Microsoft Project - The Complete Guide for Project Managers

Learn how to use Microsoft Project to create, manage and control complex project plans. This course will teach you the essential skills required to use to define, produce and manage professional project plans using Microsoft Project. No prior knowledge is required.

Build Professional Skills in the use of Microsoft Project for all Phases of the Project Lifecycle

• Work Breakdown Structure Diagrams

• Professional Project Plans

• Phases, Sub Phases and Tasks

• Resource Create and Allocation

• Creating and Managing Baselines

• Understand what you need to measure

• Tracking Progress

• Recording Actuals

• Variance Analysis

• What If Analysis

• Resource Usage and Management

• Using Team Planner

• Creating Dashboard Reports for Project Stakeholders

• Consolidated and Master Plans

• How to Create Custom Views of Project Information

• Visual Reports

Managing the Initiation and Planning Stages of the Project Life Cycle

Part 1 of the course focuses on the tools and techniques needed during the Initiation and Planning stages of the project life cycle. You will learn how to approach the definition of projects using Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) diagrams. Then you will develop the skill to translate a WBS diagram into a well structured and professional Microsoft Project plan. Learn how to create work, cost and material resources, and how to allocate resources to project tasks. You will explore all aspects of project structures, how to create project phases, sub phases and tasks. Understand how to define sensible and logical dependencies between the various elements of your plans, and how you can customise them to reflect the specific requirements of each project.

Learn how to Track, Monitor and Control Major Projects

Part 2 of the course  will provide you with the skills and techniques to use this widely used software product as a key tool in the tracking and monitoring of major projects.This course will benefit both beginner and experienced users of the product, with comprehensive demonstrations of the major elements of Microsoft Project within the context of the Monitoring and Control processes of a typical project life cycle.The course provides a comprehensive explanation of what information to track, how to record key project progress data, how to manage and create customised reports for project stakeholders. All aspects in the use of Microsoft Project for monitoring and control are explored, including those features such as Team Planner, only found in the Professional version of the software. Learn how to manage multiple projects by creating Master Plans using shared Resource Pools. Upon completion you will have a firm understanding of how to use Microsoft Project to ensure that you are tracking the right data and in the correct manner.

Content and Overview

The purpose of the course is to develop your skills in the Initiation and Planning, Monitoring and Control of major projects. Microsoft Project is a very large and complex piece of software with many features which, without proper explanation, remain unused by many project managers. Even seasoned users of Microsoft Project will neglect some essential and highly valuable features of the product if they have not received the required instruction. 

This course will explore those aspects of the software which are extremely beneficial when you need to create comprehensive project plans and then make sure that your projects are kept on track and up to date. You will learn how to approach the definition of a project plan by creating Work Breakdown Structures (WBS) diagrams. Having designed your WBS, you will then learn how to translate this into a well defined and professional Microsoft Project plan, with accurately defined phases and sub phases, logical dependencies and well defined tasks. Learn how to create work, cost and material resources, and how to allocate those resources to the tasks which you include in your plans. Understand what data is most important to your project - what to track - then learn how to capture the required information. Explore how best to record actuals from the project team. Ensure that you know how to monitor variations in cost, schedule and resources relative to agreed project baselines. Create and manage multiple plans using Project Master Plans and Resource Pools. Use Microsoft Project to generate dashboard and visual reports to ensure that your project stakeholders are always kept up to date using information which is timely and relevant.

This course is aimed at people who recognise that having skills in the use of Microsoft Project will provide them with an edge in their workplace or college environment. The instructor has over 20 years experience in managing complex projects and is currently a full time University Professor with Project Management as one of his specialisations. He is also a Microsoft Certified Professional in Microsoft Project.