After completing this course, students will be able to:

• Explain the new user interface of Microsoft Project 2010.
• Initialize Microsoft Project settings.
• Create a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)
• Create task relationships in a project schedule.
• Configure advanced task information and use the Task Inspector.
• Create and manage resources.
• Assign and level work resources.
• Review and finalize the project schedule.
• Track and update project schedules.
• Customize Project 2010 features.
• Communicate project information in your organization.
• Manage multiple projects and resource pools.

 
Students should also have a working knowledge of the following:

• Basic project management concepts and terminology.
• Basic Windows navigation skills.

This module provides an overview of Project 2010. Lessons presented in this module will review the success factors to project management and explore the new user interface (the Ribbon). You will learn about the project database, types of data included and what constitutes a database view.

Lessons

Success Factors to Project Management

• What is a Project?
• Project Management Software
• Why use Microsoft Project 2010?
• Formulate a Strategy
• Success Checklist

Exploring the Ribbon

• What is the Ribbon?
• Task Tab
• Resource Tab
• Project Tab
• View Tab
• Format Tab
• File Tab (Backstage)

Exploring Project 2010 Views

• What is a View?
• Task Views
• Resource Views
• Combining Views

 
This module describes how to initialize a project schedule prior to performing any work on your schedule. Lessons presented in this module will review how calendars work in Project and how to create and configure calendars. You will review the difference between duration and work/effort and understanding how they drive your project scheduling. You will also learn how to create project schedules from various methods.

Lessons

Creating and Configuring Calendars

• How Calendars Work in Project 2010?
• Creating a Base Calendar
• Setting Working Hours and Days
• Setting Non-Working Hours and Days
• Setting Calendar Options
• Saving the Base Calendar to the Global Template
• Practice: Creating Calendars

Configuring Schedule/Display Options

• Understanding Duration vs. Work / Effort
• What is Effort Driven Scheduling?
• Understanding Task Types
• Setting Schedule Options
• Setting Display and General Options
• Practice: Configuring Schedule/Display Options

Creating and Saving a Project Schedule

• Creating a New Project Schedule
• Adding Project Information
• Creating a Schedule from an Excel Workbook
• Creating a Schedule from a SharePoint Task List
• Importance of Naming Standards
• Saving the Schedule
• Setting Read-Only and Password Attributes
• Save and Send Options
• Practice: Creating and Saving a Project Schedule

 
This module describes working with a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS). Lessons presented in this module will review what a WBS is and why it is important. You will then create the WBS by entering tasks and estimating task lengths. You will also learn to set milestones and applying milestone filters.

Lessons

Overview of a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)

• What is a WBS?
• Task Types
• Best Practices

Creating the Work Breakdown Structure

• Entering Tasks
• Working with Task Information
• Outlining Tasks into a Hierarchy
• Displaying Outline Numbers & WBS
• Customizing WBS Codes
• Practice: Creating a Work Breakdown Structure

Estimating Task Lengths

• Overview of Estimating
• Entering Estimates
• Practice: Entering Estimates

Entering Milestones

• How to Set a Milestone
• Apply Milestone Filters
• Best Practices
• Practice: Entering Milestones

 
This module describes how to task relationships work in a project schedule. Lessons presented in this module will explain the difference between automatic and manual scheduling and when to use them. You will work with task dependencies, understanding predecessors and how they work. You will also know the difference between leads and lags and when to use them.

Lessons

Manual vs. Automatic Scheduling

• Scheduling Overview
• Manual vs. Automatic Scheduling
• When to Use Manual vs. Automatic Scheduling
• Setting Scheduling Option
• Adjusting Tasks in Manual Mode
• Practice: Working with Manual and Automatic Scheduling

Working with Dependencies

• Task Dependency Types
• Creating Dependencies 
• Viewing Dependencies
• Best Practices for Using Dependencies
• Practice: Working with Dependencies

Understanding Leads and Lags

• What is Lag Time?
• What is Lead Time?
• Best Practices
• Practice: Working with Leads and Lags

 
This module describes how to work with advanced task information. Lessons presented in this module will explain task constraints and what actions create constraints automatically. You will learn about task deadlines, task form views. You will also learn how to split tasks and how to use the Task Inspector to examine your tasks to make suggestions.

Lessons

Working with Task Constraints

• What are Constraints?
• Constraint types
• Actions that Create Automatic Constraints
• Effects of Constraints
• Practice: Working with Task Constraints

Advanced Task Management

• Task Deadlines
• Using the Task Inspector
• Using Task Form Views
• Adding Notes to Tasks
• Applying a Calendar to a Task
• Splitting Tasks
• Changing the Start Date of a Project
• Working with Timescale
• Practice: Working with Advanced Task Management

 
This module describes how to create resources in your project schedule. Lessons presented in this module will explain the different resource types and how to create them. You will also learn how to assign material, cost and budget resources to the project schedule.

Lessons

Resource Types

• Work Resources
• Cost Resources
• Material Resources
• Budget Resources

Creating Work and Material Resources

• Creating a Work Resource
• Resource Information - General
• Resource Information - Costs
• Resource Information - Notes and Custom Fields
• Inserting Resources
• Creating a Material Resource
• Practice: Creating Work and Material Resources  

Creating Cost and Budget Resources

• Overview of Costing in Microsoft Project
• Creating a Cost Resource
• Creating a Budget Resource
• Entering a Fixed Cost
• Practice: Creating Cost and Budget Resources

Assigning Material, Cost and Budget Resources

• Assign a Cost Resource
• Assign a Material Resource
• Assign a Budget Resource
• Practice: Working with Resources

 
This module describes how to assign and level work resources against a project schedule. Lessons presented in this module will explain what an assignment is and how create various assignments. You will learn about factors that affect assignments and how to view resource assignments. You will also learn how to view and resolve resource allocations using manual and automatic resource leveling.

Lessons

Working with Assignments

• What is an Assignment?
• Assignment Formula
• How to Create Assignments
• Creating Fixed Unit Assignments
• Creating Fixed Duration Assignments
• Creating Fixed Work Tasks
• Practice: Creating Assignments

Factors that Affect Assignments

• Percentage Assignments
• Assignment Units and Peak Units Values
• Resource Calendar
• Delaying an Assignment
• Assigning Resources with Variable Units
• Rules for Creating Assignments
• Best Practices
• Practice: Working with Factors that Affect Assignments

Viewing Resource Assignments

• Resource Usage View
• Task Usage View
• Team Planner View
• Practice: Viewing Resource Assignments

Resolving Resource Overallocations

• Understanding Overallocations
• Views to Identify Overallocations
• Leveling Resources - Project Manager
• Leveling Resources - Microsoft Project
• Practice: Resolving Resource Overallocations

 
This module describes how to review and finalize the project schedule. Lessons presented in this module will explain what are groups and filters and how to use them. You will learn the Critical Path Method and how to format and view the critical path of a project schedule. You will also learn about project baselines and how to set and update a baseline.

Lessons

Working with Groups and Filters

• What are Groups?
• How to Use Groups
• What are Filters?
• How to Use Filters
• How to Use Highlights
• How to Use AutoFilter
• Practice: Working with Groups and Filters

Understanding the Critical Path Method

• What is a Critical Path?
• Formatting Views to Display Critical Path
• Setting Slack Tolerance
• Shortening the Critical Path 
• Practice: Working with the Critical Path

Setting a Project Baseline

• What is a Baseline?
• Fields Used in Setting a Baseline
• Setting the Baseline
• Updating a Baseline
• Views Using Baseline Data
• Practice: Setting a Project Baseline

Appendix

• Appendix - Default Groups
• Appendix - Default Filters

 
This module describes how to track and update a project schedule. Lessons presented in this module will explain tracking and how to use the various tracking methods. You will learn how to update milestones, material and cost resources. You will also learn about project status and how to update the project status.

Lessons

Overview of Tracking Projects

• What is Tracking?
• Tracking Methods
• Options that Affect Tracking
• Best Practices of Tracking

Tracking Projects

• Preparing a Task to be Tracked
• Using Percent Complete
• Using Task Level Tracking - Task Duration
• Using Task Level Tracking - Task Work
• Using Resource Level Tracking - Task Details
• Using Resource Level Tracking - Resource Usage
• Practice: Working with Tracking Methods

Updating Milestones, Material and Cost Resources

• Updating Milestones
• Updating Material Resources
• Updating Cost Resources
• Practice: Updating Milestones, Material and Cost Resources

Updating Project Status

• Overview of Tracking Cycle
• Setting a Status Date
• Rescheduling Incomplete Work
• Getting the Project Back on Track
• Practice: Updating Project Status

 
This module describes managing multiple projects and resource pools. Lessons presented in this module will explain what a resource pool is and how to create and share them with other users. You will learn about linking multiple projects and analyzing the effects of changing values in one project. You will also learn about master projects, how to create them and how to insert sub-projects.

Lessons

Linking Multiple Projects

• Overview of Multiple Projects
• Cross-Linking Projects
• Analyzing the Effects of Changing Values
• Practice: Linking Multiple Projects

Working with Master and Sub-Projects

• Overview of Master Projects
• Creating a Master Project and Inserting Sub-Projects
• Leveling Resources Across Projects
• Practice: Working with Master and Sub-Projects

Working with Resource Pools

• What is a Resource Pool?
• Creating a Resource Pool
• How to Share Resources across Multiple Projects
• Viewing Resource Usage in the Resource Pool
• Practice: Working with Resource Pools

 
This module describes the Project 2010 features that can be customized and working with the Organizer. Lessons presented in this module will detail how to customize the quick access toolbar, ribbon and the formats and styles of a Gantt view. You will learn about the Organizer and how to define and share the settings with other Project users. You will also learn about create custom fields, filters, groups, tables and views and how to create them.

Lessons

Customizing the User Interface

• Customize Quick Access Toolbar
• Customizing the Ribbon
• Exporting / Importing the Customization File

Customizing Formats and Views

• Overview on Custom Formats and Styles
• Customizing Gantt Views
• Customizing Timeline Views  

Working with the Organizer

• What is an Object?
• Define Settings in Organizer
• Using the Organizer to Share Objects

Creating Custom Objects

• Creating a Custom Field
• Creating a Custom Filter
• Creating a Custom Group
• Creating a Custom Table
• Creating a Custom View

 
This module describes the methods for communicating project information in your organization. Lessons presented in this module will detail how to define print setting, work with Copy Picture, Project and Visual reports. You will also learn how to export project tables, publish a project schedule to a SharePoint list and how to import a SharePoint list into Project.

Lessons

Defining Print Settings

• Print Settings
• Define Page Setup
• Using Copy Picture

Working with Project Reports

• Selecting Project Reports
• Editing Project Report
• Creating Custom Project Reports

Working with Visual Reports

• Overview of Visual Reports
• Anatomy of a Pivot Table
• Viewing Visual Report
• Creating Visual Report Templates

Collaborating Project Information

• Export Project Table to Excel
• Publish a Project Schedule to SharePoint List
• Import a SharePoint List to a Project Schedule