MDP636E - Microsoft Project 2007, Exploring the Power
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Course description
Professionals and students who understand the theory and concepts of project planning, scheduling and control are often frustrated by the difficulty of apply them in Microsoft® Project. This course is designed to bridge the gap between theory and the practical use of MS Project. Using a simple case study and hands on techniques, students will learn how the software works “under the covers.” They will learn how to create custom Views (including Gantt Charts), Tables, Filters, Groups and Reports that will both facilitate data entry and enhance their report generation and presentation capabilities. Features that are new to Microsoft® Project 2007 will be highlighted. The student materials will contain examples of Microsoft Project screens as well as explanatory material and directions for completing the exercises. These materials are also designed to serve as both a reference and a self paced tutorial for the student after they complete the course. A CD containing files for all the course exercises as well as custom MS Project Views, Tables, Filters and Reports is included as part of this program. Note, although this class uses Microsoft® Project 2007, it is directly applicable to those who are still using Microsoft® Project 2003. An addendum will be provided in the materials covering the only significant change (Change Working Time a.k.a. Calendars) in look and feel between the two versions.

Who should attend
This course is intended for students who have had some exposure to Microsoft® Project and wish to progress beyond making simple Gantt Chart schedules to understanding the true capability of the software as a professional planning and tracking tool. To achieve the full benefit of this course, attendees should have either completed the “Principals and Techniques of Project Management” or have a thorough background in the fundamentals of Project Management as a discipline.

Prerequisites
To achieve the full benefit of this course, attendees should have either completed the MDP407 - Principals and Techniques of Project Management or have a thorough background in the fundamentals of Project Management as a discipline.

What you will achieve

• An understanding of the fundamental structure of MS Project


• An understanding of the basic scheduling algorithms used by MS Project


• The knowledge of different ways to enter the same type of data with an emphasis on the simplest ways


• The ability to customize tables, views, graphics and filters so that you are better able to use MS Project "your way"


• An understanding of the default choices that can get users into trouble


• The experience of using "best practices" approaches

What you will learn

• How to set up the Options to help you control the software calculations


• How to create multiple custom Views, Tables, Filters and Groups for specific uses


• Which views are appropriate for purposes such as data entry, weekly management, variance analysis and reporting to management


• How to use custom fields for Filtering, Sorting and Grouping


• How Durations, Resource Assignments and Calendars effect each other, with best practices suggestions


• Multiple methods for creating Dependencies (Links), with best practices suggestions


• How to use the Gantt Chart for schedule analysis including Critical Path


• How to use Leveling to solve resource over allocation


• How to record Project Progress accurately and use the Baseline for Variance Analysis


• How to copy custom Views, Tables etc. from one file to another or save as defaults
  
  Agenda Day One
  


• Setting up the Options


• Creating a custom Resource View


• Modifying the Standard Calendar


• Creating a custom Work Breakdown Structure and Task entry View


• Estimating Durations, Resource Assignments and modifying Resource and Task Calendars


• Review custom Cost Views and Reports


• Introduction to custom Filters


• Grouping (sub totaling) of Project Data
  
  Day Two
  


• Creating custom Gantt Charts


• Create and apply filters to highlight variations on the Critical Path


• Review other schedule report formats


• Create a custom Network Diagram


• Resolve Resource over allocation by using Leveling


• Create a Project Baseline


• Record Project Progress


• Use the Tracking Gantt Chart to view schedule variance


• Review custom Gantt and text reports for reporting to management


• Explore cosmetic customization


• Copy custom Views etc. to a new file