Managing Projects from Foundation to Enterprise
using Microsoft Office Project Server 2003

PMPs Earn 214 PDUs

Open-enrollment Classes Available

Syllabus in PDF Format

Customer Testimonials

I wanted to thank you for the 3 day class in Indy this week. I found it very informative and useful. Although our projects seem large to us, it was very refreshing to hear things from your much broader perspective.
I hope our paths cross again, Dan O’Connor, Teachers Credit Union

Course Overview

This accelerated three-day course covers Microsoft Office Project 2003 basics, as well as how to use Microsoft Office Project 2003 with Microsoft Office Project Server 2003 to manage enterprise projects. Normally a four-day learning track, our condensed course teaches you how to use Microsoft Project Professional and Microsoft Project Server through each stage of the project management life cycle.

Target Audience

This course is a must for anyone who serves as a project manager or a portfolio manager in an enterprise project management environment. This three-day course is in lieu of taking both the Establishing a Project Management Foundation and Managing Enterprise Projects using Microsoft Office Project Server 2003 two-day courses.

Pre-Requisites

Although not required, it is helpful for students to have hands-on project management experience and knowledge of project management principles.

Learning Objectives

After completing this course, you will be able to:

• Describe the stages of the project management process
• Describe the project communication life cycle used with Project Server
• Understand the Microsoft Project user interface
• Understand the Microsoft Project Data Model as it relates to Views, Tables, Filters, and Groups
• Define and save a new enterprise project, open an enterprise project, and work with offline projects
• Perform basic task planning and understand how to properly use task dependencies and task constraints
• Add resources to a project team, assign resources to tasks, and level overallocated resources
• Save a baseline for a project
• Publish projects and task assignments
• Understand and use the Project Web Access user interface
• Track and update project progress
• Use Outlook to track task progress
• Analyze project variance
• Set up e-mail notifications and reminders from Project Server
• Manage risks, issues, and documents associated with a project
• Create and manage Status Reports
• Access resource information and project portfolio information through Project Web Access
• Perform portfolio analysis using the Portfolio Analyzer and the Portfolio Modeler

Topical Outline

Module 1: Project Management Overview

• Project Management Theory
• The Project Management Process
• Definition
• Planning
• Execution
• Control
• Closure

Module 2: Introducing Microsoft Project Server

• What Is Microsoft Project Server?
• Applying Enterprise Project Management Terminology to Microsoft Project Server
• Understanding Project Server’s Language
• Enterprise Project
• Enterprise Resource
• Check In and Check Out
• Using Project Server’s Enterprise Resource Management Tools
• Understanding the Project Communication Life Cycle in Project Server
• Additional Collaboration and Management Tools
• Understanding the Windows SharePoint Services Role with Project Server
• Understanding Publishing in Project Server
• Understanding Analysis Tools
• Portfolio Modeling
• Understanding Enterprise Global Concepts
• Opening the Enterprise Resource Pool
• Understanding Custom Outline Codes and Custom Fields
• Why Enterprise Fields and Outline Codes Are Important to You
• Enterprise Field and Outline Code Types
• Understanding Tracking Method Settings
• Default Method for Reporting Progress
• Lock Down Defaults
• Managed vs. Non-Managed Time Periods
• Define Current Tasks

Module 3: Microsoft Project 2003 Overview

• Introducing the Global.mpt File
• The Startup Task Pane
• Microsoft Project Help
• The Project Guide
• The Planning Wizard
• Navigating in Microsoft Project 2003
• Use the Scroll Bars
• Use the Zoom In and Zoom Out buttons
• Use the Go to Selected Task button
• Screen and Tool Tips
• The Three-Tiered Timescale Bar

Module 4: Inside Microsoft Project 2003

• YJTJ Process (Your Job – Tool’s Job)
• Microsoft Project Data Model
• Understanding Views
• Understanding Tables
• Understanding Filters
• Understanding Groups
• Single-Pane Views
• Combination Views

Module 5: Creating Enterprise Projects

• Creating an Enterprise Project
• Opening and Closing Project Plans
• Working with Offline Projects
• Importing Projects

Module 6: Project Definition

• The Need for a Project Definition Process
• Project Definition in Microsoft Project 2003
• Step #1 – Set the Project Start Date
• Step #2 – Enter Properties
• Step #3 – Display the Project Summary Task
• Step #4 – Set the Project Calendar and Nonworking Time Calendar
• Step #5 – Set Options Unique To This Project
• Step #6 – Save the Project
• More About Base Calendars
• Creating a Base Calendar

Module 7: Project Planning – Tasks

• The Task Planning Process
• Creating a Task List Manually
• Using a Template
• Planning for Non-Deliverable Tasks
• Basic Task Skills
• Entering and Editing Tasks
• Moving Tasks
• Inserting Tasks
• Deleting Tasks
• Creating the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)
• Creating Milestones
• Creating Recurring Tasks
• Adding Task Notes
• Setting Task Dependencies
• Lag Time
• Lead Time
• Setting Task Constraints
• Task Notes on Constraints
• Constraints: Flexible and Inflexible
• Planning Wizard Message Regarding Constraints
• Setting Task Deadline Dates
• Missed Deadlines and Constraints

Module 8: Building Project Teams

• Building a Team
• Proposed vs. Committed Booking
• Using Filters in the Build Team Dialog
• Using Grouping
• Selecting Resources for Your Team
• Viewing Resource Information
• Using Local Resources in an Enterprise Project

Module 9: Project Planning - Assignments

• Task and Resource Assignments
• Identifying Resource Capabilities
• Estimating Task Effort
• Resource Assignments: A Best Practice
• Assigning Resources in the Task Entry View
• The Duration Equation
• Microsoft Project "Task Types"
• Assigning Resources in the Assign Resources Dialog
• Assigning Material Resources to a Task
• Using Effort Driven Scheduling
• Using Resource Substitution
• More about the Assign Resources Dialog

Module 10: Assigning Resources and Leveling Assignments

• Assigning Resources
• Assign Resources Dialog
• Task Entry View
• Using the Resource Substitution Wizard
• Running the Wizard
• Leveling Overallocated Resources
• Overallocation Defined
• Resource Leveling Defined
• Basic Leveling Techniques
• Assigning Leveling Priorities to Tasks

Module 11: Publishing and Republishing Work Assignments

• Understanding Project Server Publishing
• Controlling Default Publishing Behavior
• Publishing Best Practices
• Publishing Assignments and Project Information
• Republishing Assignments
• Understanding the Project Server Spooler
• Requesting Task Progress Outside the Normal Flow
• Determining Timesheet (Published) Fields

Module 12: Project Web Access Overview

• Using the Project Web Access User Interface
• Menu Bar
• Actions Pane
• Customization Tabs
• Action Bar
• Manipulating the Data Grid
• Printing the Data Grid
• Exporting the Data Grid to Excel

Module 13: Tracking Progress through Project Web Access

• Working with Tasks in Project Web Access
• Understanding the Timesheet
• Timesheet indicators
• Understanding the Timesheet Toolbar
• Activities Available from the Actions Pane
• View Options
• Filtering, Grouping and Searching the Timesheet View
• Displaying the Gantt Chart View
• Current Tasks vs. All Tasks
• Reporting Progress in the Timesheet
• Setting Up the Timesheet to Enter Actuals
• Entering and Submitting Progress
• Using Other Task Activities
• Rejecting a Task
• Delegating a Task
• Creating a New Task
• Assigning Yourself to an Existing Task
• Hiding Tasks
• Inserting Task Notes
• Linking Documents to Tasks
• Linking Issues to Tasks
• Linking Risks to Tasks
• Managing Project Tasks in Outlook
• Notifying Managers of Working Day Changes

Module 14: Working with Outlook

• Managing Project Tasks in Outlook
• Automatically Import Project Tasks into Outlook
• Displaying Project Web Access in Outlook

Module 15: Updating Progress through Project Web Access

• Applying Updates in Project Web Access
• Setting View Options
• Setting Filter, Group, Search Options
• Accepting and Rejecting Updates
• Rescheduling Uncompleted Work
• View History of Past Task Changes
• Setting Rules for Accepting Task Updates
• Timesheet Approval
• Viewing Unsubmitted Timesheets
• Axioms for Success with Tracking

Module 16: Variance Analysis

• Variance Defined
• Types of Variance
• Actual and Estimated Variance
• Locating Variance in Microsoft Project 2003
• Work Variance
• Cost Variance
• Date Variance
• Using Views to Locate Variance
• What Is A View?
• Create a New View Using the 4-Step Method
• Select or Create a Table
• Select or Create a Filter
• Select or Create a Group
• Create the New Custom View
• Using the Organizer

Module 17: Plan Revision

• Plan Revision Defined
• Methods for Plan Revision
• Using the Tracking Gantt View

Module 18: Using the Home Page

• Using Features from the Home Page
• Changing Your Password
• Setting Alerts and Reminders for Yourself
• Setting Reminders for your Resources
• Taking Project Web Access Offline

Module 19: Working with Risks, Issues, and Documents

• Working with Risks, Issues, and Documents
• Working with Risks
• Viewing Risks
• Creating and Editing Risks
• Attaching Risks to Tasks, Issues, Documents, and Other Risks
• Working with Issues
• Viewing Issues
• Creating and Editing Issues
• Attaching Issues to Other Issues, Tasks, Risks, and Documents
• Working with Document Libraries
• Viewing Document Libraries
• Creating a New Document Library
• Using a Document Library
• Uploading Documents to a Library
• Creating a New Document in a Library
• Creating a New Folder in a Library
• Working with Existing Documents in a Library
• Viewing Document Properties
• Editing Document Properties
• Editing in a Microsoft Office Application
• Deleting a Document
• Checking Out/Checking In a Document
• Working with the Versions History
• Discussing a Document
• Using the Project Workspace
• Discussing a Document

Module 20: Working with Advanced Features of Risks, Issues, and Documents

• Using Actions Pane Features
• Viewing Reports
• Setting Alerts
• Exporting to an Excel spreadsheet
• Modifying Settings and Columns
• Modifying General Settings for Risks and Issues
• Modifying General Settings for Documents
• Modifying Columns Settings
• Modifying Views
• Synchronizing with Project Server

Module 21: Working with Status Reports

• Requesting a Status Report
• Creating a New Status Report Request
• Editing and Deleting Status Reports
• Responding to a Status Report Request
• Submitting an Unrequested Status Report
• Viewing the Status Reports Archive
• Viewing Status Report Responses
• Viewing Unrequested Status Reports

Module 22: Working in the Resource Center

• Using the Resource Center
• Viewing Resource Availability
• Editing Resource Details
• Opening a Resource for Editing
• Viewing Resource Assignments
• Adjusting Actuals for Resources
• Viewing the Timesheet Summary

Module 23: Working in the Project Center

• Working in the Project Center
• Accessing Risks, Issues, and Documents from the Project Center
• Using Project Center Views
• Building a Project Team
• Editing Project Details and Opening Projects
• Checking In Projects
• Working with Detailed Project Views
• Organizing Your Saved Links
• Working with To-Do Lists

Module 24: Working with Project Server Analysis

• The Need for Project Analysis
• Using Portfolio Analyzer Views
• Creating Custom Portfolio Analyzer Views
• Additional Portfolio Analyzer Options
• Tips for Using the Portfolio Analyzer
• Using the Portfolio Modeler
• Creating a New Model
• Opening a Model
• Modifying your Model
• Analyze Your Model
• Comparing Models