Microsoft Project For Dummies

Microsoft Project For Dummies

by Cynthia Snyder Dionisio
Released February 2022
Publisher(s): For Dummies
ISBN: 9781119858621

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Book description

Blow past the jargon and get hands-on, practical guidance on managing any project with Microsoft Project 

Lean. Agile. Hybrid. It seems that project management these days comes with more confusing buzzwords than ever. But you can make managing your next project simple and straightforward with help from Microsoft Project For Dummies. 

This book unpacks Microsoft’s bestselling project management platform and walks you through every important feature, step-by-step, until you’re ready to take on virtually any project, no matter the size. From getting set up for the first time to creating tasks, managing resources and working with time management features, you’ll learn everything you need to know about managing a project in Microsoft’s iconic software. 

You’ll also find: 

  • Totally updated guidance that applies to both the desktop version and Microsoft’s new subscription-based Microsoft Project Online 
  • Helpful information on integrating Agile practices and techniques into your project 
  • “Golden rules” that keep a project on-track and on-time 
  • Ways to effectively manage your resources with Microsoft Project’s built-in functionality 

Managing a project, big or small, is no easy task. Luckily, Microsoft Project For Dummies can take a lot of the hassle out of your day-to-day life. Learn how to take advantage of this powerful software today! 

Table of contents

  1. Cover
  2. Title Page
  3. Copyright
  4. Introduction
    1. About This Book
    2. What's Not in This Book
    3. Foolish Assumptions
    4. Icons Used in This Book
    5. Beyond the Book
    6. Where to Go from Here
  5. Part 1: Getting Started with Project
    1. Chapter 1: Project Management, MS Project, and You
      1. Project Management Evolution
      2. What’s in a Name: Projects, Project Management, and Project Managers
      3. Introducing Microsoft Project
      4. Getting to Know You
      5. Tell Me What You Want to Do
    2. Chapter 2: Starting the Project
      1. Creating the Project Charter
      2. Introducing the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)
      3. Organizing the Work
      4. Starting the Project
    3. Chapter 3: Becoming a Task Master
      1. Creating Summary Tasks and Subtasks
      2. Moving Tasks Up, Down, and All Around
      3. Now You See It, Now You Don’t: Collapsing and Expanding the Task Outline
      4. Showing Up Again and Again: Recurring Tasks
      5. Setting Milestones
      6. Deleting Tasks and Using Inactive Tasks
      7. Making a Task Note
    4. Chapter 4: The Codependent Nature of Tasks
      1. How Tasks Become Dependent
      2. Setting the Dependency Connection
    5. Chapter 5: Estimating Task Time
      1. You’re in It for the Duration
      2. Estimating Effort and Duration
      3. Controlling Timing with Constraints
      4. Starting and Pausing Tasks
    6. Chapter 6: Check Out This View!
      1. A Project with a View
      2. More Detail about Views
      3. Customizing Views
  6. Part 2: Managing Resources
    1. Chapter 7: Creating Resources
      1. Resources: People, Places, and Things
      2. Becoming Resource-Full
      3. The Birth of a Resource
      4. Managing Resource Availability
      5. Sharing Resources
    2. Chapter 8: Working with Calendars
      1. Mastering Base, Project, Resource, and Task Calendars
      2. Scheduling with Calendar Options and Working Times
      3. Working with Task Calendars and Resource Calendars
      4. Creating a Custom Calendar Template
      5. Sharing Copies of Calendars
    3. Chapter 9: Assigning Resources
      1. Finding the Right Resource
      2. Making a Useful Assignation
      3. Benefitting from a Helpful Planner
    4. Chapter 10: Determining a Project’s Cost
      1. How Do Costs Accrue?
      2. Specifying Cost Information in the Project
  7. Part 3: Before You Baseline
    1. Chapter 11: Fine-Tuning Your Plan
      1. Everything Filters to the Bottom Line
      2. Gathering Information in Groups
      3. Figuring Out What’s Driving the Project
    2. Chapter 12: Negotiating Project Constraints
      1. It’s about Time
      2. Getting What You Want for Less
      3. The Resource Recourse
      4. Rescheduling the Project
    3. Chapter 13: Making the Project Look Good
      1. Looking Good!
      2. Formatting the Gantt Chart
      3. Formatting Network Diagram Boxes
      4. Adjusting the Layout
      5. Modifying Gridlines
      6. Recognizing When a Picture Can Say It All
      7. Creating a Custom Text Field
    4. Chapter 14: It All Begins with a Baseline
      1. All about Baselines
      2. In the Interim
  8. Part 4: Staying on Track
    1. Chapter 15: On the Right Track
      1. Tracking Views
      2. Moving a Task
      3. Update Project: Sweeping Changes
      4. Tracking Materials
      5. Tracking More than One Project
    2. Chapter 16: Project Views: Observing Progress
      1. Seeing Where Tasks Stand
      2. Delving into the Detail
      3. Tracking Progress Using Earned Value Management
      4. Calculating behind the Scenes
    3. Chapter 17: You’re Behind — Now What?
      1. Using Project with Risk and Issue Logs
      2. What-If Scenarios
      3. How Adding People or Time Affects the Project
      4. When All Else Fails
    4. Chapter 18: Spreading the News: Reporting
      1. Generating Standard Reports
      2. Creating New Reports
      3. Fine-Tuning a Report
      4. Spiffing Things Up
      5. Calling the Printer!
      6. Working on the Timeline
  9. Part 5: Working with Sprints Projects
    1. Chapter 19: Setting Up a Sprints Project
      1. Creating a Sprints Project
      2. Enjoying a Whole New View
      3. Adding Information to Tasks
      4. Prioritizing Tasks
      5. Inserting a Sprints Project into a Plan-Driven Project
    2. Chapter 20: Tracking a Sprints Project
      1. Viewing Your Sprints Project Data
      2. Creating Sprints Reports
    3. Chapter 21: Getting Better All the Time
      1. Reviewing the Project
      2. Comparing Versions of a Project
      3. Building on Success
  10. Part 6: The Part of Tens
    1. Chapter 22: Ten Golden Rules of Project Management
      1. Roll with It
      2. Put Your Ducks in a Row
      3. Expect the Unexpected
      4. Don’t Put Off until Tomorrow …
      5. Delegate, Delegate, Delegate
      6. Document It
      7. Keep the Team in the Loop
      8. Measure Success
      9. Maintain a Flexible Strategy
      10. Learn from Your Mistakes
    2. Chapter 23: Ten Cool Shortcuts in Project
      1. Task Information
      2. Resource Information
      3. Frequently Used Functions
      4. Subtasks
      5. Quick Selections
      6. Fill Down
      7. Navigation
      8. Hours to Years
      9. Timeline Shortcuts
      10. Quick Undo
  11. Glossary
  12. Index
  13. About the Author
  14. Advertisement Page
  15. Connect with Dummies
  16. End User License Agreement

Product information

  • Title: Microsoft Project For Dummies
  • Author(s): Cynthia Snyder Dionisio
  • Release date: February 2022
  • Publisher(s): For Dummies
  • ISBN: 9781119858621