Microsoft Project For dummies

Blow past the jargon and get hands-on, practical guidance on managing any project with Microsoft Project Lean. Agile. Hybrid. It seems that project management these days comes with more confusing buzzwords than ever. But you can make managing your next project simple and straightforward with help from Microsoft Project For Dummies. This book unpacks Microsoft's bestselling project management platform and walks you through every important feature, step-by-step, until you're ready to take on virtually any project, no matter the size. From getting set up for the first time to creating tasks, managing resources and working with time management features, you'll learn everything you need to know about managing a project in Microsoft's iconic software. You'll also find: Totally updated guidance that applies to both the desktop version and Microsoft's new subscription-based Microsoft Project Online Helpful information on integrating Agile practices and techniques into your project "Golden rules" that keep a project on-track and on-time Ways to effectively manage your resources with Microsoft Project's built-in functionality Managing a project, big or small, is no easy task. Luckily, Microsoft Project For Dummies can take a lot of the hassle out of your day-to-day life. Learn how to take advantage of this powerful software today! Title Page Copyright Page Table of Contents Introduction About This Book What’s Not in This Book Foolish Assumptions Icons Used in This Book Beyond the Book Where to Go from Here Part 1 Getting Started with Project Chapter 1 Project Management, MS Project, and You Project Management Evolution What’s in a Name: Projects, Project Management, and Project Managers Project managers and Scrum masters The role of the project manager The role of the Scrum master Introducing Microsoft Project Getting to Know You Navigating Ribbon tabs and the Ribbon Displaying more tools Tell Me What You Want to Do Chapter 2 Starting the Project Creating the Project Charter Introducing the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) Organizing the Work Starting the Project Entering project information Entering the WBS Indenting and outdenting (a.k.a. promoting and demoting) Entering tasks Weighing manual scheduling versus automatic scheduling Inserting one project into another Inserting hyperlinks Chapter 3 Becoming a Task Master Creating Summary Tasks and Subtasks How many levels can you go? The project summary task Moving Tasks Up, Down, and All Around Moving tasks with the drag-and-drop method Moving tasks with the cut-and-paste method Now You See It, Now You Don’t: Collapsing and Expanding the Task Outline Showing Up Again and Again: Recurring Tasks Setting Milestones Deleting Tasks and Using Inactive Tasks Making a Task Note Chapter 4 The Codependent Nature of Tasks How Tasks Become Dependent Dependent tasks: Which comes first? Dependency types Allowing for Murphy’s Law: Lag and lead time Setting the Dependency Connection Adding the dependency link Words to the wise Understanding that things change: Deleting dependencies Chapter 5 Estimating Task Time You’re in It for the Duration Tasks come in all flavors: Identifying task types Effort-driven tasks: 1 + 1 = 1⁄2 Estimating Effort and Duration Estimating techniques Setting the task duration Controlling Timing with Constraints Understanding how constraints work Establishing constraints Setting a deadline Starting and Pausing Tasks Entering the task’s start date Taking a break: Splitting tasks Chapter 6 Check Out This View! A Project with a View Navigating tabs and views Scrolling around Reaching a specific spot in your plan More Detail about Views Home base: Gantt Chart view Resourceful views: Resource Sheet and Team Planner Getting your timing down with the Timeline Going with the flow: Network Diagram view Calling up Calendar view Customizing Views Working with view panes Modifying Network Diagram view Resetting the view Part 2 Managing Resources Chapter 7 Creating Resources Resources: People, Places, and Things Becoming Resource-Full Understanding resources Resource types: Work, material, and cost How resources affect task timing Estimating resource requirements The Birth of a Resource Creating one resource at a time Identifying resources before you know their names Many hands make light work Managing Resource Availability Estimating and setting availability When a resource comes and goes Sharing Resources Skimming from resource pools Importing resources from Outlook Chapter 8 Working with Calendars Mastering Base, Project, Resource, and Task Calendars Setting the base calendar for a project Understanding the four calendar types How calendars work How one calendar relates to another Scheduling with Calendar Options and Working Times Setting calendar options Setting exceptions to working times Working with Task Calendars and Resource Calendars Setting resource calendars Making a change to a resource’s calendar Creating a Custom Calendar Template Sharing Copies of Calendars Chapter 9 Assigning Resources Finding the Right Resource Needed: One good resource willing to work Custom fields: It’s a skill Making a Useful Assignation Determining material and cost-resource units Making assignments Shaping the contour that’s right for you Benefitting from a Helpful Planner Chapter 10 Determining a Project’s Cost How Do Costs Accrue? Adding up the costs When will these costs hit the bottom line? Specifying Cost Information in the Project You can’t avoid fixed costs Entering hourly, overtime, and cost-per-use rates Assigning material resources Part 3 Before You Baseline Chapter 11 Fine-Tuning Your Plan Everything Filters to