Microsoft Project in the Enterprise (2 Days)

Overview
A practical course using a hands-on approach, covering enterprise collaborative project management in a web environment. In this 2-day course, we teach the functionality of Microsoft Project and Server in a correct project management context. Provided here is a detailed course Agenda.

Objectives
Teach students how to do the following using Microsoft Project and Server

1. Create a project schedule

• Understand the basics of Project Server's design and setup Project 2002/2003 schedule for web communications
• Produce schedules using basic types of task relationships
• Prepare team assignments
• Publish the schedule to the Project Server website
• Compress and optimize schedules

2. Interact as a Project Manager

• Appreciate the basics of resource management in MS Project or through Project Web Access (2003 only)
• Solve resource related problems using MS Project
• Understand the resource management limitations of MS Project and the work arounds
• Resolve multi-project resource conflicts
• Create and manage a portfolio of projects
• Develop ad hoc project views
• Communicate with team members
• Update project status

3. Interact as a Team Member

• View and accept assignments
• Delegate assignments to other team members
• Record time and progress against tasks
• Communicate goals, issues and status with the project manager

Course Length: 2 Days
Max. Students: 10 Students

Agenda
1. Introduction to Project Server

• Objectives for Project Managers
• Objectives for Team Members
• Overview of Project Server Communications Flow

2. Communicating the Project

• Establish Roles
• Change the Default Settings in Project 2002/2003
• Work with a Enterprise Resource Pool in a Multiple Project Environment
• Publish the Schedule to Project Server
• Send Team Assignments from Project 2002/2003 to Project Server

3. Initiate Project Status Reporting

• Logon to the Project Server Website as a Project Manager
• Create a Weekly Status request for Specific Team Members

4. Interact as a Team Member

• Logon to the Project Server Website as a Team Member
• Review Assignment Messages
• View Your Personal Gantt
• Work with Autofilters to Find Specific Tasks
• Create Custom Filters
• Work with Task Grouping
• Delegate Specific Tasks to Other Team Members
• Add Detail to an Existing Task by Creating New Tasks
• Use Project Server's Timesheet Function to Record Work
• Notify a Manager about Time Off
• View Other Team Member's Assignments
• Reply to Project Status Reports

5. Interact as a Project Manager

• Acknowledge Task Delegation Requests
• Acknowledge Team Assignment Acceptance
• Review and Update new Tasks added by Team Members
• Incorporate New Tasks into the Project Schedule
• Create Rules for Automatically Updating Team Member's Messages
• View and Merge Status Reports
• View a Portfolio of Projects

Equipment and Facilities
1. Computers

• One server to host Microsoft Project Server
• One computer system per student is recommended
• Student's computer should be a PC or Compatible with a network connection with at least 128MB of memory and 100 MB of free disk space.
• Printer - This is optional, but desirable. The type is not important

2. Software

• Each Student computer should have properly loaded before the start of the class Microsoft Project 2002/2003, Windows 2000, Windows XP or later, and Microsoft Internet Browser 5.0 or later
• Project Server should be installed and tested on the server before class
• Note: Project Planning Inc. can assist with the installation of Project Server. However, due to the complexities of installing databases in a network environment, allow for two days of installation prior to class.

3. Facilities

• Overhead Projector - Clients are requested to provide an LCD projection device for projecting the computer monitor onto a standard wall, screen, or white board
• Materials - White board, an easel, colored markers
• A conference/training room and privacy is required