Introduction to Microsoft Project

This course aims to provide attendees with an understanding of the processes for managing projects using Microsoft Project (MS Project) as one of the most widely used tools for project management.  The course is designed to introduce participants to MS Project using several practical exercises to reinforce their understanding of project management and the use MS Project for managing sample real-life projects. The exercises are conducted as a combination of tutorials and activities that step through the various project management activities, focussing on developing work breakdown structure, project schedule and budget, allocating and managing resources and optimising their use and managing project baselines and controlling project using MS Project. No prior knowledge or experience is assumed.  

Duration: 3 days

Delivery mode: Classroom

Location:  Canberra

In-house: All states and neighbouring countries, contact the Professional Education Course Unit for more information. Recommended for groups of 10 or more.

What you will receive:

• Comprehensive course notes including exercise material
• UNSW Canberra certificate of completion/attendance*
• Morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea
• Masters credit: UNSW Canberra allows students who have successfully completed a minimum of 12 days of approved professional education short courses to use those courses as credit in eligible postgraduate programs.

Affiliated courses:

Introduction to Project Management (3 days) 

Project Schedule and Budget Control (3 days) 

Modelling Project Risks (3 days) 

WHO SHOULD ATTEND

Anyone requiring an understanding of project management, including, but not exclusive to;

COURSE OUTLINE

Project Management Framework

Introduction to project management | Using MS Project for developing Work Breakdown Structure | Using MS Project for developing Project Schedule Management | Using MS Project for Resource Management | Using MS Project for developing Project Budget | Using MS Project for developing Project Baseline | Using MS Project for Project Control

Introduction to Project Management

Reviewing project management concepts and available tools and applications, and also visualisation of project data

Using MS Project for developing Work Breakdown Structure

Scope definition and planning | Develop Work Breakdown Structure | Manage Gantt Chart  | Identify WBS elements (the link between Business plan and WBS)

Using MS Project for developing Project Schedule Management 

Develop Project Schedule | Develop Network Diagram | Find and Manage Critical Path

Using MS Project for Resource Management

Defining Resources | Set up a Resource Calendar | Resources Allocation | Managing Resource Overload | Resource Optimisation | Resource levelling | Resource smoothing | Schedule Compression

Using MS Project for developing Project Budget

Develop Project Cost Baseline | Develop Bottom-up Project Budget | Develop Summary Project Budget

Using MS Project for developing Project Baseline

Baseline Project Plan | Firs Time Baseline | Subsequent Baselines

Using MS Project for Project Control

Calculating Schedule based on Actual Reports | Analysing Impact of Cost and Time Variance | Define Performance update process | Updating Project Schedule

Exercise 1 - WBS

An exercise to develop a work breakdown structure with MS Project and use Gantt chart

Exercise 2 – Project schedule

An exercise to develop a project schedule and identify the critical path(s) in MS Project

Exercise 3 – Resource allocation and management

An exercise to set up resources and resource calendar to support resource management and resource optimisation techniques in MS Project

Exercise 4 – Project budget

An exercise to develop project cost baseline and project budget in MS Project

Exercise 5 – Project baseline 

An exercise to baseline project plan in MS Project

Exercise 6 – Project control

An exercise to incorporate actual reports in MS Project and manage cost and schedule variances

Dr Alireza Abbasi is Director of Postgraduate Studies and Coordinator of Project Management programs in the University of New South Wales (UNSW) at Canberra. He obtained his PhD in Project Management from the University of Sydney in 2012 before joining the School of Engineering and Information Technology (SEIT) at UNSW Canberra. He also holds a graduate certificate in University Learning and Teaching from UNSW Sydney. His research and teaching interests include project management, management science, information systems management and network science. He has written a book, three book chapters and over 60 technical journal and conference papers.  

Dr Abbasi has had several appointments and been involved in different projects in IT/Software, Oil, Education and R&D sectors. He is an active member of several professional bodies including Australian Institute of Project Management (AIPM), Project Management Institute (PMI), and Australian and New Zealand Academy of Management (ANZAM).