1.7.6 – Working with the Organizer
Discover here how to make custom Calendars available for all your projects.
1.7.5 – Assigning a Calendar to a Task
An alternative to managing non-standard work patterns is to assign a custom Calendar to a Task instead of a Resource. This topic shows you how.
1.7.4 – Creating a Shift Calendar
In this short video we show you how to create and assign a non-standard Calendar – such as a Shift Calendar – to reflect different work patterns for Resources.
1.7.3 – Creating Regional Calendars
On occasion you may have Team members or project participants working from different geographical regions from that of the project. Here we demonstrate the steps to create Regional Calendars and assign those Calendars to Resources.
1.7.2 – Changing Nonworking Time for Individual Calendars
In this session we work through the steps to flip standard nonworking times – such as Saturdays and Sundays – to working days.
1.7.1 – Setting Individual Calendar Exceptions
A common mistake made by project managers – assuming all resources are available all of the time! In this video we take you through the steps to reflect individual resource non-availablility to the project. We also demonstrate the consequences when Calendar changes are made for resources already assigned to tasks.
1.6.7 – Assigning Resources Using Task Information
Watch this short video and learn an alternative method to assign Resources.
1.6.6 – Resource Usage and Resource Allocation Views
Two very useful Views are applied in this demonstration – the Resource Usage and the Resource Allocation Views. They help us to establish where the bottlenecks are with respect to our Resource assignments.
1.6.5 – Resource Overallocations and the Resource Graph View
We begin the process of managing Resources by showing you how to drill down to Overallocation issues using the Resource Graph View.
1.6.4 – Assigning Material and Cost Type Resources
In this session we cover the different approaches required for the assignment of Material and Cost Type Resources.
1.6.3 – Assigning Work Type Resources
Discover in this video the most effective method to assign Resources to your Tasks. We also introduce the concept of the Effort Equation – to calculate labour effort – and Effort Driven Scheduling.
1.6.2 – The Resource Sheet – Material and Cost Resources
Watch this video and learn how to create and set the properties for Material and Cost Type Resources.
1.6.1 – The Resource Sheet – Work Type Resources
In this session we demonstrate how to create and specify the properties of Work Type Resources – or in other words people!
1.5.5 – Using the Copy Picture Command
The Copy Picture feature provides a very useful method of communicating project information to your Stakeholders. Particularly when you want to manage the information being presented.
1.5.3 – Applying Task Type Views
Learn here about some of the views that can provide different perspectives on your project, including the Calendar View and the Network Diagram.
1.5.4 – Printing the Gantt Chart
Some useful tips on printing are presented here – particularly on how to print Notes.
1.5.2 – Creating Hyperlinks
Just as beneficial as the Notes feature, creating Hyperlinks provides links to individual documents, folders, web pages or sites. The advantage here is that Hyperlinks don’t increase the size of the project file.
1.5.1 – Attaching Documents to Tasks
Another really useful feature here – the ability to attach project documentation to relevant tasks. There are some caveats – find out towards the end of the video!
1.4.9 – Task Information: Notes
A very useful feature this. The Notes Tab in Task Information helps in recording Issues and Lessons Learned as you travel through the project.
1.4.8 – Task Information: Date Constraints
An important consideration when managing projects is the inevitability of time constraints. Watch this video and discover how to set and remove these constraints.
1.4.7 – Tips on Using Date Constraints
Discover what you need to be aware of when using Date Constraints and how they produce different results in your schedule.
1.4.6 – Task Information: Deadlines
A simple but effective feature here. Deadlines can be used to visually indicate time limits, handovers, switchovers and the like in the Gantt Chart.
1.4.5 – Task Information: Predecessors and Resources
In this video we demonstrate how you can use Task Information to create Predecessor Relationships and Assign Resources
1.4.4 – Task Information: The General Tab
Learn how the General Tab in the Task Information Dialogue Box can be used to place a Task onto the Project Timeline – amongst other things!
