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Scheduling with Microsoft Project (MS Project) like a pro

Name: Scheduling with Microsoft Project (MS Project) like a pro
Rating: 4.6 (300 reviews)

Start from no knowledge and become a scheduling expert using Microsoft Project

Created byBen Moreau (PMP, Prince2, MSP, Agile)

Last updated 3/2024

English

English [Auto],

What you'll learn

Become a Microsoft MS project scheduling EXPERT the easy way
Learn the 6 Steps for a successful, accurate and beautiful schedule
Master the art of simplifying your schedule to become more efficient
Practice what you learn with a practical example

Course content

5 sections • 54 lectures • 2h 4m total length

Introduction: Repeat of Intro video2:54
This is the same content as in the course landing page video, provides the philosophy behind this course and an overview of the course.
Quick intro to MS Project0:39
Link to the Gantt Chart in Excel is Youtube
https://youtu.be/zar6ROpWDLg
Quick intro to MS Project - hands on4:43
Master Microsoft Project basics by entering tasks, durations, and dependencies, assigning resources, and using calendar and visualization views to automatically compute milestones and timelines.
Intro: Step 0: MS project overview of front end and functionality0:50
Explore stage zero as an optional overview of Microsoft Project’s front-end and functionality, previewing tabs and features, and learn about six tips before diving into hands-on work.
MS project overview of front end and functionality: Part 14:14
Explore the Microsoft Project front end and core functionality. Learn to use the task and format tools, assign resources, and manage calendars and start dates.
MS project overview of front end and functionality - part 21:52
MS project overview of front end and functionality - part 3 Format4:04
MS project overview of front end and functionality - Summary1:10

6 Steps introduction and Step 10:51
Step 1: Preparing your workspace2:16
Set up your workspace in Microsoft Project, confirm formats, choose project length, enable auto scheduling, and show key columns like task, duration, start, predecessors, and resource name.
Practice activity - Step 1 Preparing your work space0:06
Using the details in the attached resource - perform Step 1 of the 6 steps process for the project described.
Practice activity solution - Step 1 Preparing your work space1:24
Step 2 intro: Creating standalone tasks0:32
This course describes how to input tasks, duration and resources in MS project. Tasks at this stage stay stand alone.
Step 2 part 1: Standalone tasks without grouping4:29
Step 2 part 2: Milestones1:39
Define milestones as zero-duration points marking task completion; label a milestone 'project start,' and consider a forced date for key milestones to improve readability.
Step 2 part 3: Task summaries2:20
Practice activity - Step 20:06
Practice activity solution: Step 22:31
Practice activity solution: Step 2 (continued)1:35
Step 3 intro0:39
Step 3: Linking tasks4:31
Practice activity: step 30:06
Practice activity solution: Step 33:47
Step 4 intro1:58
Identify and translate real-life constraints into your MS Project schedule, such as limited resource availability and approval delays, so the team stays aware and plans accordingly.
Step 4: Adding Contraints4:01
Practice activity: Step 40:06
Practice activity solution: Step 42:01
Step 5 intro0:08
Step 5: Updating the schedule5:11
Update the project in MS Project by adding percentage complete and remaining duration columns, track progress, reflect delays without changing the end date daily, and prepare a professional publishable update.
Practice activity step 50:06
Practice activity step 5 solution1:51
Learn to update tasks in MS Project by adjusting percent complete and duration, recalculate project progress, and report key milestones like patches and build completion to management.
Step 6 intro1:09
Step 6 part 1 Format tasks4:06
Step 6 part 2 Format bars2:38
Format bars in MS Project using format bar, format bar style, and start/end text to show finish times and task names, then export the view.
Step 6 part 3 Export schedule2:35
Practice activity step 60:06
Practice activity solution: step 65:16

