Working Smarter with Microsoft Project

Transform your project outcomes using practical project management techniques and expert tips with this exhaustive guide

Key Features

• Take charge of your projects with optimized planning for schedules, resources, and costs
• Make smart decisions through data-driven insights and real-time progress tracking
• Leverage AI-driven insights with Microsoft Project to streamline tasks and improve decision-making for better results
• Purchase of the print or Kindle book includes a free PDF eBook

Book Description

Project management is filled with various challenges, such as managing unforeseen risks, balancing priorities, and shifting project scopes, which can lead to inefficiencies. This definitive guide leverages the author’s 25+ years of industry experience to take you on a hands-on journey to unlock your full potential with Microsoft Project.

This book helps you grasp the fundamental aspects of project creation, before moving on to more advanced topics, covering tracking, maintenance, and collaborative aspects for any project. You’ll find out how to track progress, optimize schedules, manage budgets, and customize reports based on business requirements by using easy-to-follow instructions and illustrations. The book taps into the author’s extensive experience as a Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT) and Project Management Professional (PMP) to provide you with invaluable insights into managing resource overallocations, mastering advanced resource management techniques, and seamlessly integrating Microsoft Project with other tools to boost productivity and achieve success with your projects.

By the end of this Microsoft Project book, you’ll be able to create professional project plans, execute projects with confidence, and consistently achieve your desired outcomes.

What you will learn

• Discover best practices for structuring projects and tasks efficiently
• Utilize techniques to build accurate schedules and resource plans
• Uncover efficient ways to track progress and make data-driven decisions
• Implement various strategies to optimize your resource usage and costs
• Execute different methods for evaluating projects and managing risks
• Perform customized reporting for enhanced insights and decision-making
• Integrate Microsoft Project with AI-powered and other collaboration tools to enhance productivity and streamline teamwork

Who this book is for

This book is for project managers, coordinators, IT professionals, business analysts, entrepreneurs, trainers, instructors, and students who want to plan and manage projects efficiently using Microsoft Project. It’s also ideal for trainers and project managers looking to train others in how to use Microsoft Project. Basic familiarity with project management concepts will be helpful, but it’s not a prerequisite.

Table of Contents

1. Defining the Project Schedule
2. Working with Project Calendars
3. Managing and Defining Tasks
4. Creating, Defining, and Assigning Resources
5. Defining a Baseline for Project Progress
6. Identifying and Managing the Critical Path
7. Tracking Methods for Decision-Making
8. Optimizing Projects with Advanced Resources
9. Handling Overallocations
10. Managing Costs Effectively
11. Customizing Reports
12. Project Manager's Toolbox
13. AI, ChatGPT, and Microsoft Project
14. Practice Exercises

Staci Warne, a certified Project Management Professional (PMP), Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT), and Certified AI Specialist, brings over 25 years of experience in training technology skills to individuals at all levels. She earned her MCT certification in 2008 and holds numerous other credentials, including Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP), Microsoft Office Master Instructor, and Modern Classroom Certified Trainer (MCCT), among others. Staci has also served as a Financial Analyst and lead technology trainer for the Federal Reserve Bank, as well as a lead trainer at CompUSA. Her greatest satisfaction comes from witnessing those ‘Aha' moments when students master new tools and skills under her guidance.