Microsoft Project : How to Build a Detailed Project Plan from Udemy

What's inside

Learning objectives

Build a functional project plan
Navigate fluently throughout microsoft project

Analyze and interpret a project plan
Get clear concise steps - straight to the point - without the waffle

Build a functional project plan
Navigate fluently throughout microsoft project
Analyze and interpret a project plan
Get clear concise steps - straight to the point - without the waffle

Syllabus

Which Microsoft Project version, Setup options, Navigation, What to expect ...

Welcome Let's get started to building great project plans in Microsoft Project. Here is a preview of what you can expect to gain from the training,

Welcome and Congratulations!

Which version of Microsoft Project are you using? 2010 or 2013

Run through these Options settings in Microsoft Project to setup the software and make it easier to use.

Let's understand how Microsoft Project is put together. By knowing this, it will make Project easier to use!

Insight to what we are going to Build in our project plan

Understand the first 3 steps in The Planning Approach.

In this lecture, we will demonstrate Tasks Durations and Links to build the first section of the plan.

For best results, follow along and copy the steps on your own laptop to build a project plan in Microsoft Project

Build a Work Breakdown Structure by setting up your Headings

Build Section 2 of your project plan

Continue building the plan following The Planning Approach

BONUS 8 TIPS on improving your use with the software

Finish building your timeline. I'll show you how to setup a Milestone and show you the purpose of a Milestone.

Define the Resources - Workers, Equipment and Contractors you need for the Project

The final step in the Planning Approach is to assign resources to tasks. Watch as we quickly assign workers, materials and fixed costs into the project - Very important to assist with an accurate monthly Cashflow and utlization of your Resources.

Why do we build a Project Plan? What is it we want to get from our plan?

What we get from our Planning Efforts. Find all the answers you need to help you communicate your plan to the client and team members and align them with your expectations

In this lecture, we generate the Cashflow for the Project. We show you how to view your weekly and monthly expenditure to keep your project afloat.

We'll recap the outputs you can attain by following the 5 step approach.

How to Present and Communicate your Plan

In this lecture, we show you ways to present the information you need for your target audience. Instead of presenting the whole Gantt Chart, cut and slice details to present to your boss, produce a 2 week look ahead

More ways of analyzing details in your plan in Microsoft Project. We'll show you how to structure your project plan to give you more details you need to communicate and present your plan

Apply your skills to build your own project plan. If you don't have a plan, have a go at building this log cabin. This will demonstrate your understanding and ability to practice your skillsets. Send me a message if you have any questions.

Brett Anderson presents Microsoft Project Comprehensive to Maximize your Potential with Microsoft Project

Find the true Critical Path of a Project and how to apply this knowledge
Manage overallocated Resources
Follow the correct methods to Track your project!
Customize the presentation of the Gantt Chart
5 Checkpoint - Project Integrity Checklist

Contact me with your Microsoft Project questions

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Teaches how to build a fully linked, resourced, and costed project plan, which is essential for effective project management and resource allocation

Provides a step-by-step practical workout, which allows learners to immediately apply skills and understand how a project schedule should operate

Explores how to extract key information from a project plan, such as project duration, costs, and team member assignments, which is crucial for project oversight

Covers how to communicate a project plan clearly to team members and align client expectations, which is important for stakeholder management

Requires learners to have Microsoft Project 2010 or later, which may exclude learners using older or newer versions of the software

Focuses on building a Gantt chart, which is a standard tool for project scheduling and visualization, but may not cover other project management methodologies

Reviews summary

Building detailed project plans with microsoft project

According to learners, this course offers a highly practical and step-by-step approach to creating detailed project plans in Microsoft Project. Students particularly praise the course's focus on building a plan from scratch, finding the process incredibly helpful for understanding how to manage linking, resources, and costs. The instructor is consistently described as clear and easy to follow. Many find the content immediately applicable to their work, making it a valuable resource for professionals. While considered excellent for beginners seeking a solid foundation, a few more experienced users noted it might be too basic and doesn't delve into advanced features. Some reviews mentioned the course uses a slightly older version of the software, though most found this didn't hinder learning the core concepts.

Uses slightly older software version.

