Crashing a Project using Microsoft Excel from Coursera

Project Scheduling is an essential aspect of Project Management. In most case, after the Project Schedule has been prepared or during the Project execution, the Project Schedule needs to be crashed. Crashing a Project means to reduce the total duration of the Project. Crashing a Project involves a cost called the Crash Cost. So, while Crashing a Project, we need ensuring that we increase the Project Cost by the least amount. Crashing a Project optimally can be conducted using Linear Programming. As Microsoft Excel has support for Linear Programming, we can use Microsoft Excel to Crash a Project. Using Microsoft Excel for Project Scheduling has 2 more advantages. The first advantage is that the nuances involved in Project Scheduling becomes clear (This is hidden by tools like Microsoft Project). The second advantage is that we do not need additional license for tools like Microsoft Project. Most importantly, we will discuss aspects of Project Scheduling which cannot be conducted using tools like Microsoft Project and Primavera. In this Project, we will use Microsoft Excel to prepare a Project Schedule and then we will see how we can Crash the Project Schedule. This Guided Project was created by a Coursera community member.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Students in this Project should have a fundamental understanding of general project management principles and practices

Students in this Project should have a basic understanding of Microsoft Excel

Students in this Project who pursue it for personal growth and development may not get the most out of it

Reviews summary

Positive excel crashing

This course offers a positive learning experience with a good pace, clear explanations, and helpful examples. It provides valuable insights into project management and crashing techniques using Microsoft Excel, making it a good choice for those seeking to enhance their skills in this area.

Helpful for project decisions

"New insight on Project Management skill sets, which will be very useful in quick decision making on optimal crashing of the projects networks with constraints."

Awesome pace

"Awesome pace"

Learn valuable knowledge

"Great knowledge"

Examples are clear

"Explained in the most simple form with clear examples"

Explanations are clear

"clear and helpfull"

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 Crashing a Project using Microsoft Excel with these activities:

Explore Online Tutorials on Project Scheduling with Excel

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Supplement your learning with online tutorials to gain a deeper understanding of project scheduling techniques.

Browse courses on Microsoft Excel

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Search for online tutorials on project scheduling with Excel.
Select tutorials that align with your learning goals.
Follow the instructions and complete the exercises.
Take notes and refer back to the tutorials as needed.

Read 'Project Management for Dummies'

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Strengthen your understanding of project management fundamentals and gain insights into project scheduling techniques by reading this introductory book.

View Project Management For Dummies on Amazon

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Acquire a copy of the book.
Set aside dedicated time for reading.
Read one chapter at a time, taking notes on key concepts.
Complete the practice exercises provided in the book.

Solve Project Scheduling Problems

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Test your understanding of project scheduling concepts by solving practice problems.

Browse courses on Project Scheduling

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Find practice problems online or in textbooks.
Set aside regular time for solving problems.
Use a step-by-step approach to solve problems.
Review your solutions to identify areas for improvement.

Three other activities

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Compile a Resource List on Project Scheduling

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Organize and expand your knowledge base by compiling a comprehensive list of resources related to project scheduling.

Browse courses on Project Scheduling

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Conduct online research to identify relevant books, articles, and websites.
Organize resources by topic or category.
Include brief summaries or annotations for each resource.
Share your compilation with classmates or online communities.

Develop a Project Schedule Using Microsoft Excel

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Apply your knowledge of project scheduling by creating a detailed project schedule using Microsoft Excel.

Browse courses on Microsoft Excel

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Gather project details and requirements.
Create a project timeline using Excel.
Identify project dependencies and allocate resources.
Optimize the project schedule using Linear Programming.
Present your project schedule to stakeholders.

Contribute to Open-Source Project Scheduling Tools

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Gain practical experience and contribute to the community by participating in open-source project scheduling projects.

Browse courses on Project Scheduling

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Submit pull requests and engage with the community.
Identify open-source project scheduling tools.
Choose a project to contribute to.
熟悉项目代码库和贡献指南.
Implement new features or fix bugs.

Career center

Learners who complete Crashing a Project using Microsoft Excel will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Project Manager

Project Managers plan, execute, and close projects. They are responsible for ensuring that projects are completed on time, within budget, and to the required quality. By teaching the fundamentals of project scheduling, this course can help aspiring Project Managers develop the skills they need to succeed in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager

Construction Manager

Construction Managers oversee the planning, coordination, and execution of construction projects. This course can help prepare learners for this role by providing them with a solid understanding of project scheduling.

See salaries and explore the career path for Construction Manager

Operations Manager

Operations Managers are responsible for the day-to-day operations of a business. This may include overseeing projects, managing staff, and ensuring that the business runs smoothly. By providing a foundation in project scheduling, this course can help learners develop the skills they need to succeed in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Operations Manager

Management Consultant

Management Consultants provide advice to businesses on a variety of topics, including project management. This course can help aspiring Management Consultants develop the skills they need to understand and manage projects for their clients.

See salaries and explore the career path for Management Consultant

Data Analyst

Data Analysts collect, analyze, and interpret data to help businesses make informed decisions. This course can help learners develop the project scheduling skills they need to manage data analysis projects.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Analyst

Product Manager

Product Managers are responsible for the development and launch of new products. This course can help learners develop the project scheduling skills they need to manage the product development process.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Manager

Program Manager

Program Managers oversee the planning, execution, and closeout of programs. This may include managing multiple projects, coordinating with stakeholders, and ensuring that the program meets its objectives. This course can help learners develop the project scheduling skills they need to succeed in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Program Manager

Decision Scientist

Decision Scientists use data and analytics to help businesses make decisions. This may include developing models, running simulations, and providing recommendations. By providing a foundation in project scheduling, this course can help learners develop the skills they need to succeed in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Decision Scientist

Business Analyst

Business Analysts work with businesses to identify and solve problems. This may include analyzing data, developing recommendations, and implementing solutions. By providing a foundation in project scheduling, this course can help learners develop the skills they need to succeed in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Quantitative Analyst

Quantitative Analysts use mathematical and statistical models to analyze data and make investment decisions. By providing a foundation in project scheduling, this course can help learners develop the skills they need to succeed in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Quantitative Analyst

Actuary

Actuaries use mathematics and statistics to assess risk and uncertainty. This may include developing models, pricing insurance policies, and managing investments. This course can help aspiring Actuaries develop the project scheduling skills they need to succeed in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Actuary

Business Development Manager

Business Development Managers are responsible for identifying and developing new business opportunities. This may include developing proposals, managing client relationships, and closing deals. This course can help aspiring Business Development Managers develop the project scheduling skills they need to succeed in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Development Manager

Marketing Manager

Marketing Managers are responsible for planning and executing marketing campaigns. This may include developing marketing plans, managing budgets, and tracking results. By providing a foundation in project scheduling, this course can help learners develop the skills they need to succeed in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Marketing Manager

Financial Analyst

Financial Analysts analyze financial data to make investment recommendations. This course can help aspiring Financial Analysts develop the project scheduling skills they need to manage investment projects.

See salaries and explore the career path for Financial Analyst

Sales Manager

Sales Managers are responsible for leading and managing sales teams. This may include developing sales plans, managing budgets, and tracking results. By providing a foundation in project scheduling, this course can help learners develop the skills they need to succeed in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sales Manager