Mastering Microsoft Project 2016, Part 1: Creating a Project

Identify project management concepts and phases from initiation through closing, and highlight iterative planning and execution cycles and the triple constraint, with Microsoft Project monitoring timeline, cost, and resources.

Explore the triple constraint of scope, time, and cost and their impact on planning and delivery. Identify project roles, artifacts, and five process groups with Microsoft Project Professional 2016.

Open the initial screen to start a blank project or choose a template, then navigate the ribbon, Gantt chart, and view options like network diagram and calendar.

Mastering Microsoft Project 2016, part 1, teaches you to create a new project using five options: blank, existing, Excel, SharePoint, or template, while templates speed setup using task data.

Define project level options and description, set start or finish dates, select calendars, and review durations, work hours, and costs; save and label projects with advanced properties for easy retrieval.

Create and assign a custom project calendar in Microsoft Project 2016 from standard, night shift, or 24-hour base calendars, then apply holidays and exceptions to adjust working times.

Add and organize tasks in a project plan by type: project name task, summary task, and subtasks; set duration with d, m, or w and link tasks with finish-to-start relationships.

Learn to import tasks from Excel, text files, CSV, and XML into Microsoft Project, using copy-paste or the import wizard with field mapping and proper task linking.

Learn to create and modify a work breakdown structure (WBS) and milestones, add notes, and use outline numbers in the project plan for clear organization in Microsoft Project 2016.

Define task relationships and dependencies using finish-to-start, start-to-start, and finish-to-finish links, plus lag and lead times to optimize project timelines. Review via the task information box and predecessors tab.

Learn to schedule tasks in Microsoft Project 2016, using auto and manual scheduling, set constraints and deadlines, and read Gantt chart indicators for efficient interdependent task planning.

Learn to add resources to a project and assign them to tasks using the Resource Sheet view, covering work, material, cost, and budget resources and tracking availability.

Create a resource calendar for Gary's availability, including non-working Fridays, and adjust working times against the project base calendar. Use the resource availability table to set dates and availability.

Enter and manage resource costs by setting standard, overtime, and per-use rates; apply rate changes with effective dates and percent increases in the cost rate tables.

Assign resources to tasks in Microsoft Project 2016 using team planner, gantt chart, and the assign resources dialog to map people, materials, and costs while monitoring over-allocations.

Learn to resolve resource conflicts in projects by using team planner, task inspector, and leveling strategies to adjust assignments, durations, and priorities while balancing the triple constraint.

Optimize a Microsoft Project plan by identifying the critical path, compressing the timeline with added resources and adjusted dependencies, and balancing work to hit the end date.

Learn how to set and manage project baselines in Microsoft Project 2016, saving a snapshot of scope, time, and cost to compare planned versus actual performance.

Share a project plan with team members and stakeholders by saving to PC, SharePoint, or OneDrive, then print or email the plan to keep everyone aligned.