Short Course in Microsoft Project

Project management is viewed as a critical competence in the current business environment, for competitive and improved service delivery. It ensures timeously, within-budget and scope-complied project delivery to stakeholders’ satisfaction. This project management computer application/learning programme focuses on providing basic knowledge and practical skills to participants for successful delivery of small and medium-size projects within set time-frame, project budget and specifications. The use MS Project in project management helps greatly to contain very high percentage of project information which otherwise would require several files to keep them. The programme can be customised to meet specific organisational context, for example, aligned with specific policies in Governmental institutions such as PMFA.

Purpose of the course

At the end of the programme, participants will be able to encourage and promote the application of basic principles and computer practice of project management across the entire project lifecycle. Build a more solid computer practical foundation of project management knowledge, techniques and tools. Utilise project principles and practices, inclusive of computer-based software application in their work and enable participants to ultimately improve their project delivery in respect of time-frame, the budget allocated and the required specifications.

Admission requirements

Learning assumed to be in place
Basic Computer Skills.

Course outcomes and assessment criteria

Course outcomes and the associated assessment criteria

Study Unit

Outcomes

Assessment Criteria
  After completion of this course, participants will: Participant will be assessed on the following criteria:

MODULE 3 (US 252267):

DEVELOP AN OPTIMISED WORK AND RESOURCE SCHEDULE FOR A SIMPLE TO MODERATELY COMPLEX PROJECT (MS-PROJECT)

  • Work breakdown structure
  • Allocation of resources
  • Estimation of Duration
  • Create Milestones
  • Critical path method
  • Computerised Scheduling tools and techniques
  • The use of MS Project for project planning in respect of:
  • How to open an MS Project
  • Planning simple project:
  • Setting project properties
  • Setting project start date
  • Selecting project calendar and declaring non-working times
  • Creating main and sub-tasks
  • Scheduling tasks
  • Creating lag and lead times
  • Creating the WBS outline
  • Forming Net-Work-Diagram by Linking tasks
  • Modifying dependencies
  • Setting constraints
  • Adding notes to activities/tasks
  • Setting re-curing tasks
  • Preparing project costs sheet
  • Preparing resource sheet
  • Allocation/Assigning of resources
  • Checking of overallocated resources
  • Checking Net-Work-Diagram
  • Using the critical path wizard to identify the Critical Path
  • Checking project statistics (duration, work, total cost)
  • Adjusting the plan
  • Saving Baseline Plan
  • Print to-do-list of project
 1. Demonstrate an understanding of scheduling tools and techniques.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1

Explain the purpose of using schedules on a project with examples of the benefits derived.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2

Clarify with examples the process and techniques for developing a schedule appropriate to project type and/or project management needs.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3

Explain with examples the use of alternative start and finish dates on a schedule.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4

Describe with examples the process and techniques for resource planning appropriate to project type and/or project management needs.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5

Clarify with examples the process and techniques to optimise project schedules in order to complete the work within project constraints appropriate to project type and/or project management needs.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6

Explicate with examples different ways of representing a project schedule.
  2. Produce an initial work schedule.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1

Identify and describe activities in terms of the work required to address the scope of the project.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2

Define dependencies between activities and sequence activities to reflect the logic relationship of the work.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3

Estimate durations of activities, in consultation with experts, and/or in accordance with procedures.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4

Produce time-based work schedules in accordance with procedures and in the required format.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5

Identify and explain initial critical path in accordance with standard organisational procedures.
  3. Identify and estimate resources for each activity.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1

Define resource requirements by activity in accordance with agreed procedures and or standards.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2

Define per activity quantities of resources as per initial work schedule and in accordance with established procedures and or standards.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3

Research and compare resource availability and costs using agreed procedures and or standards.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4

Develop and agree to resource plan with relevant stakeholder in accordance with procedures and in the required format.
  4. Optimise the work and resource schedule.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1

Allocate resources to activities on the schedule according to resource plan, their availability, standards and procedures.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2

Identify and explain potential resource constraints, conflict, under or over utilisation situations in terms of their impact on the project work.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3

Undertake risk analysis of work and resources and document according to agreed procedures.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4

Adjust resource usage and work/activity timing to produce a realistic schedule.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5

Recognise realistic project schedule and work constraints and allocate resources for agreed and acceptable time frames.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6

Agree to optimised work and resource scheduling with responsible parties in accordance with agreed procedures.
  5. Compile the schedule and resource management plans.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1

Baseline Work and resource schedules are in accordance with standards and procedures.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2

Produce schedule management plan incorporating agreements in accordance with procedures and standards.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3

Create a resource management plan incorporating agreements in accordance with procedures and standards.
  • The use of MS Project for project implementation in respect of:
  • Updating of tasks/activities in terms of percent completion or duration
  • Entering Actual costs and Actual durations
  • Variance analysis (Actual costs vs. Budgeted: Actual durations vs. Planned durations) for decision making at progress meetings
  • Tracking of progress
  • Progress meeting reports on completed tasks/activities, on-going activities/tasks, tasks/activities behind schedule, over-budgeted activities)
 6. Update project tasks/activities during implementation, enter actual costs and actual durations of project activities/tasks, perform tracking and print progress reports

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1

Produce project activities and costs variance reports/print-outs of a small project planned and implemented using the MS Project in accordance with the project time, budget, and standards.

 

Method of assessment
Summative: Examination/ Case studies/ Group projects
Formative: Class tests /Assignments

Additional information

Target group
Individuals who are new to project management, business analysts, subject-matter experts from any field who contribute to projects, managers responsible for projects and experienced project managers looking to review current tools, techniques, and processes.

Contact us

Contact person name
UCE
Contact person e-mail
Uce-info@nwushortcourses.info
Enquiry Form
Application Form