Microsoft Project Desktop Advanced Management

Microsoft Project Desktop Advanced Management (PON201)

Course Length: 1 day
Delivery Methods: Available as private class only
Course Overview

Unlock the full potential of Microsoft Project Desktop for your team or personal development with our Microsoft Project Desktop Advanced Management course. This program is meticulously crafted to equip employees of varying experience levels with advanced project management techniques using Microsoft Project, enhancing productivity and project outcomes.

Kick off your learning journey by exploring efficient ways to start a project in Starting a Project from an Existing Project, Excel Workbook, or SharePoint Task List. This initial lesson guides you through options such as changing save settings, understanding time conversions, and creating new projects from existing files, ensuring you are prepared from the outset.

The course then dives into Advanced Methods for Managing Tasks and Resources, where you'll learn to manage task dependencies, set task constraints, and handle tasks with the Gantt Chart View. Gain insights into utilizing the Task Inspector and reviewing task assignments effectively, while also sharing resources and managing availability through resource pools.

As you progress, explore sophisticated techniques in Managing the Project with Advanced Techniques. Topics include using leveling to solve resource overallocations, understanding baseline and interim plans, and creating budgets to keep your project on track and within budget.

You'll also discover methods for Formatting and Customizing Views. This section includes customizing the Gantt Chart, applying filters, and leveraging Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) Codes for better visualization and project organization.

In the Reporting section, you'll focus on creating and editing visual reports, an important element for keeping stakeholders informed and engaged with project progress and insights.

The course rounds off with Working with Templates, where you'll learn to use subprojects within larger projects and utilize the Organizer to maintain and manage templates, streamlining your future project setups.

By the end of the course, you will have honed your ability to manage complex projects with ease using Microsoft Project Desktop. You'll be adept at customizing project views, generating in-depth reports, and employing sophisticated task and resource management strategies, making you an invaluable asset to your organization’s project management endeavors.

Course Benefits
  • Create new projects from existing files, including Excel workbooks and SharePoint task lists.
  • Manage tasks and resources with advanced techniques, including task dependencies, constraints, and critical path analysis.
  • Utilize the Task Inspector, Team Planner, and resource pools for efficient task and resource management.
  • Analyze and manage resource availability, pay rates, and task assignments to optimize project performance.
  • Apply leveling techniques to resolve resource overallocations within projects.
  • Set and track baseline and interim plans for accurate project forecasting and performance analysis.
  • Develop and manage project budgets, including cost analysis and tracking.
  • Customize project views, including Gantt charts and custom views, for improved project visualization.
  • Create and edit visual reports for effective project communication.
  • Use templates and subprojects within a project, utilizing the Organizer for template maintenance.
Course Outline
  1. Starting a Project from an Existing Project, Excel Workbook, or SharePoint Task List
    1. Starting a Project
      1. Reviewing the Options
      2. Changing Save Options
      3. Time Conversion
      4. Creating Projects
      5. Create a New Project from an Existing Project File
  2. Advanced Methods for Managing Tasks and Resources
    1. Manage Tasks and Resources
      1. Working with Task Dependencies
      2. Task Dependency
    2. Understanding Elapsed versus Actual Time Settings
    3. Setting Task Constraints
      1. Creating Task Constraints
    4. Splitting and Delaying Tasks
      1. Splitting a Task: Using the Gantt Chart View
      2. Delaying a Task: Using a Gantt Chart View
    5. Using the Task Inspector
    6. Analyzing Critical Tasks and the Critical Path
      1. Analyze Critical Tasks: Using the Gantt Chart View
    7. Using Lag Time and Lead Time
      1. Setting Lag and Lead Time
    8. Analyzing Task Assignments
      1. Viewing Task Assignments: Using the Task Usage View
    9. Using the Team Planner
      1. Formatting the Team Planner
    10. Using a Resource Pool and Sharing Resources
      1. Sharing a Resource Pool
    11. Managing Resource Availability and Pay Rates
  3. Managing the Project with Advanced Techniques
    1. Using Leveling to Solve Resource Overallocations
    2. Chart View
    3. Amending Tasks
    4. Understanding Baseline and Interim Plans
      1. Setting Additional Baselines
    5. Analyzing Project Costs and Creating Budgets
  4. Formatting and Customizing Views
    1. Customizing the Gantt Chart
    2. Creating a Custom View
    3. Applying Filters
    4. Using Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) Codes
  5. Reporting
    1. Creating Visual Reports
    2. Editing Reports
  6. Working with Templates
    1. Using Subproject within a Project
    2. Using the Organizer to Maintain Templates
Class Materials

Each student will receive a comprehensive set of materials, including course notes and all the class examples.

Class Prerequisites

Experience in the following would be useful for this Microsoft Project class:

  • Basic knowledge of project management fundamentals.
  • Experience with Microsoft Project or similar project management software (recommended).
  • Familiarity with Excel and SharePoint (helpful but not required).
Prerequisite Courses

Courses that can help you meet these prerequisites:

Live Private Class
  • Private Class for your Team
  • Live training
  • Online or On-location
  • Customizable
  • Expert Instructors
Request Proposal