TOPICS

Course Outline
1. Initiating Process
The Project Charter Behind the Schedule
The Core Team’s Role in Building the Schedule
2. Planning Process
Scope Planning
Reviewing the Class Project Scope
Opening the Class Project from a Template
MS Project Screen
Working with Ribbons
Using Mini-Toolbars
Applying Keyboard Shortcuts
Displaying the Entry Bar
Setting Microsoft Project Options
Entering the Project Start Date
Project Calendar
Using Custom Fields
Creating a Value Lists
Creating a Custom Formula and Indicator Field
Hiding Columns in a Table
Add Tasks to Class Project
Options for Saving the Project
Developing the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)
Formatting the WBS
Viewing the WBS at a Summary Level
Activity Sequencing
Manual vs. Automatic Scheduling
Rules of Logic and Dependencies
Using Dependencies
CHOOSING THE RIGHT Dependencies
Creating Task Dependencies in the Class Project
Linking Tasks in the Entry Table
Linking Sequential Tasks
Linking Noncontiguous Tasks
Using the Predecessor/Successor Form to Link Tasks
Linking Tasks Graphically
Activity Duration Estimating
Enter Durations for Class Project
Managing the Schedule Timeline
Determining the Critical Path
Create a Custom Gantt Chart View and Table
Showing Critical Path
Format the Current Date Gridline
Using the Timeline Feature in the Gantt Chart View
Using Standard Filters
Using AutoFilters
Custom Filters: Filtering for a Key Word
Interactive Custom Filters: Filtering for Tasks by Core Team
Custom Filters: Filtering for Dangling Tasks
Setting Task Constraints
Eliminate Schedule Constraints
Grouping Tasks
Optimize the Task Schedule
Changing the Logic of the Class Project
Scheduling with the Task Form
Overlap Tasks with Finish-to-Finish Relationship
Overlapping Tasks with Start-to-Start Relationships
Resource Planning
Using Resources from the Enterprise Resource Pool
Assigning Team Members to Tasks
Using the Team Planner View
View Resource Allocations in the Resource Graph
Viewing Over-Allocated Resources within a Project
Viewing Over-Allocated Resources across the Enterprise
Using the Team Planner View
Resource Leveling Tool and How it Works
Create a Leveled Resource Indicator Field
Remove the Effects of Leveling
Options for Optimizing Resource Schedules
Replacing a Resource
View New Over-Allocations
Change a Task Calendar to Optimize the Schedule
Freeze the Baseline
3. Executing Process
Reporting from the Project Pro Client
Reporting from the Project Server
Resource Usage Reports
Visual Reports
Reporting in Excel
Reporting in Word
Reporting in PowerPoint
4. Controlling Process
Performance Reporting
Updating Tasks
View the Updated Schedule in the Project Server Project Center
Save the Updated Schedule and Interim Plan
Using the Project Server Collaborative Web Site
Creating and Managing Risks
Creating and Managing Issues
Publishing Documents
5. Closing Process
Administrative Closure
Administrative Backup
Create a Project Template
Case Studies
Case Study 1: Building and Compressing a Schedule
Working in groups, you will be given a set of tasks and a project deadline to meet. Using MS Project, your group will create a schedule that illustrates your approach to managing the project to meet the deadline.

Case Study 2: Resolving Resource Conflicts
You will be given a project with tasks durations and links. Working in groups, you will assign resources, view resource over-allocations, and resolve resource issues.

Labs
Lab 1: Creating a Value List
Create a custom field
Populate a drop down list
Apply list items to specific tasks
Lab 2: Creating an Indicator Icon
Create a custom field
Build a custom formula
Display the results as an icon
Lab 3: Formatting a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)
Open the Lab 3 project template
Format the WBS
Lab 4: Task Linking
Open the Lab 4 project template
Determine the logical order of the tasks
Link the tasks in their logical order
Lab 5: Modifying a View
Open the Lab 4 project template
Display the critical path
Modify the current date timeline
Lab 6: Creating a Custom Filter
The ability to focus on key data based on the project manager’s current need is critical in any project. In this exercise, you will modify a custom filter to find specific data based on ad hoc requests.

Lab 7: Grouping Tasks
Microsoft Project has the ability to rearrange tasks based on the user’s preference. In this exercise, you will rearrange the WBS based on the information in one of your custom fields.

Lab 8: Creating a Custom Resource View
Resource management is one of the most complex aspects of project management. In this exercise, you will create a custom resource view based on key information.