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Project Planning with MS Project

Kishore

October 2002

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Agenda Benefits of Tools and Project Management

Basics Features of MS Project Some specific features we can use and

benefit

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Tools Usage A tool stores information and provides

capability to query and trace information Tool does not guarantee any improvement

in process or practices Based on information logged and queried

process improvement can be attempted Brings in Standardization and

Predictability

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Project Management Tool should support Task Planning Task Status Update Querying and Reporting Rescheduling Information for Decision Making in Project Allocate and Manage Resources Provide Visibility to Project Progress

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Basics of MS Project Create a plan Groups Tasks, Hierarchy Assign Resources and Time Links tasks and Dependencies E-mail based Task Assignment (Workgroup) Task Update through e-mail Create a Recurring Task Filtering Tasks Assign Priority

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Advanced Features Save Baseline Compare Baseline Vs Actual Multiple Views Update Project Multiple Project Resource Calendar Resource Load Resource Costing Save to Database

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More Features Project Statistics Web Based Timesheet Save as HTML New Tasks to Start On Option Add Custom Columns Hyperlinks

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Some tips Customize Workgroup options Link tasks across projects and view them Install only workgroup module Create a backup file on each save

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Good Practices Any Task should start and end within a

week otherwise create sub tasks Add Review Tasks for all deliverables Weekly Update of Status and Review Learn from previous projects and ensure

less number of ‘unplanned tasks’ in current project

Add Tasks as New Tasks Emerge

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Recommended Usage Manager will have a plan consisting of all team members tasks

and uses Workgroup features to convey tasks Status to be updated on weekly basis Use Notes and attachments for detail logging What tasks go into plan

Task with duration of more than 3 hours Tasks with external visibility irrespective of effort

Weekly status Reports sent through e-mail OR any other format to contain references to Project Tasks