Understanding Microsoft Project: Behind the Scenes

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Understanding Microsoft Project Behind the Scenes

• Presented by
• Genea Mallow, PMP

Director of Education, MPUG Senior Consultant,
Milestone Consulting Group, Inc. GeneaM_at_MilestoneC
onsultingGroup.com
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Topics for Today

• MS Project Data Model
• YJTJ
• Calculating the Schedule
• Task Types
• Effort Driven

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Assumptions

• Enterprise vs Desktop Project Management
• MS Project 101 - Foundation
• Scheduling from a start date
• Project Management Tools are Complex

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Microsoft Project Data Model
Microsoft Project
Tasks
Resources
Assignments
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YJTJ
Your Job
Tools Job
Project Information
Scheduling
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Calculating the Schedule

• The MS Project Duration Equation

Duration Work / (Units x Project Hours per
Day) D W / (U x PHPD)
When?
What?
How?
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Task Types
When?

• Fixed Units
• Fixed Work
• Fixed Duration

What?
How?
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Effort Driven Scheduling

• What is Effort Driven Scheduling?
• Are all tasks effort driven?
• How/when does the tool use effort driven?

What?
When?
How?
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Summary

• Project Planning tools are complex
• Power in understanding tool functionality
• Command the tools behavior
• Spend your time managing projects, not the tool

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Where to Get More Information

• Online
• www.mpug.org
• In person
• MPUG Meetings
• MPUG/PMI Workshops