"The version of Microsoft Project used in the videos seems a bit outdated compared to the current version I have."

"While the concepts are the same, the interface in the course videos differs slightly from my version of Project."

"Using an older version wasn't a major issue, but it's something to be aware of."

Excellent starting point for new users.

"This course is fantastic if you are a beginner with Microsoft Project."

"Provides a solid foundation for anyone starting out with project planning using the software."

"As someone new to MS Project, I found this course easy to follow and very informative."

Instructor explains concepts effectively.

"The instructor is very clear and concise. His explanations make complex features easy to understand."

"Loved the instructor's delivery and the way he explained each step. Made learning Microsoft Project enjoyable."

"Instructor is knowledgeable and presents the information in a simple, easy-to-digest format."

Skills are immediately useful professionally.

"I could immediately apply what I learned to build better project plans at my job."

"This course gave me the practical skills I needed to start using MS Project effectively in my professional role."

"Highly applicable course content that provides tools you can use right away in real-world projects."

Highly effective process for building plans.

"I found the practical workout and step-by-step guide invaluable. Building the plan from scratch really solidified my understanding."

"The course provides a clear, step-by-step process for building a project plan. This is exactly what I needed."

"Great practical course that takes you through building a detailed project plan from the ground up. Easy to follow."

May lack depth for advanced users.

"For an experienced Project user, this course was too basic and didn't cover advanced topics I was interested in."

"I found it a bit too introductory; I was hoping for more advanced techniques."

"If you already know the basics of MS Project, you might not gain much new information here."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Microsoft Project : How to Build a Detailed Project Plan with these activities:

Review Gantt Chart Basics

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Reinforce your understanding of Gantt charts, a fundamental tool used in Microsoft Project for visualizing project timelines and task dependencies.

Browse courses on Gantt Chart

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Research the history and purpose of Gantt charts.
Identify the key components of a Gantt chart.
Practice creating a simple Gantt chart by hand or using basic software.

Read 'Project Management for Dummies'

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Gain a broader understanding of project management principles, which will enhance your ability to effectively use Microsoft Project.

View Project Management For Dummies on Amazon

Show steps

Obtain a copy of 'Project Management for Dummies'.
Read the sections related to project planning, scheduling, and resource management.
Take notes on key concepts and definitions.

Plan a Simple Home Renovation

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Apply the skills learned in the course by planning a real-world project, solidifying your understanding of task linking, resource allocation, and cost estimation.

Show steps

Define the scope of the home renovation project.
Break down the project into smaller, manageable tasks.
Estimate the duration and cost of each task.
Identify the resources needed for each task.
Create a project schedule using Microsoft Project.

Four other activities

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Practice Task Linking Exercises

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Master the art of linking tasks in Microsoft Project to create a realistic and dynamic project schedule.

Show steps

Create a series of tasks with dependencies.
Experiment with different types of task links (FS, SS, FF, SF).
Observe how changes to one task affect the schedule of other tasks.

Document Your Project Planning Process

Show steps

Reflect on your learning experience by documenting the steps you took to create a project plan in Microsoft Project, highlighting challenges and solutions.

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Choose a project you have planned using Microsoft Project.
Write a detailed description of the project planning process.
Include screenshots of your project plan in Microsoft Project.
Share your documentation with other students for feedback.

Explore Advanced Microsoft Project Features

Show steps

Expand your knowledge of Microsoft Project by exploring advanced features such as resource leveling, earned value management, and custom reporting.

Show steps

Identify advanced features you want to learn more about.
Search for online tutorials and documentation on those features.
Practice using the features in Microsoft Project.

Develop a Project Dashboard

Show steps

Create a project dashboard that visually summarizes key project metrics, enabling stakeholders to quickly assess project status and identify potential issues.

Show steps

Identify the key metrics you want to track.
Create charts and graphs to visualize the metrics.
Design a visually appealing and informative dashboard layout.
Present your dashboard to stakeholders for feedback.

