Microsoft Excel for the New Project Manager (PM)
What you'll learn
- Identify the user interface for Excel 2010
- Describe how to work with data in worksheets
- Recognize effective ways to present data
Requirements
- Microsoft Excel 2010 on Windows Operating System
Description
Welcome to the Excel 2010 for the New Project Manager course! This course is meant to be a short but information rich introduction to learn how to use Excel as a new project manager. And if you are an experienced project manager, you may also pick up some tips that could help with your individual projects, but think of it as a primer of Excel for Project Management.
You may be running projects that require something to help manage or present information and usually a common tool is Microsoft Excel. Though it may not have the features of Project Management specific software, Excel is robust enough to use for project management. However you may find that once you understand what Excel can do, you’ll find out it is a very powerful tool that will probably do the majority of what you want. You just need to figure out how to use it.
To really understand Excel you should probably start with the basics (and there is a lot to learn!). This course is a lecture only format that gives just enough information to get you started to feel comfortable using Excel to run projects.
This course will cover the following:
- Explore the Excel 2010 User Interface
- Understanding the Ribbon
- A Look at the Backstage view
- Quick Access Toolbar (QAT)
- Workbook and Worksheet Basics
- Primer to Cells, Columns and Rows
- Exploring different views using Freeze Panes and Split Panes
- How to Create Formulas and use Functions
- Using Lists Filters
- How the Table Feature Works
- Basics of Charting
- Formatting Charts
- Using Styles and Text Formatting
- Tips on Printing
- Keyboard Shortcuts
- How to Create a Gantt Chart
- How to Create a Pareto Chart
- How to Create a Timeline Chart
There are a lot of things you can do with Excel and this course should give you the tools to really understand how it works. By the end of the course you should feel familiar with using Excel and may also be able to create some charts that you may see in your work.
Who this course is for:
- For the new Project Manger that has a basic knowledge of Excel
- For the experienced Project Manager that would like to refresh Excel skills
Instructor
I'm a big fan of data crunching, data analysis, effective communication and using a bit of psychology to tell a story.
My first introduction to spreadsheets was Excel 95 and I was hooked so I guess I'm a data crunching nerd. I was a casual user until I really needed to use it for data analysis ten years ago. The group I worked for was looking at product failures and trying to convince the engineering teams to change. It was easy...not! But that's when I discovered Pivot Tables and all those great look-up functions. I could plug in historical data, run it through Excel and make all these fancy charts. Then I actually got an engineering team to add a feature!
Of course it wasn't all data that convinced people to do things. The other side was communication; telling a good story and giving the WIIFM (What's in it for Me?). I've spent a lot of time putting together visual communications using PowerPoint so I guess you can say I'm well versed in that too. Powerpoint is a great tool to tell a story and can definitely influence without too much text (hint: high quality images).
Lastly I'm a fan of psychology, especially individual behavior and group dynamics. What makes people tick and how to influence for the greater good.