Using MS-Project

1. Using MS-Project INFS 4810

2. MS-Project: 3 Major Parts • Project Planning • Project Execution & Tracking • Project Reporting

3. Overview of 3 Parts Project Planning Project Execution Save Baseline Make Time & Cost Estimates Enter Actual Time & Cost Create Tracking Reports Project Reporting

4. 1. Project Planning • Enter work tasks • Group tasks (rollup) where possible • Estimate time durations of each task • Define sequence of events (Predecessors) • Assign resources to tasks

5. 1. Project Planning (continued) • Use Resource Sheet View to enter people & materials • People are type “Work” • Materials are type “Materials” • Enter hourly rate for people or unit cost for material • Enter Fixed costs in Gantt Chart View / Table: Cost • Save BASELINE when ALL project planning is completed

6. 2. Project Execution & Tracking • You MUST save Baseline before you start to enter Actual hours & costs • Start project work & enter Actual hours & costs • Switch to Tracking Gantt Chart • Top (light) Bar = Baseline Time Estimate • Bottom (dark) Bar = Actual Time Duration

7. 3. Project Reporting • Found under View / Reports • Use Overview / Project Summary for summary report • Detailed Reports: • Current Activities – status of task assignments • Costs / Budget – compares budget to actual • Costs / Earned Value – displays tracking metrics