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MS Project Training
Ok, so you’ve defined your project, setup all the tasks and resources but now you need to monitor the progress and check that everything is going to plan (or not as the case may be!!).
Microsoft Project offers you several ways of viewing the project, depending on the information you need to see, this is done via the ‘View’ menu. Here we look at how to access the different views.
To learn more about Views, and loads more in MS Project, why not attend our MS Project Training course here in Brighton, Sussex?
Different Ways of Viewing a Project
The VIEW tab on the Ribbon provides different ways of viewing a Project Plan.
A VIEW BAR also appears on the left hand side of the Gantt Chart, enabling you to change to different views.
Yet another way on the TASK TAB on the Ribbon, select the view from the Gantt Chart button.
Views are split into different types, either Task or Resource Views.
Useful Views
- Gantt – Main View used for reporting data on a timescale
- Calendar – Shows every task in the project on a day to day basis in a diary format
- Network Diagram – Shows the tasks as a Flow Chart
- Task Usage – Shows tasks with the list of resources working on them. Can be used to view working times and costs of tasks
- Resource Usage – Shows resources and the tasks they are working on. Can be used to view resource working times and availability.
- Resource Graph – Used to identify days when a resource is busy or over allocated
- Resource Sheet – Used to enter information about resources
- Tracking Gantt – Displays the original plan against the actual. Used for comparison and updating when running the project.
Available Tables
Many views are made up of tables. The Resource Sheet is a table, the Gantt Chart has a table. The table that is initially viewed in any view is the ENTRY table.
- To change a table, select the VIEW TAB on the Ribbon
- Select TABLES
- Choose from one of the nine tables
Useful Tables
- Cost – Shows a breakdown of cost – relative to task or resource
- Work – Shows a breakdown of work hours – relative to task or resource
- Entry – The initial data entered for a task or resource
- Summary – Shows work and cost together – relative to task or resource
- Variance – Shows variances between the original plan and the running plan
Note: The Default Table for the Gantt Chart is ENTRY. A quick way of switching tables is to right click in the square at the top left hand side of the current table.
Keystrokes for moving around Views & Tables
- CTRL+HOME – Goes to the top of a table
- CTRL + END – Goes to the bottom of a table
- ALT+HOME – Shows the Start Date on the Gantt Chart, or in any graphical view
- ALT+END – Shows the End Date on the Gantt Chart, or in any graphical view
Combination Views
More than one view may be shown in the screen at a time. For example you could have the Gantt Chart showing in the top part of the screen and the Resource Sheet in the bottom. Thus it is possible to see information about a Resource working on a task without having to switch between views. A split is created in the screen and the appropriate view displayed in the relative pane.
- Select the VIEW TAB from the RIBBON
- Select The DETAILS box from the SPLIT VIEW options
Initially a Task Form is display in the lower part of the screen. This can be changed in the drop down box to the right of Details
- To remove the Split, un-tick the Details Box
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Posted by Alistair Wylie in Microsoft Office, Microsoft Project Training, PRINCE2 Training, Project management on June 17th, 2011 | No Comments »
Agile principles are now being applied to software development, software testing and project management, but what are the basic principles that Agile is based on?
All Agile methods were designed around a simple premise; the smaller the project, the greater the success rate. For agile to be successful it must be both quick and simple.
In 2001 the Agile Manifesto was born. Representatives from several Agile methodologies (including SCRUM, eXtreme Programming & DSDM) came together and devised a set of values and principles that any Agile methodology should adhere to. These values and principles would increase the success rate as projects would be constantly revised to meet customer requirements.
We now offer the certified Agile Project Management Training, please see our Agile Project Management Foundation Training and Agile Project Management Practitioner Training courses in Brighton, Sussex.
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Posted by Andy Trainer in Agile Project Management Training, Project management on May 20th, 2011 | 1 Comment »
How is Programme Management different from Project Management?
Whilst Project Management is about controlling a project, Programme Management is concerned with controlling a group of related projects. (If the projects are not related then this becomes portfolio management)
When a project is too large to manage as a single entity it needs to be split up into smaller more manageable projects, often with multiple project managers.
These smaller projects should all be designed to achieve a single long-term objective or benefit for the organisation. It is the Programme Managers role to make sure all projects run on target and achieve their objectives.
Silicon Beach Training offer MSP training (Managing Successful Programmes) and PRINCE2 training courses in Brighton, Sussex.
Test your knowledge of MSP by trying our MSP Quiz
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Posted by Heather Buckley in MSP Training on January 18th, 2010 | 1 Comment »
The Top iPhone Business Apps
When it comes to business users, there’s an Apple iPhone app for just about everything, including many great free apps. There are actually thousands of the things, so it’s no easy task picking the best. However, some clear favourites have emerged from our own research and survey of our Twitter followers.
Of course these apps are nothing if you lack to business skills to use them effectively! If you need Business Skills Training, Leadership and Management Training or Project Management Training in Brighton, Sussex, check out our many courses including PRINCE2 Practitioner training courses and Time Management training.
