Project Management Course + Using Microsoft Project Workshop

A project is any unique undertaking that creates a desired result. It contributes to one or more organizational objectives while achieving both project and product objectives. The five project management process groups, (Initiating, Planning, Executing, Monitoring and Controlling, and Closing) provide a comprehensive and practical view of an entire project from beginning to end.

The Project Management Course + Using Microsoft Project® Workshop is a 5-day program where you will learn how to plan, execute, monitor, control and close all types of projects – on time and on budget. It is applicable to projects across all sectors and you’ll also learn about Microsoft Project software and other tools to support all your everyday project management activities and keep track of your projects. You save $500 when you take the five-day program instead of the two programs separately. The optional 2-day Microsoft Project® Workshop is only $1,645 when you attend the seminar ($2,145 without).

These two courses provide a solid grounding in project management processes while recognizing the often neglected human side of project management. This is an ideal overview for anyone who is looking for a practical approach to managing projects. Participants love the step-by-step approach and the numerous techniques and templates that are included.

Using Microsoft Project® Workshop

Your projects just got a lot easier to manage thanks to our Microsoft Project® software training workshop. This workshop format is ideal for managers and staff who are looking to improve their skills in using project management software. Featuring Microsoft Project® 2013, Standard Version (MS Project 2010 and 2016 also welcome).

In this two-day workshop, you will be led through practical exercises that illustrate the many features of Microsoft Project® and cover tangible management issues, including:

• Setting up a project
• Scheduling and assigning tasks
• Allocating costs and resources
• Tracking progress

Content

The Project Management Course

• Project Management Process Groups
  • The project life cycle
  • Phases
  • Characteristics
  • Life-cycle trends
• Initiating, planning, executing, controlling and closing phases

Project Selection, Initiation and Team Formation

• Building a project team
• Project selection models
• Identifying, documenting and assigning roles, responsibilities and reporting relationships
• Team charter development

Project Scope Planning and Work Breakdown

• Creating a scope document
• Definition and purpose of a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)

Successful Task Sequencing

• Definition of task dependency
• Fast-tracking – overlapping phases
• Task diagramming techniques

Project Estimating

• What are we estimating?
• Five estimating techniques

Critical Path Analysis

• How do we use the critical path in managing projects?
• Early start and late start scheduling using software
• Crashing the schedule

Resource Planning and Budgeting

• Identifying required skill sets
• Negotiating for and assigning resources
• Verifying effort and duration estimates

Project Risk and Quality Management

• Risk and the project life cycle
• Identification, quantification, response development and control
• Quality concepts

Project Monitoring, Control and Evaluation

• PM control interfaces
• Monitoring time, cost, scope and quality
• Manage project meetings

Leadership Skills in Action

• Leadership vs. management
• Motivational and communications strategies
• Negotiation strategies

Project Close-outs

• How to ensure projects are closed and archived properly

Using Microsoft Project Workshop

Exploring the Microsoft Project Environment

• Starting Project 2016
• The project screen
• The project life cycle
• The project guide toolbar, sidepane/smart tags
• Opening and closing a project file
• The Gantt Chart view

Setting Up a New Project

• Defining a project calendar
• Entering project information
• Establishing calendar options
• Saving project files

Developing the Work Breakdown Structure

• Work breakdown terminology and formats
• Collapsing, expanding, and editing the task list

Establishing and Fine Tuning the Project Schedule

• Understanding dependency relationships
• Creating task dependencies and critical paths
• Using flexible and inflexible constraints
• Resolving scheduling conflicts

Understanding Resources and Cost Management

• Factors affecting resource management
• Defining resources types
  • Material, single and grouped resources
• Creating a resource list (people and equipment)
• Using task calendars
• Defining costs: fixed, variable and material

Managing Consolidated Projects

• Sharing a resource pool among multiple projects
• Creating a master project file
• Viewing resource assignments across multiple projects

Tracking Progress and Producing Reports

• Setting baselines for the entire project or tasks
• Updating projects tasks and project status
• Viewing reports and customized tables
• Modifying report content

*Course Requirements

Please bring your laptop computer with Microsoft Project 2016, Stand Alone Version, installed and your laptop power cord. Basic Computer Skills required