5927A: Microsoft Office Project Standard 2007, Managing Projects

Please contact us for dates and availability of the 2003 version of this course.

Course Description:
In this course, students will learn how to use Microsoft Project to define, optimize, manage and report on projects and resources. Students will manage a project from initiation through execution and learn best practices and valuable techniques in using Microsoft Project to accomplish key activities within each phase of the project lifecycle.  This course will also prepare the student to take the Microsoft Office Project 2007 certification exam.  Students will take the exam at the end of day 3.

Included in this course package:

• 3-day 5927A: Microsoft Office Project Standard 2007, Managing Projects course. This is the first course in the Microsoft Office Project 2007 Official Curriculum series.

• Microsoft Official Curriculum ("MOC") courseware (a virtual environment for classroom use and a student course manual) which aligns with the Microsoft 70-632 exam objectives.  The courseware is also structured to follow PMI's PMBOK process groups and does an excellent job of applying PMI PMBOK concepts to practical application (tool capabilities).  The course includes classroom discussion topics, in-class practices, and take-home labs.

• Practice Test CD ($109 value).  The CD may be used in class and also installed on your own computer.  There are 150 practice exam questions.  The software allows you to take a timed simulation exam or select a certain number of questions from a specific topic area.  It includes score reports identifying areas needing improvement, exam reviews explaining correct and incorrect answers, and study references. 

• Take the Exam. This course includes taking the 70-632 exam ($125 value) in our testing center on the final day of class.  Should you need it, you are also automatically eligible for a free retake (valid through 6/30/2010).  If you decide you are not ready to take the exam, you must email training@pmresourcegroup.com no later than 1:00pm (US EST) on the final day of class. No refund will be given but you may reschedule this exam for $50. This reduced exam rate is only valid for 6 months from your original exam date and will include a free retake if the offer is still available from Microsoft.

• Microsoft Certified Instructor - Classroom instruction by a Microsoft Certified Trainer with this MCTS certification.

• Training laptop - Student laptops will be provided for the course duration.

• Breakfast and snacks

• Quick Help Guide - Microsoft Project Quick Tips Sheet for PMs

• Free course retake. If you do not pass the 70-632 exam, you may retake this course assuming the first time you attended the entire course without interruption, you use your course materials from the first class, and we are still offering the course.

Certification:
At the end of this course, you can take the 70-632 TS: Microsoft Office Project 2007, Managing Projects exam.  If you pass it, you will achieve the Microsoft certification Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist: Project Management with Microsoft Office Project 2007 and also be recognized as a Microsoft Certified Professional.  If you do not pass it, you have a free second shot which expires on June 30, 2010.  You do not need to sign up with Microsoft for the free retake.  Our exam vouchers already include the free retake.

Prerequisite:
None.

Intended Audience:
This 3-day course is designed for:

• Individuals who are required to use Microsoft Office Project Standard who have little or no experience using Microsoft Project
• Individuals who want to take exam 70-632 TS: Microsoft Office Project 2007, Managing Projects

Course Objectives:
In this course, students will learn how to:

• Create a project plan using project templates
• Build a Work Breakdown Structure
• Manage a project at the task level
• Effectively use task types
• Link tasks with predecessors and lag
• Use work and material resources to staff a project
• Analyze resource usage across a project or a set of projects
• Level resources across a project or set of projects
• Understand Critical Path Method scheduling
• Use constraints and deadlines effectively
• Optimize a schedule using the triple constraints
• Create and analyze baseline data
• Update project plans with progress and changes
• Use master and sub-projects
• Customize views and Gantt charts
• Create and view reports
• Understand earned value reporting

Course Syllabus (Click here for the full Microsoft Syllabus):

Module 1: Getting Started with Microsoft Office Project 2007

This module provides an overview of Microsoft Office Project 2007 and project management concepts. It explains how to use the desktop interface and how to work with various file types. It also illustrates how to receive help and advice while working with Office Project 2007. Lessons include:

• Understanding the Nature of Projects
• Discovering Project 2007
• Understanding Project 2007 File Types
• Navigating the Project 2007 Interface
• Getting Help and Guidance
• Configuring Options

