To get the most from any project management software, users must understand the project management techniques upon which the software is based. In this course, students will learn to do just that as the instructor presents Microsoft Project 2007, the most popular project management software on the market today, in the context of how a project manager uses it. Students will learn the functions of the software as well as the project management concepts necessary to use the software effectively.

Students will cover the basic concepts and move along through all the functions needed to plan and manage a small- to medium-sized project, including how to level resources and capture both cost and schedule progress.

What You'll Learn

• Project management as it applies to using Microsoft Project
• Create a work breakdown structure
• Identify task relationships
• Define resources within Project
• Make work package estimates
• Create an initial schedule
• Create a resource-leveled schedule
• Manage and track the project through the software
• Format output and print reports
• Integrate multiple projects

Who Needs to Attend

Project managers who need to incorporate the discipline of project management with Microsoft Project software tools

Prerequisites

• Experience managing projects
• Project Management Fundamentals or equivalent is beneficial

Follow-On Courses

• Mastering Microsoft Project Server 2007

Course Outline

1. Introduction

• Value of project management software
• Using the project lifecycle to ensure project success
• Navigation, tool bar, buttons, views

2. Setting up a new project

• Introducing the project calendar
• Work time and project statistics

3. Building a work breakdown structure (WBS)

• What is a WBS?
• Tasks, summary tasks, milestones
• WBS and outline numbering
• Evaluating the WBS

4. Establish task relationships

• Introducing task dependencies, networks, and PERT charts
• Lag, lead, and delay
• Formatting the network diagram

5. Making work package estimates

• Create duration estimates
• Effort-driven schedules
• Effort and task types

6. Creating an initial schedule

• Using critical path analysis to create a schedule
• Scheduling constraints
• How to "crasha schedule

7. Assigning and leveling resources

• Defining resources
• Realistic resource planning
• How to level resources in Microsoft Project

8. Managing the Project

• Track field definitions
• Create a project baseline
• Enter actual performance data
• Introducing the project Gantt
• Splitting tasks and rescheduling work

9. Formatting output and printing reports

• Using the Gantt wizard
• Standard vs. custom reports
• Managing and integrating multiple projects