Microsoft Project

A brief introduction

In brief, what is Microsoft Project?

Microsoft Project is a long-term project management tool that can be used by: Managers, Teachers, Students, Administrators, and Staff to manage time and control the workflow of any project or task.

Using Gantt charts, and other tables Project can help make large tasks manageable and increase the manager's ability to tack and change timetables and sub-projects.

PROJECT'S WINDOWS

Besides the usual window components (close box, title bar, scroll bars, etc.), Project has features you may recognize from spreadsheet programs, such as columns and rows and the formula bar used for editing.
Information is entered into fields as in a database and there are unique commands and tools specific to working with projects.
The standard toolbar, located beneath the menu bar, has buttons for commonly performed tasks. Some tasks unique to Project are linking and unlinking tasks, entering task information, and assigning resources. There are also drop down boxes for grouping and filtering data.

VIEWS AND TABLES

Views allow you to look at a subset of project information in a certain format. For example, the default view, called the Gantt chart displays basic task information in columns and a bar graph.

For the business world

Are you responsible for coordinating a variety of specific tasks that must be completed within a specific timeframe for a set amount of money?

Developing a software product, publishing a newsletter, implementing a training program, starting a new business or even building a new home are some of the projects that millions of people embark upon everyday. How does Microsoft Project help you do this? It helps you put together a plan of action, fill in and organize all the details that must be completed in order to achieve your goal. Right from building a new project to preparing your project for publication, tracking progress, analyzing costs, assessing the quality of your project and managing multiple projects, Microsoft Project does it all.

Members in any team can view project data with any browser and exchange information easily, irrespective of their locations. A project can be saved into the corporate Intranet and email workgroup features can then be used for communication. Programs such as text readers and speech recognition software can be configured easily to work with Project. To summarize, Microsoft Project helps you stay in control with minimum effort and in minimum time.

Definitions

Tasks	They are a division of all the work that needs to be completed in order to accomplish the project goals.
Scope	of any project is a combination of all individual tasks and their goals.
Resources	They can be people, equipment, materials or services that are needed to complete various tasks. The amount of resources affects the scope and time of any project.

Microsoft Project communicates with you through its interface - charts graphs and sheets, menus, toolbars and dialog boxes.

KEY POINTS

Before embarking on the project you need to put down a few key points very clearly:

1. conceptualize and identify the purpose of the project;
2. define its objectives;
3. finalize its scope;
4. identify its activities;
5. assign resources to activities;
6. create an estimate of time and costs;
7. make honest assumptions about various relevant factors that can affect the duration of a project and its costs;
8. discuss alternative scenarios and build contingency plans.

Microsoft Project cannot help you with (1), (2), (7) and (8) but it can carry the remaining on its shoulders and sail you smoothly to your goals.