Career center

Learners who complete Microsoft Project : How to Build a Detailed Project Plan will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Project Manager

A project manager is responsible for planning, executing, and closing projects. This course helps project managers learn how to build a detailed project plan in Microsoft Project, which is a crucial skill for successfully managing projects of any size. The course’s step-by-step approach to building a Gantt Chart, linking tasks, and allocating resources provides project managers with the practical knowledge and skills needed to streamline project execution, communicate effectively with team members, and keep projects on time and within budget. Project managers may find the lessons on extracting key information, presenting the plan, and maximizing Microsoft Project's potential especially useful.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager

Scheduler

Schedulers focus on developing and maintaining project schedules, ensuring that all activities are properly sequenced and resourced. This course teaches how to build functional project plans in Microsoft Project, providing the necessary skills for a scheduler to excel. Schedulers use the course to learn how to create Gantt charts, link tasks logically, allocate resources, and manage costs within Microsoft Project. By mastering these skills, schedulers ensure that projects are completed efficiently and effectively, aligning with the overall project objectives. The course's emphasis on clear, concise steps helps schedulers quickly apply their knowledge to real-world projects.

See salaries and explore the career path for Scheduler

Resource Manager

Resource managers are responsible for allocating and managing resources across projects, ensuring that projects have the necessary personnel, equipment, and materials to succeed. This course is particularly relevant for resource managers, as it teaches how to effectively allocate resources within Microsoft Project. Resource managers use this course to learn how to define resources, assign them to tasks, and track their utilization across projects. This helps resource managers optimize resource allocation, prevent overallocation, and ensure that projects are properly staffed. The course's focus on resource management techniques equips resource managers with the skills they need to excel in their roles.

See salaries and explore the career path for Resource Manager

Construction Project Manager

Construction project managers oversee construction projects from beginning to end, ensuring they are completed on time and within budget. This course is directly applicable to the needs of a construction project manager, as it teaches how to create comprehensive project plans using Microsoft Project. Skills gained in this course assist in building realistic timelines, allocate resources effectively, and track costs accurately. Construction project managers may find the sections on resource allocation and cost management particularly beneficial for managing complex construction projects. With this course, construction project managers understand how to utilize Microsoft Project to its full potential for effective project control.

See salaries and explore the career path for Construction Project Manager

Project Engineer

Project engineers are involved in the technical aspects of project planning and execution, ensuring that projects are technically sound and meet engineering standards. This course helps project engineers learn how to build detailed project plans using Microsoft Project. The project engineer then builds timelines, allocates resources, and manages costs. This ensures that projects are completed efficiently and effectively. The course's emphasis on clear, step-by-step instructions enables project engineers to quickly apply their knowledge to real-world engineering projects. Project engineers may find the modules on resource allocation and cost management particularly relevant to their roles.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Engineer

Project Coordinator

Project coordinators support project managers by assisting with administrative tasks, tracking project progress, and facilitating communication among team members. This course may be useful for project coordinators who want to improve their understanding of project planning and scheduling using Microsoft Project. With the course, project coordinators learn how to build detailed project plans, link tasks, allocate resources, and manage costs. This knowledge empowers project coordinators to provide more effective support to project managers and contribute to the overall success of the project. The course's practical workout approach ensures that project coordinators can immediately apply their skills to real-world project scenarios.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Coordinator

Program Manager

Program managers oversee a group of related projects, often with the goal of achieving a strategic objective. This course may be useful, as it provides a foundational understanding of how to use Microsoft Project to create detailed project plans. For program managers, skills in building fully linked, resourced, and costed plans are essential for coordinating multiple projects and ensuring alignment with overall program goals. The course equips program managers to extract and communicate important information from project plans, improving their ability to manage dependencies and track progress across the program. Program managers may find the modules on presenting and communicating plans particularly valuable for stakeholder alignment.