1.4.3 – Retrofit a WBS
Have you ever created a ‘simple’ schedule, and before you know it, it’s grown quite large? Or – nightmare scenario – someone sends you a large project schedule with no Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) supporting it? In this video we show you how to superimpose a WBS on an existing ‘flat’ project.
1.4.2 – Managing the WBS
Discover how to turn on the Project Summary Task and how – using the Outline Menu – to view your project at different levels of detail.
1.4.1 – Building the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)
Watch this video and learn how to convert a team-built Work Breakdown Structure into a project schedule.
1.3.7 – The Critical Path, Slack and the Baseline – a slight return
Here’s a quick overview of the concepts of the Critical Path, Slack (or Float) and the Baseline. We also demonstrate the various views to display them.
1.3.6 – Setting Lag and Lead
In order to reflect typical project scenarios and task sequencing we need to work with Lag and Lead. In this video we show you what they mean and how to set them.
1.3.5 – Creating Dependencies – SS, FF, SF
There are 3 other Task relationships to consider – Start-to-Start, Finish-to-Finish and Start-to-Finish. Discover how to specify them here.
1.3.4 – Creating Dependencies – Finish to Start (FS)
The majority of Dependencies or Relationships used to depict work sequencing tends to be Finish-to-Start or FS. Discover the various methods of setting this dependency here.
1.3.3 – Creating Milestones
As a rule of thumb, Milestones are used to indicate the expected achievement of Deliverables. But we can use them to indicate other significant events such as the Project Start, Phase Handovers, Project Completion and so on. Learn how to create them here.
1.3.2 – Creating Recurring Tasks
Watch this video to learn how to set up Recurring Tasks. These can be used to schedule tasks that occur on a frequent basis throughout the lifecycle such as Meetings, Inspections, Walkthroughs etc.
1.3.1 – Enter, Delete and Move Tasks
In this video we show you how to work with the Entry Table in the Gantt Chart. We also show you how to hide Columns or Fields that you may not wish to display.
1.2.7 – Setting different Working Times in the Standard (Project Calendar)
Careful now! Unless you’re into micro management there should be no need to change the working hours per day for the Project Calendar. But if you insist, this video shows you how.
1.2.6 – Set the Standard (Project Calendar)
Discover here how you can designate non-working days for your project.
1.2.5 – Specify the Start or Finish Date of the Project
Watch this video and learn the first key step to take in creating your project schedule – specifying either the Start or Finish Date of your project.
1.2.4 – Navigating the Gantt Chart – The Calendar Scale
Continuing our introduction to the Gantt Chart we now take a look at the Calendar Scale and how it represents scope – or work – over time.
1.2.3 – Navigating the Gantt Chart – The Entry Table
Here’s our introduction to the workhorse of Microsoft Project – the Gantt Chart View. In this session we focus on the structure and content of the Entry Table.
1.2.2 – Customise the Quick Access Toolbar
In this video we show you how to place commonly used commnands on the Quick Access Toolbar. Of particular value here are the navigation aids Scroll To Task, Zoom In and Zoom Out
1.2.1 – Setting Auto Scheduled Mode
A very important step this! For correct schedule development and management we need Microsoft Project to be set to Auto Scheduled mode. Find out how in this short video.
1.1.5 – Demonstration of the two Scheduling Modes
This short vignette presents the simple but very important distinction between the concepts of Auto Scheduling (the prefered scheduling mode!) and Manually Scheduling tasks.
1.1.4 – What is the Project Baseline?
The Baseline is a saved version of the ‘Approved’ or ‘Committed’ Plan. Here we explain its purpose and demonstrate how to view it.
1.1.3 – What is the Critical Path?
The Critical Path – a fundamentally important management tool for every Project Manager. Learn here what it represents and how to view it.
1.1.2 – Overview of Scheduling Concepts
Watch this video and learn the 4 key steps you need to take to competently build a project schedule in Microsoft Project.
1.1.1 – Overview of Project Management Concepts
Time to get started! In this introductory video we take you through some foundational steps in Project Management. These steps – such as the creation of a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) – will provide a solid base to build your schedule from.
Download the supporting documents we use in our videos: