Book Image

Learning Microsoft Project 2019

By : Srikanth Shirodkar
Book Image

Learning Microsoft Project 2019

By: Srikanth Shirodkar

Overview of this book

Microsoft Project is one of the most popular project management tools for enterprises of all sizes thanks to its wide variety of features such as project scheduling, project budgeting, built-in templates, and reporting tools. Learning Microsoft Project 2019 will get you started with the basics and gradually guide you through the complete project life cycle. Starting with an overview of Microsoft Project 2019 and a brief introduction to project management concepts, this book will take you through the different phases of project management – initiation, planning, execution, control, and closure. You will then learn how to identify and handle problems related to scheduling, costing, resourcing, and work allocation. Understand how to use dynamic reports to create powerful, automated reports and dashboards at the click of a button. This Microsoft Project book highlights the pitfalls of overallocation and demonstrates how to avoid and resolve these issues using a wide spectrum of tools, techniques, and best practices. Finally, you will focus on executing Agile projects efficiently and get to grips with using Kanban and Scrum features. By the end of this book, you will be well-versed with Microsoft Project and have the skills you need to use it effectively in every stage of project management.
Table of Contents (32 chapters)
1
Section 1: The Iron Triangle – a Quick Primer for Project Management
3
Section 2: Project Initiation with Microsoft Project
8
Section 3: Project Planning Like a Pro!
13
Section 4: Project Execution – the Real Deal
15
Chapter 11: Overallocation – the Bane of Project Managers
18
Section 5: Monitoring and Control with Microsoft Project
23
Section 6: Project Closure with Microsoft Project
Appendix A: Using This Book as a Textbook
Appendix C: Keyboard Shortcuts
Appendix D: Glossary

Summary

In this chapter, we have seen how the global practice of professional project management has evolved and crystallized over the ages into global standards such as the PMBOK. We have gone over the basic framework of definitions and concepts that will enable us to navigate the rest of this book. Microsoft Project is a powerful tool that draws upon the same theory, techniques, and best practices of project management knowledge. At its heart is a powerful scheduling engine that works on the Critical Path method. We have also touched upon other essentials, such as the Iron Triangle, WBS, and Gantt charts. There is a sweet spot to which Project is best suited and it is not ideal for every type of project management.

Armed with this foundational knowledge, we are now ready to take on MS Project. In the next chapter, you will quickly get familiar with Project's user interface, so that the long arrays of buttons and features will not intimidate you in the future. We will also create a simple but functional project schedule! I look forward to meeting you in the next chapter.