Microsoft Project: A Comprehensive Hands-On Introduction

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this course about? This course provides a complete hands-on exploration of Microsoft Project Professional 2007. You learn how to use Project Professional to plan, budget and run projects, schedule resources, optimize project plans, track and analyze project progress and create status reports. You leave the course with the practical skills necessary to take full advantage of Microsoft Project's features as well as an understanding of best business practices for using project management software tools. Who will benefit from this course? This course is for anybody who requires hands-on training in the effective use of Microsoft Project Professional for project planning and control. Examples of people who would benefit from attending include those who are responsible for projects such as: Installing a new network Scheduling a migration program Moving the company office Replacing hardware Managing a project team Scheduling subcontractors Analyzing project plans developed by others What background do I need? Basic project management experience at the level of Course 296, Project Management: Skills for Success or Course 340, Project Management for Software Development is helpful background for Course 299. Course 296 teaches the principles and best practice of running a broad range of projects. It also provides an overview of various PC-based project management packages, including Microsoft Project Professional, for those who are undecided about the appropriate product for their needs. Course 340 focuses on the unique aspects of software development projects. Participants should not take both Course 296 and Course 340; there is significant overlap in the content of these two courses. Will this course help me with a project currently underway? Yes. You gain the skills needed to review the project, obtain the vital information and bring your project back on track using Microsoft Project. With what kinds of projects will this help me? Microsoft Project can be used to manage any type of project imaginable. Although most of our participants come from information technology backgrounds, the course is equally suitable for any kind of a project-from planning a special event to rolling out a new product. Will I learn how to customize Microsoft Project Professional's features? This course shows you how to use standard Microsoft Project Professional features and then tailor and adapt these for your specific needs. Bonus exercises allow you to work with features that are relevant to you and your unique project goals. Does it matter which version of Microsoft Project I am currently using? The course uses Microsoft Project Professional 2007. When appropriate, this course covers the differences between Project 2007 and earlier versions of Project (2000/2002/2003). If you are using a version prior to Project 2000, you will still find the course beneficial even though the menus and capabilities of Microsoft Project Professional 2007 are considerably different. Project Professional 2007 is faster and includes better macro features, extended task and resource management, and additional workgroup functions. Is Project Server covered on this course? Yes, to a limited extent. The functionality of the Project Server product is reviewed and compared with other methods of assigning tasks, exchanging schedules, monitoring task status and posting project progress throughout the course. What kinds of hands-on exercises does the course include? Practical, skill-building exercises teach participants how to use Microsoft Project to set standards, plan projects, schedule and optimize the plan, and control the project. During each exercise, participants develop the technical skills essential for confident use of Microsoft Project. How much time is spent on each topic? Content Hours Introduction and overview 1.0 Building a project plan from scratch 6.0 Creating and assigning resources and cost 3.0 Tracking your projects 3.5 Troubleshooting the schedule and keeping your projects on track 3.5 Communicating and reporting on project data 1.0 Times, including the workshops, are estimates; exact times may vary according to the needs of each class. Is this course applicable to a Project Management Professional (PMI) certification? Yes. Though the course is not designed as preparation for the exam, this course is beneficial to anyone working toward PMI's PMP certification. For those who are currently certified, completion of this course counts as 17 professional development units (60 units must be completed every three years to maintain certification). For more details, please see the Learning Tree PMI Registered Education Provider Q&A. If you are an experienced project manager intending to take the PMP exam, you should take Course 276, Preparing for the Project Management Professional (PMP®) Exam. In this course you learn essential PMBOK® Guide terminology, tools and techniques. You gain practical test-taking experience through PMI-style practice exams and create your own personal study plan for continued use after the course. Why should I attend this course rather than one of the Microsoft courses? This course has been developed independently from Microsoft Corporation and is objective in its approach. Our very independence from Microsoft (and any other vendor) allows us to give an unbiased view of which functions are especially well supported by Project Professional 2003 that will help you solve your real-world business problems. How does this course relate to other Learning Tree courses? In addition to the aforementioned helpful courses (see "What background do I need?"), other related courses include: 249, Hands-On Microsoft® Project: Managing Multiple and Complex Projects provides the skills to leverage Microsoft Project Professional tools and techniques to manage multiple or complex projects. 924, Microsoft® Project Server 2007 for Enterprise Project Management: Hands-On features Microsoft Project Server and is designed for intermediate/advanced project users who need to track multiple projects and connect many team members across the enterprise. 538, SharePoint® Technologies: A Comprehensive Hands-On Introduction provides the fundamental knowledge and skills necessary to plan, design, deploy and utilize a real-world SharePoint solution for your organization. 248, Project Scheduling: Controlling the Project Timeline provides you with the skills to build schedules and budgets that transform project constraints into project success. 287, Strategic Project Management: Achieving Organizational Goals , provides practical experience using advanced methods to initiate, plan and control large or diverse projects. 290, Management Skills gives you working knowledge of the key aspects of management--leadership, delegation, motivation and communication, and practical techniques for getting the best from people. 307, Access™ 2003: A Comprehensive Hands-On Introduction provides key database design concepts and experience working with Access to build a database system.

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