Microsoft Project Fundamentals

Introduction xiv Part I: Manage Your Projects with Microsoft Project 1 Lesson 1: Project Management Basics 3 Projects and Project Managers 4 What Is a Project? 4 What Is a Project Manager? 5 The Project Triangle 6 Project Processes 7 Initiating 7 Planning 7 Executing 8 Monitoring and Controlling 8 Closing 8 Project Management Methodologies 9 Waterfall Project Management 9 Agile Project Management 10 Other Methodologies 10 More About Project Management 11 Key Terms 11 Review Questions 13 Lesson 2: Introducing Microsoft Project 17 How Microsoft Project Helps 18 Manage the Schedule 18 Calculate Costs 19 Balance Resources 20 Communicate Progress 21 Respond to Changes 21 Microsoft Project Solutions 22 Touring the Microsoft Project App 24 Browse Task and Resource Views 25 Browse Reports 26 Click Through the Ribbons 26 Go Backstage 27 Get Help with Project 29 Help Within Project 29 Help Outside Project 31 Key Terms 32 Review Questions 33 Part II: Plan Your Project 35 Lesson 3: Establish a Strong Foundation 37 Initiate the Project 38 Identify the Stakeholders and Project Sponsor 39 Authorize the Project Charter 39 Start Planning 40 Collect Requirements 41 Define the Scope 42 Organize Project Plan Documents 43 Key Terms 45 Review Questions 46 Lesson 4: Set Up the Project and Tasks 47 Start a New Project Plan 48 Create a New Blank Project 48 Copy an Existing Similar Project 49 Adapt a Project Template 50 Set the Project Start Date 51 Enter Task Names 53 Where Do Task Names Come From? 54 Name Your Tasks 55 Explore Task Views 56 Work with Tasks in the Task Sheet 57 Work with Tasks on the Task Board 60 Sequence Tasks 62 Reorder Tasks in the Task Sheet 62 Reorder Tasks on the Task Board 63 Organize the Task Outline 63 Key Terms 67 Review Questions 68 Lesson 5: Build the Schedule 69 Decide on Automatic Scheduling 70 Change All Tasks to Automatic Scheduling 71 Set Any New Tasks to Automatic Scheduling 72 Switch from Automatic to Manual Scheduling 72 Switch from Manual to Automatic Scheduling 72 Get to Know the Gantt Chart 73 Enter Task Durations 75 Enter Durations in the Gantt Chart 76 View Durations on the Task Board 77 Set Milestones 79 Link Dependent Tasks 80 Set Up Task Dependencies 81 View Dependencies on a Task Board 82 Schedule Sprints for an Agile Project 83 Add Sprints to Your Project 84 Add Tasks to Your Sprints 85 Modify Sprint Information 86 Identify Any Hardwired Dates 87 Enter Deadline Reminders 89 Use Project and Task Calendars 90 Review and Change the Project Calendar 91 Apply a Task Calendar 91 Key Terms 92 Review Questions 93 Lesson 6: Set Up Resources 97 Add Resources to the Plan 98 Define Human and Equipment Resources 99 Define Material Resources 99 Define Cost Resources 100 Enter Resource Costs 101 Specify Work Resource Costs 102 Specify Material Resource Costs 103 Specify Cost Resource Costs 103 Refine Resource Unit Availability 104 Change Resource Units 105 Specify Differing Availability Over Time 105 Customize Resource Calendars 106 Switch the Base Calendar 108 Change the Work Week in a Resource Calendar 108 Specify an Exception to a Resource Calendar 110 Key Terms 112 Review Questions 113 Lesson 7: Assign Resources to Tasks 115 Assign Work Resources to Tasks 116 Assign Material Resources to Tasks 118 Assign Cost Resources to Tasks 120 Review Resource Assignments 122 See Task Costs from Assignments 125 Review Task Costs 126 Review Task Costs on an Agile Planning Board 127 Review the Overall Project Cost Estimate 127 Change Assignments 128 Replace a Resource Assignment 129 Add or Remove a Resource Assignment 129 Change Duration on Tasks with Assignments 132 Key Terms 133 Review Questions 134 Lesson 8: Check and Adjust the Project 137 Check the Project Finish Date 138 Review the Project Finish Date 139 Bring In the Project Finish Date 142 Check Costs 145 Review the Total Project Cost 145 Reduce Costs 146 Check Resource Assignments 153 Resolve Overallocations in a Task Sheet 154 Resolve Assignment Problems in Team Planner 155 Set the Project Baseline 157 Key Terms 159 Review Questions 161 Part III: Monitor and Control Your Project 163 Lesson 9: Track Project Information 165 Collect Progress Information 167 Enter Actuals in a Waterfall Project 168 Enter Progress as Expected 168 Enter Different Types of Progress Information 169 Distinguish Baseline, Scheduled, and Actual Values 170 Update Status in an Agile Project 172 Enter Progress on the Task Board 172 Enter Progress in the Task Board Sheet 173 Specify Percent Complete on the Task Board 174 Enter Progress on the Current Sprint 176 Move Tasks from One Sprint to Another 177 Respond to Changes 178 Check the Project Finish Date 178 Check the Project Cost 179 Check Resource Allocations 179 Key Terms 180 Review Questions 181 Lesson 10: View Project Information 183 See the Data You Need 184 Zoom a View In or Out 184 Adjust the Timescale 185 Show a Specific Outline Level 186 Sort Project Information 187 Group Project Information 188 Filter Project Information 188 Highlight Project Information 189 Change Columns in a Sheet View 190 Add a Column 190 Move a Column 192 Hide a Column 192 Print a View 193 Work with More Views 194 Browse Graphical Views 195 Browse Combination Views 199 Key Terms 202 Review Questions 204 Lesson 11: Customize Project Information 207 Customize a Sheet View 208 Customize a Gantt View 210 Customize a Board View 212 Modify Board View Columns 212 Modify Task Cards 213 Set Options and Preferences 214 Key Terms 215 Review Questions 216 Lesson 12: Report Project Information 219 Work with Reports 220 Run a Report 221 Adjust the Design of a Report 222 Work with Dashboards 223 Create a New Report or Dashboard 224 Print a Report 226 Key Terms 228 Review Questions 229 Part IV: Close Your Project 231 Lesson 13: Obtain Project Acceptance 233 Present the Project to the Sponsor 234 Secure Official Project Sign-Off 236 Complete Final Refinements 236 Have the Sponsor Sign Off on the Project 238 Celebrate With Your Team 238 Key Terms 239 Review Questions 240 Lesson 14: Retain Project History 241 Document Lessons Learned 242 Identify the Information You Can Use 243 Gather Lessons Learned 243 Document and Share the Lessons Learned 244 Archive Project History 245 Clean Up Your Project Plan 245 Add Key Documents to the Project Plan 247 Organize the Archive File Structure 247 Key Terms 248 Review Questions 249 Appendix Answers to the Review Questions 251 Index 263