Tricky as it may be, we’ve had a go at picking the ten best iPhone apps for professionals. Best of all, some of them are free! There are so many that we’ve broken our list down into “best iPhone apps for project managers”, “best iPhone apps for networking” etc. Whether you fancy an app to find a restaurant, write a blog, work out a font or change a PowerPoint slide there’s an app for all! Read on for our best iPhone app lists…
Image: Self Portrait by Heather Buckley (Director of Silicon Beach Training)
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Posted by Natasha Stone in Management Skills Training, Social Media Training on March 31st, 2010 | 8 Comments »
Many managers are called upon to lead project management teams and achieve specific outcomes. But how effective are these teams generally? Is their success assured or more or less hit and miss? How can the leadership of these project teams play a vital role in the success of the project?
Project management software is of course available but the best software in the world will not help you if you can’t do the key task of leading a team! Our comprehensive Leadership Skills training course will help develop your team leading skills.
What is a project?
Let’s be clear from the start about what we’re talking about. A project is a temporary activity undertaken to create a specific outcome.
When you, as a project leader, accept responsibility for a project, you accept the schedule, timeline, deadlines, resources, and expectations set out at the start. You need to have the details and plans in place to handle whatever arises during a project’s duration – setting appropriate expectations for timelines, milestones, and deliverables. And, to ensure success for each and every project you need to have the right team.
Leading a project team
The success of a team and its overall effectiveness is obviously going to be influenced by the quality and skill of the person who leads it. So what makes an effective project team leader?
As with all aspects of management, the styles used by individual leaders vary. Leaders are individuals and as people will have a tendency to be more task oriented (their main concern is to get the job done) or more people oriented (their main concern is to ensure that people work well together). Effective leadership requires a balance between both task and people orientation.
As a project manager you know that your team has been set up to achieve a particular set of deliverables and the team must commit to this goal.
But teams are made up of individuals, each of whom must share the team’s common objective but each of whom will also have personal objectives, which they want to satisfy through membership of the team. One team member might want to impress the boss, another might be looking for skills enhancement, and another might want to work with another particular team member. Also teams have the group dimension; they are co dependent or inter-dependent.
Take a moment to answer the following questions:
- What type of project leader are you?
- Are you more task or more process oriented?
- How effective is this to your leadership of current projects?
- How can you develop balance in your team leadership?
Building the ideal project team
Do you have a choice of whom you have in your team or are they imposed on you by the project brief? Obviously this will have an effect on the team’s effectiveness.
Clearly it is better if you can hand pick your people. However, these will probably include employees of the organisation as well as contractors, freelancers, associates, stakeholders, quality controllers, contract compliance managers, consultants, suppliers, partners and so on. You may have the final say in who they are but you probably won’t have complete control over the selection of this range of personnel.
It makes it even more important therefore to get them on board as soon as possible.
Bear in mind these key points:
- Get the group to meet together as soon as possible
- Establish your rules for working together; hours of work, reporting lines, decision making procedures
- Clarify your terms of reference; reiterate the expected deliverables of the project
- Get commitment from all team members
- Discuss and iron out any concerns
Above all you need to work out ways to co-ordinate your team by getting everyone to agree on the objectives and schedules for the project.
Don’t imagine that teams only need to be full of paid and official project team members. You can have valuable assistance from informal advisors, mentors, and helpers. This can help project management on a tight budget as long as everyone’s roles are clearly agreed at the outset.
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Posted by Aaron Charlie in Leadership Training on April 3rd, 2007 | No Comments »
Silicon Beach Training are one of the UK’s leading providers of PRINCE2 Foundation Training and PRINCE2 Practitioner Training courses, with PRINCE2 Training now in Birmingham as well as Brighton.
What is Product Breakdown Structure (PBS)?
A product breakdown structure (PBS) is a fundamental part of project management and the PRINCE2 methodology. A PBS is a tool used to assess, plan and display the outcomes required of a project. It is part of a product based planning technique, and attempts to break down all components of a project – in as much detail as possible, so that nothing is overlooked.
It is important to note that products may be physical or conceptual and may include tools required to manage the project e.g. test documentation, requirement specifications or safety certifications.
The image taken from Wikipedia demonstrates an example of breaking down the required components of a computer; as you see a PBS offers a clear, exhaustive and hierarchical structure of all deliverables.
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Posted by Aaron Charlie in PRINCE2 Training on May 4th, 2010 | 6 Comments »
- Project Management 2.0: Andrew gives an analysis of how Enterprise 2.0 technologies influence project management. Categories include enterprise and project management 2.0, collaboration, social project management, and collective intelligence.
- Project Shrink: Bas de Baar has over a decade of experience as a Software Project Manager within the publishing, financial, and public sector. In addition to his popular blog there is also an informative video podcast.
- PRINCE2 Consultancy: Richard Moret is the Director of the Expecto PRINCE2 Academy and Associate Professor, Project Management at the Ambition Academy. He was the youngest person who became a PRINCE2 Consultant worldwide. His specialisation is the implementation and improvement of project based working in organisations and especially by large infrastructural projects and large inter departmental projects.
- Learning Leader: Patrick is the founding director of Pearcemayfield, a training and consultancy business. Read his blog for help with vision, stories, PRINCE2, and more.
- Technology, Strategy, People & Projects: Eric has over fifteen years of experience in corporate and consulting environments specializing in technology and business. Along with posts, every week he links to the best in project management.
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Posted by Heather Buckley in PRINCE2 Training on July 21st, 2010 | 1 Comment »