the Bottom Line Setting predesigned filters Putting AutoFilter to work Creating do-it-yourself filters Gathering Information in Groups Applying predefined groups Devising your own groups Figuring Out What’s Driving the Project Inspecting tasks Handling task warnings, suggestions, and problems Chapter 12 Negotiating Project Constraints It’s about Time Applying contingency reserve Completing a task in less time Getting What You Want for Less The Resource Recourse Checking resource availability Deleting or modifying a resource assignment Beating overallocations with quick-and-dirty rescheduling Finding help Leveling resources Rescheduling the Project Chapter 13 Making the Project Look Good Looking Good! Formatting the Gantt Chart Formatting taskbars Zeroing in on critical issues Restyling the Gantt chart Formatting Network Diagram Boxes Adjusting the Layout Modifying Gridlines Recognizing When a Picture Can Say It All Creating a Custom Text Field Chapter 14 It All Begins with a Baseline All about Baselines Saving a baseline Saving more than one baseline Clearing and resetting a baseline In the Interim Saving an interim plan Clearing and resetting an interim plan Part 4 Staying on Track Chapter 15 On the Right Track Tracking Views Setting the status date Tracking status with the Task sheet Using the Tracking table Tracking buttons Determining the percent complete Tracking status with Task Usage view Tracking status with Resource Usage view Uh-oh — you’re in overtime Specifying remaining durations for auto-scheduled tasks Entering fixed-cost updates Moving a Task Update Project: Sweeping Changes Tracking Materials Tracking More than One Project Chapter 16 Project Views: Observing Progress Seeing Where Tasks Stand Baseline versus actual progress Lines of progress Displaying progress lines Formatting progress lines Delving into the Detail Tracking Progress Using Earned Value Management Viewing the Earned Value table Earned value options Calculating behind the Scenes An abundance of critical paths Chapter 17 You’re Behind — Now What? Using Project with Risk and Issue Logs Documenting issues Printing interim plans and baselines What-If Scenarios Sorting tasks Filtering Examining the critical path Using resource leveling (again) Determining which factors are driving the timing of a task How Adding People or Time Affects the Project Hurrying up and making modifications Throwing resources at the problem Shifting dependencies and task timing When All Else Fails Taking the time you need Finding ways to cut corners Chapter 18 Spreading the News: Reporting Generating Standard Reports What’s available on the Report tab Dashboard reports Creating New Reports Gaining a new perspective on data with visual reports Creating a visual report Fine-Tuning a Report Dragging, dropping, and sizing Looking good! Spiffing Things Up Calling the Printer! Working with Page Setup Getting a preview Finalizing your print options Working on the Timeline Adding tasks to the Timeline Customizing the Timeline Copying the Timeline Part 5 Working with Sprints Projects Chapter 19 Setting Up a Sprints Project Creating a Sprints Project Enjoying a Whole New View The Task Board and Task Board sheet The Sprint Planning Board and Sprint Planning sheet The Current Sprint Board and Current Sprint sheet The Backlog Board and the Backlog sheet Adding Information to Tasks Prioritizing Tasks Inserting a Sprints Project into a Plan-Driven Project Chapter 20 Tracking a Sprints Project Viewing Your Sprints Project Data Using filters to focus Using tables to arrange data Being a groupie Sorting tasks Creating Sprints Reports Chapter 21 Getting Better All the Time Reviewing the Project Learning from your mistakes Fine-tuning communication Comparing Versions of a Project Building on Success Creating a template Mastering the Organizer Part 6 The Part of Tens Chapter 22 Ten Golden Rules of Project Management Roll with It Put Your Ducks in a Row Expect the Unexpected Don’t Put Off until Tomorrow . . . Delegate, Delegate, Delegate Document It Keep the Team in the Loop Measure Success Maintain a Flexible Strategy Learn from Your Mistakes Chapter 23 Ten Cool Shortcuts in Project Task Information Resource Information Frequently Used Functions Subtasks Quick Selections Fill Down Navigation Hours to Years Timeline Shortcuts Quick Undo Glossary Index EULA

Blow past the jargon and get hands-on, practical guidance on managing anyproject with Microsoft Project

Lean. Agile.Hybrid. It seems that project management these days comes with more confusingbuzzwords than ever.But you can make managing your next project simple and straightforward with help from Microsoft Project For Dummies.

This book unpacks Microsoft's bestselling project management platformand walks you through everyimportant feature, step-by-step, until you're ready to takeonvirtually any project, no matter the size. From getting set up for the first timetocreating tasks, managing resources andworking with time management features, you'lllearn everything you need to knowabout managing a project in Microsoft's iconic software.

You'll also find:

• Totally updatedguidancethat applies to both the desktop version andMicrosoft's new subscription-based Microsoft Project Online
• Helpful information on integrating Agile practices and techniques into your project
• "Golden rules" that keep a project on-track and on-time
• Ways to effectively manage your resources with Microsoft Project's built-in functionality

Managing a project, big or small, is no easy task. Luckily, Microsoft Project For Dummies can take a lot of the hassle out of your day-to-daylife. Learn how to take advantage of this powerful software today!