functional dependencies — for example, an issue cannot be closed if subordinate issues are still open. Or the end date of a subordinate issue cannot be set later than the end date of a parent issue.

The type of subordinate issues can be restricted depending on the type of the parent issue. This can prevent, for example, an issue of type “Car” from being subordinated to an issue of type “Engine.”

Notifications

The MeisterTask alternative Allegra has a sophisticated, extensively configurable notification system. You can precisely control what is sent to whom and when.

Email notifications are based on templates that can be customized. There is an @-mention feature and a reminder function.

The notification system is capable, for example, of sending emails only to the manager of the affected issue when an issue that was completed has been reopened.

Access Permissions

Access rights in Allegra are granted on a role-based, project-specific basis. Permissions can be assigned for:

• a complete project or workspace
• issue types such as tasks, open items, or problem reports
• individual attributes such as the budget for an issue

The permission system allows you to control very precisely who can see or change what.

Custom roles with corresponding permissions can be defined.

Attributes

In Allegra, you can configure customer-specific attributes via the web interface without any programming.

A comprehensive selection of attribute types is available, such as labels, person selection fields, or date fields. In addition, the behavior of standard attributes can be usefully customized — for example, the default value for a start or end date.

For instance, you can create a dropdown list field that offers all users belonging to a specific group.

Different default settings for attributes can be configured for different projects.

Input Forms

In Allegra, any number of input forms can be defined.

Input forms can be structured with tabs and panels.

A different input form can be assigned for creating a new issue than for subsequently editing it.

For the same issue type, different input forms can be defined in different workspaces or projects.

Dependencies

In project management and task management, issues are often related to one another. For example, a task cannot be started before another one is completed. Or an issue cannot be closed before a dependent issue has been resolved.

Allegra offers comprehensive support for defining dependencies or links. The most important link types — such as finish-to-start relationships or “is duplicate of” — are available after installation, and additional ones can be defined yourself.

Custom link types can also be introduced via plug-ins.

Cockpits

The system provides users with an overview page (cockpit, dashboard).

Each user can choose to use preconfigured cockpits or build their own cockpit from an extensive list of cockpit tiles. Cockpits can be saved as templates and centrally assigned to users by system administrators. Available cockpit elements include, among others:

• Average response time
• Average processing time
• Number of issues in state X over time
• Activity stream
• Predefined filters

Reporting

Reports in Allegra can be realized based on report templates or through direct export to Excel or PDF. The report templates can be adapted fairly easily to your own needs and support output in PDF, Excel, Word, and HTML.

User Management

To manage users, Allegra can be connected to an LDAP system. Users and groups can be synchronized with an LDAP server manually or automatically.

Multiple directory servers can also be connected.

Allegra can be integrated for true single sign-on with CAS.

The system supports two-factor authentication.

User Interface and Usability

The software offers a beautiful, clean, and modern-looking user interface. Regular users can get up to speed relatively quickly without any training. Context-sensitive help supports you when something is not immediately obvious.

For configuration, you need to familiarize yourself with the basic concepts of Allegra. Materials are available in the form of tutorials, videos, slide sets, and user manuals. Training is also offered.

The user interface can be customized to meet users’ needs. The available menu items can be individually configured for each user or user group.

Interfaces and Extensibility

Almost all functions available in the Allegra user interface are also accessible through a comprehensive REST interface. For example, users can be managed, projects created, modified, and deleted, or queries executed.

2. Task Management

Delegation

The software supports the delegation of issues including follow-up. The delegating person retains the relationship to the issue, and the follow-up date is their personal one. The delegating person has an overview of the issues they have delegated.

Deputy Function

In Allegra it is possible to assign a deputy to every user. The deputy can step into the rights of the original user in case of vacation or illness and act on their behalf. It remains clear who actually triggered an action.

Recurring Tasks

Some tasks and appointments repeat cyclically — for example, every first Monday of the month. Handling such recurring issue series can be very helpful and time-saving in task management.

Allegra allows the creation of recurring issues in the same way you would expect from good calendar applications.

Time Tracking

Allegra allows you to track the effort (time and money) for each issue and assign it to accounts. Accounts can be grouped into cost centers and released for projects.

There is the option to use timers within the application to automatically log time spent. Reports provide an overview of who was working on which activities during any past period.

Support for the Getting Things Done Method

The Getting Things Done method is a proven approach to personal work organization. It allows personal categorization of issues — such as personal follow-up dates or personally marking issues as favorites.

Allegra fully supports the GTD method.

Support for the RACI Matrix

For task management and project management, the RACI method defines four issue-specific roles through which project participants can be associated with a task. Normally, roles are assigned at the project level rather than for individual issues — for example, there is a project manager or a Scrum Master for the entire project. RACI, on the other hand, allows roles to be assigned on an issue-specific basis (see /de/blog/projektmanagement/methoden/raci-matrix/).

The MeisterTask alternative Allegra is one of the few systems on the market that has integrated the RACI matrix into its application logic and presents it in a way that makes its practical value immediately apparent.

Workflows

Workflows in task management systems are typically represented in two forms. The first method always refers to the workflow of an issue that passes through various stages. The second method consists of defining sets of tasks and then working through them.

Allegra supports both methods. There is a graphical workflow editor for issue-based workflows. Using workspace templates and aggregate issues, even very complex, extensive workflows in the form of task packages can be created with ease.

3. Project Management

Programs and Portfolios

In many organizations, projects run within the context of programs, portfolios, or product areas. Here, groups of projects must be able to be consolidated to maintain an overview.

A fundamental prerequisite for program or portfolio management is the ability to group and hierarchically arrange projects.

The MeisterTask alternative Allegra allows workspaces to be arranged hierarchically to any depth, thus supporting simple, pragmatic program and portfolio management.

Sub-projects

Larger project endeavors with many issues cannot be adequately structured through issue hierarchies alone — they must be broken down into sub-projects. The sub-projects may require different processes, for example for hardware and software development.

The MeisterTask alternative Allegra allows projects to be structured hierarchically to any depth. Different project types with the corresponding customization for specific sub-processes can be assigned to the various sub-projects. This also makes it possible to realize hybrid projects — that is, combinations of classical and agile project management.

Multi-Project Reports

All queries and reports can span multiple projects and sub-projects, which can be freely defined using the appropriate filters.

Work Breakdown Structure

Before a project plan can be created, the activities to be performed or the deliverables to be produced must be structured. To represent such a product structure or Work Breakdown Structure (WBS), issues must be able to be arranged hierarchically to any depth.

In Allegra, WBS can be represented in full. The order of issues can be freely defined at each level.

Interactive Gantt Chart

Gantt charts help define and visualize the timeline of project activities as well as predecessor-successor relationships. The MeisterTask alternative Allegra offers a powerful, interactive Gantt component. It is possible to display the critical path. There are project progress bars and you can compare the current planning status with a baseline.

Resource Planning

Resources of various types can be managed and assigned to issues. There is a view in which resource utilization over time is displayed, making overloading or underloading immediately visible. Resources can be organized by project or department.

Employee Availability

Each employee has a personal calendar showing their availability. Availability is taken into account by the system during resource planning.

Project Progress

Project progress in Allegra can be represented in three different ways, varying in precision and effort:

• By the number of completed tasks relative to the total number of tasks
• By the status of tasks with an assigned degree of completion
• By the Earned Value method

The last method requires tracking the actual effort expended. In return, you receive a very reliable, conservative estimate of current and future schedule deviations. Progress and schedule deviations are displayed clearly and comprehensibly in corresponding charts.

Agile Project Management

The software fully supports agile project management according to Scrum and Kanban. There are not only the corresponding views such as a task board or burn charts, but all elements necessary for agile work — such as Epics, User Stories, Backlogs, and Sprints — are implemented at the core of the system.

Backlog priority, Sprint capacity, and team velocity are supported by the corresponding application logic. Tasks remaining from a previous Sprint can be automatically carried over to the next Sprint. Sprints can be created automatically in advance.

For software developers, there are integrations with source code management systems such as Git and Subversion, as well as with CI/CD servers such as GitLab and Jenkins.

Form your own impression of the comprehensive project management software Allegra.