See salaries and explore the career path for Program Manager

Project Portfolio Manager

A Project portfolio manager oversees a collection of projects and programs that are grouped together to achieve strategic objectives. This course may be useful for project portfolio managers who need to understand how individual projects contribute to the overall portfolio. The Project portfolio manager gains essential skills in project planning, scheduling, and resource management using Microsoft Project. The course helps the portfolio manager monitor project timelines, allocate resources, and manage costs across the portfolio, aligning it with strategic goals. The course's practical approach may help project portfolio managers make informed decisions and support successful strategic execution.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Portfolio Manager

Project Management Office Director

A Project Management Office Director, PMO Director, leads and oversees a team of project managers and ensures that projects are aligned with the organization's strategic goals. This course may be useful as it provides a strong foundation in project planning and scheduling using Microsoft Project. A PMO Director uses the skills from this course to standardize project management practices, improve project delivery, and track project performance across the organization. The course helps the director monitor project timelines, allocate resources, and manage costs. The course's comprehensive approach to project planning equips project management office directors with understanding to lead their teams effectively.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Management Office Director

Management Consultant

A management consultant advises organizations on how to improve their performance and efficiency. This course may be helpful for management consultants who specialize in project management or operations. Management consultants gain skills in using Microsoft Project to develop detailed project plans, manage resources, and track progress. The consultant uses these skills to help clients improve their project management capabilities and achieve their strategic goals. The course's focus on clear, concise steps enables management consultants to quickly apply their knowledge to diverse client engagements.

See salaries and explore the career path for Management Consultant

Quality Assurance Manager

Quality assurance managers are responsible for ensuring that products and services meet established quality standards. While not directly related to project management, this course may be useful for quality assurance managers who are involved in projects that require detailed planning and scheduling. Quality Assurance managers use Microsoft Project to model project timelines, resource allocation, and costs. This helps them monitor progress, identify potential risks, and ensure that quality standards are met throughout the project lifecycle. The course's practical approach helps the manager understand the processes to maintain quality.

See salaries and explore the career path for Quality Assurance Manager

Business Systems Analyst

Business systems analysts focus on improving business processes and systems through the use of technology. This course may be useful for business systems analysts who are involved in projects that require detailed planning and scheduling. The business systems analyst uses Microsoft Project to model project timelines, resource allocation, and costs. This helps the course taker understand the operational impact of proposed changes and ensure that projects are aligned with business objectives. The course's practical approach to building project plans enables business systems analysts to develop a more comprehensive understanding of project dynamics and potential challenges.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Systems Analyst

Process Improvement Specialist

Process improvement specialists analyze and improve business processes to enhance efficiency and effectiveness. This course may be useful for process improvement specialists who are involved in projects that require detailed planning and scheduling. The process improvement specialist uses Microsoft Project to model project timelines, resource allocation, and costs. This helps the course taker understand the operational impact of proposed changes and ensure that projects are aligned with business objectives. The course's practical approach to building project plans enables process improvement specialists to develop a more comprehensive understanding of project dynamics and potential challenges.

See salaries and explore the career path for Process Improvement Specialist

Scrum Master

Scrum masters facilitate agile project management methodologies, ensuring the team adheres to scrum principles and practices. While scrum is often associated with less rigid planning, this course may be useful for scrum masters working on projects that require some level of detailed scheduling and resource allocation. The scrum master can use Microsoft Project to visualize project timelines, track dependencies, and manage team capacity. This allows the course taker to better support the team in delivering value incrementally. The course's focus on practical application enables scrum masters to integrate these tools into their agile workflows effectively.

See salaries and explore the career path for Scrum Master

Business Analyst

Business analysts analyze an organization's processes and systems to identify areas for improvement and recommend solutions. While not directly related to project management, this course may be useful for business analysts involved in projects that require detailed planning and scheduling. Business analysts can use Microsoft Project to model project timelines, resource allocation, and costs. This is especially useful for understanding the operational impact of proposed changes. The course's practical approach to building project plans helps business analysts develop a more comprehensive understanding of project dynamics and potential challenges.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Reading list

We've selected one books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Microsoft Project : How to Build a Detailed Project Plan.

Project Management For Dummies

Save

Provides a broad overview of project management principles and practices. It good resource for beginners who are new to project management and Microsoft Project. It covers the basics of project planning, scheduling, and resource management. It serves as a useful reference for understanding the underlying concepts behind using Microsoft Project effectively.

Project Management For Dummies

Paperback

Project Management For Dummies

Kindle Edition

Microsoft Project

How to Build a Detailed Project Plan

What's inside

Learning objectives

Syllabus

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Reviews summary

Building detailed project plans with microsoft project

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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