MeisterTask Task Management Software Review

MeisterTask: Task Management Software Done Right

MeisterTask is an easy-to-use software for general task management in teams. With MeisterTask you can structure, assign, and track tasks. MeisterTask offers basic functionality for project management, but in terms of feature scope it is not a true project management tool.

Pros and Cons

General Functionality

Deployment

MeisterTask is offered exclusively as Software as a Service (SaaS) hosted in the vendor’s own cloud. The vendor guarantees compliance with European data protection standards. All data is stored exclusively within the EU.

Projects and Project Types

In MeisterTask, items are managed within projects or workspaces. Areas have no type, which means settings cannot be configured centrally for all areas of a given type.

Templates for projects or areas cannot be created.

Items and Item Types

In task and project management, almost everything revolves around “items.” In MeisterTask, items have an item type that can influence the behavior of the corresponding items. Examples include “Tasks,” “Action Items,” and “Bug Reports.”

Custom item types can also be created.

Item 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.

Item Hierarchies

MeisterTask offers no way to model item hierarchies.

The type of subordinate items cannot be restricted based on the type of the parent item. This means it is impossible to prevent, for example, an item of type “Car” from being subordinated to an item of type “Engine.”

Notifications

MeisterTask has a simple, configurable notification system.

Access Permissions

Granting access rights in MeisterTask is kept fairly simple. Custom roles with corresponding permissions cannot be defined.

Attributes

In MeisterTask you can configure custom attributes through the web interface without any programming.

A few simple attribute types are available, such as labels and date fields. The behavior of the standard attributes is predefined and not configurable.

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

Input Forms

Custom input forms cannot be defined in MeisterTask.

Dependencies

In project management and task management alike, items are often related to one another. For example, a task may not be started until another is completed, or an item may not be closed until a dependent item has been resolved.

MeisterTask provides basic support for defining dependencies or links.

Cockpits

The system offers users an overview page (cockpit/dashboard).

Each user can use preconfigured cockpits or assemble a custom cockpit from an extensive list of cockpit tiles. However, there are no cockpit templates, and cockpits cannot be centrally assigned to users by system administrators. The following cockpit elements are available, among others:

• My items
• Number of items in state X over time
• Activity stream
• Predefined filters

Reporting

MeisterTask has no report templates.

Reports can be generated in Excel and PDF formats.

User Management

Synchronization of MeisterTask with a directory server is not supported.

MeisterTask can be integrated for true single sign-on with CAS and Shibboleth.

The system supports two-factor authentication.

User Interface and Usability

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

For configuration purposes, you need to familiarize yourself with MeisterTask’s core concepts. Supporting material is available in the form of tutorials, videos, slide decks, and user manuals. Training courses are also offered.

The user interface can be adapted to the needs of users. The available menu items can be individually configured for each user or group of users.

Interfaces and Extensibility

Through a comprehensive REST interface, nearly all functions available in MeisterTask’s UI are also accessible programmatically. For example, users can be managed, projects created, modified, and deleted, and queries can be executed.

Task Management

Delegation

The software supports the delegation of items including follow-up reminders. The delegating user retains the relationship to the item, and the follow-up date is their personal one. The delegating user has an overview of all items they have delegated.

Deputy Function

In MeisterTask it is not possible to assign deputies to users.

Recurring Tasks

Some tasks and appointments recur on a regular cycle — for example, every first Monday of the month. Handling such recurring item series can be very helpful and time-saving in task management.

MeisterTask allows the creation of recurring items in the same way you would expect from a good calendar application.

Time Tracking

MeisterTask allows you to track effort (time and cost) for each item and assign them 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 engaged in which activities during any past time period.

Getting Things Done Support

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

MeisterTask fully supports the GTD method.

RACI Matrix Support

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

Unfortunately, MeisterTask offers no way to model a RACI matrix.

Workflows

Workflows are typically represented in task management systems in two forms. The first approach relates to the workflow of an individual item passing through various stages. The second approach involves defining sets of tasks and then working through them.

MeisterTask supports the first variant with a somewhat cumbersome table editor. There is no easy way to copy task sets and then adapt them.

Project Management

Programs and Portfolios

In many organizations, projects run within programs, portfolios, or product areas. Groups of projects need to be consolidated to maintain an overview.

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

MeisterTask allows areas to be arranged hierarchically to any depth, thus supporting simple, pragmatic program and portfolio management.

Sub-Projects

Larger project endeavors with many items cannot be adequately structured by item hierarchies alone — they must be split into sub-projects. Sub-projects may require different processes, for example for hardware and software development.

Multi-Project Reports

All queries and reports can span multiple projects and sub-projects, which can be freely defined using corresponding 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), items must be able to be arranged hierarchically to any depth.

MeisterTask only supports a single hierarchy level with sub-tasks. This means WBS structures or project plans cannot be created.

Interactive Gantt Chart

Gantt charts are used to define and display the timeline of project activities as well as predecessor-successor relationships. MeisterTask offers no support in this regard.

MeisterTask provides a simple interactive bar timeline without any representation of dependencies.

Resource Planning

Resources of various types can be managed and assigned to items. There is a view that displays resource utilization over time, making overloads or underutilization immediately visible. Resources can be organized by project or department.

Employee Availability

There is no way to map employee availability in the system or take it into account during resource planning.

Project Progress

A representation of project progress is not available in MeisterTask.

Agile Project Management

The software supports agile project management in a rudimentary way with a task board view, epics, and backlogs. Important agile process elements such as burn charts are not available or only insufficiently supported.

For software developers, integrations with the source code management systems Git and Subversion are available.

Further Information

If you are interested in reading more about Stackfield, you can do so here. In this article you can find an overview of ticketing systems.