Part 2 intro0:52
Dependencies type5:04
Lags1:23
See combined cheat sheet from intro for all part 2 lectures
Resource allocation3:58
Learn how to adjust resource allocation in MS Project by changing units, adding resources, and understanding how 50 percent availability extends duration, with tips for safer schedule management.
Calendar2:20
Timelines3:26
Resource levelling4:26
Learn how to perform resource leveling in Microsoft Project to prevent overallocation by sequencing tasks or using automatic leveling, while understanding its visual and scheduling impacts.
Practice activity for Part 2 - intro1:04
Practice the part 2 intro by following assignment instructions and using a simplified waterfall project example to apply the components learned in part two; download a pdf version if needed.
Practice activity for Part 20:06
Practice activity solution for Part 2 - start5:45
Practice activity solution for Part 2 - continued and end1:50
Demonstrates building a project timeline in MS Project, adding tasks, subtasks, and milestones, and delivering a high-level breakdown across planning, design, development, testing, and deployment.

End to End example of a MS project Schedule0:04
Example of an end to end MS project Schedule build

https://youtu.be/VY7kcfs0YzU
MS project - latest versions: Is there a difference?3:37
In this video I go through the latest changes in MS project 2021. they are MINIMAL and do not impact the course.
MS project and WBS Function4:00
In this video I explain how to use the WBS function in MS Project
What is a WBS (Extract from other course)2:19
This video is to explain WBS and provide some background on my previous video on MS project and WBS

Conclusion: Do I need to know more? and some samples attached3:54
Decide when to use advanced MS Project features, such as reporting and server integration, and focus on the basics: the first six steps to keep schedules simple and effective.
Bonus video2:17
Showcase scheduling with Microsoft Project like a pro and point to free courses on project management fundamentals, time management, goal setting, and Microsoft Excel.

Requirements

Preferably a large screen to ensure good visibility on software walkthrough (no mobile phones!)
MS project for practice test (Optional)
Adobe Acrobat (free to download) for resources

Description

Updated Feb 2023: What's new in latest MS Project 2021 updates + video on WBS

Updated Nov 2023: Made Cheat sheets and Assignments slides numbering clearer

Do you want to know how the professional project managers use MS project for scheduling?

Are you a beginner and want to learn to schedule with MS Project the way professionals do it without going through the soporific details of functions that are never used?

Hi all - In my 20 years as Project Manager I have successfully implemented projects for HP and IBM (amongst others) and if you follow this course you will know MS Project as much as I (and most Project Managers) do.

That's all there is to it but it can be very powerful if used properly.

Overview

This course will show you how to create a schedule in Microsoft Project like pros do.

The course focuses on the most important functionality that is used in real life, on real projects. In my 20+ years as Project Manager I have only used the functions outlined in this course.

Project Managers simply do not have time to build complex projects schedules. Schedules need to be

easy to maintain / fast to update
easy to share / easy to understand

For this reason Project Managers only use a few (but powerful) components of the Microsoft Project / MS Project functionality.

This course focuses on what knowledge is required to build a solid and usable schedule. The type of schedule project managers needs, for him/her but also to present a clear timeline to peers and Management.

There are 3 main chapters to this course:

In the introduction, I walk you through the software.

First very briefly then
In more detail where I show you the main functionalities.

Part 1 will show you

The main functionality
How to build a schedule in 6 steps
Practice activity for each concept.

In Part 2 we will

Review some more advanced concepts.
Do a practice activity for this Part.

Finally in the conclusion I will explain some other functionalities that are never used.

Have fun!

Who this course is for:

Beginners who want to learn how to schedule with MS Project the proper way.
Advanced who want to streamline their use of MS Project to be more efficient overall

Scheduling with Microsoft Project (MS Project) like a pro

What you'll learn

Explore related topics

Course content

Introduction8 lectures • 20min

Part 1: 6 steps to a schedule29 lectures • 58min

Part 2: Advanced functions11 lectures • 30min

Additional material4 lectures • 10min

Conclusion and bonus lecture2 lectures • 6min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: