Mastering Advanced Project Management
using Microsoft Office Project 2007

PMPs Earn 14 PDUs

Syllabus in PDF Format

Course Overview

Designed for the advanced user or serious novice, Mastering Advanced Project Management teaches techniques for using Microsoft Office Project 2007 pertinent to managing complex projects in mature project management environments. In this course, the special emphasis is on “explaining the mysteries” that often arise with the software, and adding depth and mastery to your software skills.

Target Audience

This course is intended for experienced users of Microsoft Project who are faced with managing complex projects and work in an organization that demands advanced project management maturity.

Pre-Requisites

Students electing this course should first successfully complete the Establishing a Project Management Foundation using Microsoft Office Project 2007 course. In lieu of this requirement, students must have significant experience using Microsoft Project in all stages of the project life cycle, including defining, planning, executing, and closing a project, along with a high level of proficiency in using the Microsoft Project scheduling engine.

Learning Objectives

After completing this course, you will be able to:

• Use standard fields in custom Views, Tables, Filters, and Groups.
• Define and use custom fields in custom Views, Tables, Filters, and Groups.
• Comprehend how Calendars control the project schedule.
• Understand the difference between the Duration of tasks and the schedule of tasks.
• Use work contours to control the schedule of resource assignments.
• Use an administrative project to capture non-project time.
• Reschedule a project whose Start date has changed.
• Understand how the software calculates the Cost of a task.
• Define and use Cost resources.
• Use Earned Value Analysis.
• Determine the Critical Path in a project.
• Manage project risks using multiple methods.
• Import and export data with other software applications.
• Export an image file to other Microsoft Office applications.
• Level resource overallocations.
• Create and use a shared Resource Pool with a master project.
• Write macros in the VBA programming language.

Topical Outline

Working with Fields

• Reviewing the Microsoft Project Data Model
• Understanding Fields
• Inserting a Field in a Table
• Using Standard Fields in Views, Tables, Filters, and Groups
• Using the Calendar View
• Creating a Custom Calendar View
• Understanding Custom Fields
• Defining Custom Fields
• Using a Lookup Table in a Custom Field
• Using a Formula in a Custom Field
• Using Graphical Indicators in a Custom Field
• Defining Custom Outline Codes
• Deleting a Custom Field or Outline Code
• Using AutoFilter to Create a Custom Filter

Advanced Calendars and Scheduling

• Reviewing Calendar Types
• How Calendars Control the Project Schedule
• Understanding Task Scheduling
• Synchronizing Calendar Options
• Setting the Project Start Time

Advanced Scheduling

• Comparing Duration vs. Scheduling
• Understanding Assignment Views
• Using the Task Usage View
• Using the Resource Usage View
• Viewing the Assignment Information Dialog
• Understanding Work Contours
• Applying Work Contours
• Using Administrative Projects
• Rescheduling a Project

Project Costing

• Understanding Project Costing
• Understanding Cost Accrual Methods
• Using the Resource Cost Accrual Method
• Using the Fixed Cost Accrual Method
• Using Resource Cost Rate Tables
• Setting the Cost Rate Table
• Tracking Multiple Fixed Costs
• Using Cost Resources
• Using Expense Cost Resources
• Understanding Earned Value Analysis
• Setting Up Microsoft Office Project 2007 for EVA
• Viewing Earned Value Fields
• Changing the EVA Calculation Method

Critical Path Analysis

• Understanding the Critical Path
• Identifying the Critical Path
• Using the Critical Field
• Using Text and Cell Background Formatting
• Filtering for the Critical Path
• Changing the Critical Path Calculation
• Using the Schedule Table
• Understanding Issues with the Critical Path

Managing Project Risks

• What is Risk Management?
• Using a Risk Management Plan
• Identifying Risks
• Quantifying Risks
• Developing a Risk Response
• Using Risk Monitoring and Control
• Managing Risk in Microsoft Office Project 2007
• Using PERT Analysis
• Using PERT Analysis Views
• Adding Lag Time on Task Dependencies
• Adding Documentation to the Gantt Chart
• Increasing Work or Duration
• Modifying the Gantt Chart

Importing and Exporting Project Data

• Exporting Project Data
• Exporting to an Excel Workbook
• Exporting to an Excel PivotTable
• Exporting to Text Files
• Exporting to an XML File
• Importing Project Data
• Importing from a Project Database File
• Importing an MPX File
• Importing from an Access Database File
• Importing from an ODBC Database
• Importing from an Excel Workbook File
• Importing from a Text File
• Importing from an XML File
• Saving a Project Workspace
• Exporting a Project Image

Leveling Resource Overallocations

• Understanding Overallocation and Leveling
• Manually Leveling Overallocations
• Understanding Leveling Options
• Leveling Calculations Options
• Leveling Range Options
• Resolving Overallocations Options
• Leveling Order
• Using Additional Leveling Options
• Restricting Resource Leveling
• Using the Can Level Field
• Using the Task Priority Field>

Using Master Projects

• Master Project Defined
• Creating a Shared Resource Pool
• Connecting to a Shared Resource Pool File
• Using a Shared Resource Pool
• Unlinking from a Shared Resource Pool
• Creating a Master Project
• Using the Inserted Project Information Dialog
• Setting Cross Project Dependencies
• Understanding Task Dependency Theory
• Setting External Dependencies
• Viewing and Editing External Dependencies
• Setting Cross Project Linking Options
• Program and Portfolio Analysis
• Viewing Progress across Program Phases
• Analyzing Work and Cost across a Program

Working with Macros

• Understanding VBA
• Running a Macro
• Recording a Macro
• Viewing Your Recorded Macro VBA Code
• Writing a Macro
• Adding a Macro to a Toolbar Button
• Managing Macros and Toolbars
• Setting Macro Security
• Creating a Digital Certifica