MS Project
Project Management Fundamentals
- Definition, characteristics, and types of projects
- Core concepts: scope, time, cost
- Exploring the program interface: ribbons, views (Gantt chart, timeline)
- Main commands and windows
Creating a New Project
- Setting up a new project file
- Defining start/end dates and calendars (for project, resources, tasks)
- Adjusting working hours and non-working days
- Time scale settings
- Switching between Gregorian and Hijri calendars
- Changing currency
Adding and Organizing Tasks
- Entering tasks, durations, and milestones (Task Information)
- Building a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) with summary and sub-tasks
- Manual vs. automatic scheduling
Managing Task Relationships
- Linking tasks with dependencies (Finish-to-Start, Start-to-Start, etc.)
- Setting constraints, deadlines, and lead/lag times
- Linking multiple tasks at once and modifying relationships
- Removing links and splitting tasks
- Milestones and recurring tasks
- Applying and removing task constraints
- Using filters, highlights, and groups
- Formatting network diagrams and calendar views
Resource Management
- Working with resources (Resource Sheet, Resource Information)
- Creating resource-specific calendars
- Adding resources (people, equipment, materials)
- Assigning resources to tasks and resolving over-allocation
- Replacing resources in tasks
- Using Team Planner
Basic Costs
- Overall project costs
- Displaying cost tables in Gantt chart
- Cost resources and rate tables
- Fixed costs
- Task Usage and Resource Usage views
- Work contours
- Budget cost resources
- Assigning overtime
- Cost breakdowns
Finalizing and Tracking the Plan
- Creating baseline and interim plans
- Displaying baselines in Gantt chart
- Comparing baseline vs. interim plans
- Updating project progress and actual costs
- Comparing multiple updates
- Project status calculations and reports
Reports
- Dashboard, resource, cost, and progress reports
- Choosing templates and creating custom reports
- Visual reports in Excel or Visio
- Editing report data and appearance
Advanced Scheduling and Customization
- Customizing calendars and views
- Managing recurring tasks and deadlines
- Filters, printing, and exporting
Resource Optimization
- Advanced resource leveling and grouping
- Managing costs, budgets, and fixed/variable expenses
- Importing/exporting resources from Excel or Active Directory
Advanced Tracking and Reporting
- Monitoring variances with Earned Value Management (EVM)
- Calculating EV metrics: PV, AC, EV
- Variances and performance indexes (CV, CPI, SV, SPI)
- Forecasting completion (EAC, ETC, VAC, TCPI)
- Cost-Schedule Index (CSI)
- Cash flow curves
- Practical EVM applications in MS Project
Managing Multiple Projects
- Linking and consolidating subprojects
- Using filters, grouping, and sorting for oversight
