Microsoft Project Fundamentals

TERESA S. STOVER is a project management consultant and award-winning author of 15 books. She has consulted with the Microsoft Project team since version 4 and has served as the project manager for projects ranging from online help system development and instructional design to needs assessments and content management.

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