Module 1: Introduction to Mastering Microsoft Project

This module provides an overview of how the features of Project relate to the job of the project manager.

Lessons

• What Is a Project?
• The Five Project Success Factors
• The Project Lifecycle: A Framework for Success
• Project Definition and the Project Plan
• The Five-Step Planning Model
• How Project Management Software Displays Information
• Navigating the Software
• Understanding Views
• Quick Access to Views and Tables
• Split Screen Views
• Insert a Column
• Custom Fields
• The Project Guide
• Custom Project Guides

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Module 2: Creating a Work Breakdown Structure

This module explains how to enter and format a work breakdown structure, including guidelines for naming tasks and building a WBS that is a foundation for project communication.

Lessons

• Identifying Project Tasks
• Show Project Summary Task
• Organizing the WBS
• Grouping
• Grouping Demonstration and Discussion
• WBS Number vs. Outlining
• Task Outline Numbers
• Custom WBS Numbers
• Application of a WBS Prefix (Mask)
• WBS Before and After the Prefix (Mask) I Applied
• Task Notes
• Evaluating the WBS
• Before Entering a WBS
• WBS Templates
• Using a Template
• Editing a Template
• Creating a Template

Lab: Manipulate a WBS

• Manipulate a WBS
• Use the Grouping feature

After completing this module, students will be able to create a useful work breakdown structure and enter it into Project.

Module 3: Identifying Task Relationships

This module explains how to establish task relationships using three different methods and view task relationships using a Network Diagram and Gantt Chart. Students will understand how task relationships can be used to create a project schedule.

Lessons

• Determining Task Sequence
• Types of Task Relationships (Dependencies)
• Methods of Creating the Relationship
• Using Lag to Manage Time Between Tasks
• Lag, Lead and Delay
• The Network Diagram
• Formatting the Network Diagram
• Formatting to Show Specific Data
• Formatting to Network Diagram

Lab: Display the Sequence

• Display the Sequence

After completing this module, students will be able to understand the rules for establishing dependency links between tasks and be able to use Project to establish and display these dependencies.

Module 4: Defining Resources within Project

This module explains how to enter resources and specific resource information in Microsoft Project and assign resources to specific tasks.

Lessons

• Resources
• Resource Sheet
• Resource Units
• Resource Costs
• Resource Costs: Cost Rate
• Resource Calendar and Exceptions to the Base Calendar
• Task Calendar
• Resource Calendar
• Exceptions to Calendars

Lab: Resource Calendar and Availability

• Resource Calendar and Availability

After completing this module, students will be able to enter resources and resource related information into Project.

Module 5: Making Work Package Estimates

This module explains how Microsoft Project calculates task duration, task work (effort) and task resources. Students will be able to choose among three task types as they enter task estimates and they will know which task type is appropriate for the type of estimate they are making.

Lessons

• Work Package Estimates
• Duration Estimates
• Assigning Resources to Tasks
• Effort and Task Types
• Effort Driven Scheduling
• Default Task Type and Effort Driven Settings
• Resource Delay Within a Task

Lab: Work, Duration and Labor

• Work, Duration and Labor

After completing this module, students will be able to enter estimates for duration and costs for each task.

Module 6: Creating an Initial Schedule

This module explains how Project calculates a schedule based on task relationships and task duration. Students will understand the purpose of identifying critical path tasks and will be able to identify schedule float within the project.

Lessons

• Calculate the Schedule: The Theory Behind the Software
• Critical Path
• Schedule Float
• Constraints
• Deadlines
• Task Relationships and Crashing a Schedule
• Milestones
• Change Highlighting
• PERT Estimating

Lab: Calculating an Initial Schedule

• Calculating an Initial Schedule

After completing this module, students will be able to calculate float and identify a project