This module explains how to create new projects, how to define appropriate options, and how to enter, organize, and outline the task list. It also explores ways to import data from other sources and provides guidance on configuring the corporate calendar. Lessons include:

• Creating and Saving Projects
• Defining Properties and Options
• Creating and Organizing the Task List
• Importing Data
• Modifying and Applying Calendars
• Setting Scheduling Options

This module explains how to estimate tasks and how to generate a dynamic schedule by creating dependencies between tasks. Various linking and unlinking techniques will be explored in multiple views and link types will be modified to reflect real-world scenarios. Lessons include:

• Entering Task Estimates
• Using A PERT Analysis to Estimate Task Duration
• Linking and Unlinking Tasks by Using the Gantt Chart View
• Linking and Unlinking Tasks by Using the Network Diagram View
• Adding Lag or Lead Time to a Linked Task

This module explains how to incorporate restrictions into a schedule by using deadlines and constraints. Displaying, reading, and analyzing the critical path will be discussed, along with how to use task drivers in the analysis. Task calendars will be presented as a technique to get a schedule back in line with a deadline or constraint. Lessons include:

• Introducing Deadlines, Constraints, and Task Calendars
• Creating and Modifying Deadlines
• Creating and Modifying Constraints
• Creating and Modifying Task Calendars
• Identifying Critical Tasks
• Working with Task Drivers

This module explains the various types of resources that are needed on a schedule, how to enter the resource list, and how to assign resources to tasks. Changes to the project team will be implemented by modifying resource assignments. Various types of costs will also be covered including resource costs, task costs, and project budgets. Lessons include:

• Introducing Resources, Assignments, and Budgeting
• Adding Resources to the Resource Sheet
• Creating and Modifying Resource Assignments
• Entering Project Budgets

This module explains the scheduling formula and the interaction between the variables duration, work, and units. It also illustrates how recalculations occur when variables are changed. This module explains recommended procedures on changing task types and changing variables for various situations. Lessons include:

• Using Task Types and the Scheduling Formula
• Changing Variables and Predicting Behavior
• Applying Task Types to Produce Predictable Behavior
• Special Situations with Effort-Driven Scheduling

This module explains how to format text, bars, and other screen elements. Custom objects will be created including templates, calendars, fields, tables, filters, groups, and views. This module also illustrates use of the Organizer to transfer custom objects to other files. Lessons include:

• Formatting Screen Elements
• Creating and Modifying Templates
• Creating and Modifying Fields, Tables, and Formulas
• Creating and Modifying Filters and Groups
• Creating and Modifying Custom Views

This module explains techniques for manipulating views to display resource allocation and how to identify causes of resource overallocation. Various options for managing limited resources will be explored. In addition, several techniques for solving overallocated resources will be explained, including the leveling feature. Lessons include:

• Introducing Resource Utilization Concepts
• Viewing Resource Assignments, Allocation, and Utilization
• Managing Resource Availability
• Optimizing and Leveling Resource Assignments

This module explains how to manage updates to a schedule by saving baselines and tracking duration, work, and cost updates. Comparison between expected and actual results will be illustrated with various views that display variance. In addition, this module provides guidelines on how to troubleshoot a schedule and how to get a troubled schedule back on track. Lessons include:

• Working With Baselines
• Entering Duration Updates
• Entering Work Updates
• Entering Cost Updates
• Discovering Variances
• Troubleshooting and Getting Back on Track

This module explains how to configure views for printing and how to generate standard and visual reports. Customizations to printouts and modifications to existing reports will also be covered. This module will explain how to export data and explore techniques for solving printing issues. Lessons include:

• Selecting, Editing, and Creating Basic Reports
• Configuring Print and Page Setup Options
• Setting Options to Correct Printing Issues
• Exporting Reporting Data
• Creating and Modifying Visual Reports

This module explains how to create and manage multiple projects. It will cover links and the critical path across multiple projects. It also discusses how to create and use a shared resource pool and how to view resource allocation across multiple projects. Lessons include:

• Introducing Management of Multiple Projects
• Creating Master Projects
• Creating Links Between Projects
• Calculating Single or Multiple Critical Paths
• Saving and Opening Multiple Projects
• Sharing Resources and Analyzing Resource Utilization Across Multiple Projects