Hands-on Microsoft Project
14 PDUs / Contact Hrs, 2 SICS | 5 WW | 1 PS | 8 BA

Course Description

Learn how to use Microsoft Project like a professional from professionals. By leading participants through a series of progressive exercises that simulate an actual project, participants learn how to use MS Project as it is used on real projects. Our unique instructional methodology ensures that those with slower typing skills are not left behind. Learn how to avoid common mistakes, avoid frustration, and use MS Project to enhance your abilities as a project manager or project scheduler.

By course completion, participants have fully defined a project from beginning to end, and will have performed project updates and reporting.

Hands-on Microsoft Project is part of the Canadian Construction Association (CCA) Gold Seal Certification program. In addition to receiving 14 PDUs, participants will also earn 2 SICs credits.

Who Should Attend

The Hands-On Microsoft Project course is appropriate for the following:

• Project Managers
• Project Schedulers
• Anyone who is required to understand the capabilities of Microsoft Project or is required to access data from within Microsoft Project
• Both people who are new to using Microsoft Project as well as people who are currently using Microsoft Project who are self taught
• People from all industries (this course is not geared to any specific industry)

Note: Public workshops of this course are taught using Microsoft Project 2016 or Microsoft Project Online Desktop client. Because the differences in versions are minor, participants using MS Project versions 2013, 2016 or 2019 will also be able to attend this session. On-Site (at your corporate location) deliveries of MS Project may be taught in the version requested by the client (either Microsoft Project 2010, 2013, 2016 or 2019 or Microsoft Project Online Desktop Client).

Course Materials

• Course binder including step-by-step course exercises complete with many actual screen captures and advanced project tips, exercises and answers
• All applicable Microsoft Project data files used in the course
• Certificate of completion (framed for participants of in-house workshops)

Note: Participants who attend an open-enrollment (public) version of this workshop at our Mississauga, Toronto, Waterloo or Sudbury locations, are required to bring a laptop with a copy of MS Project installed. Participants who do not have MS Project may download a sixty day trial version for free from Microsoft. To do so, use the following link and choose the trial version of Project Plan 3: https://products.office.com/en-ca/project/compare-microsoft-project-management-software 

Participants who attend one of our Live Virtual Instructor Lead session, will also require a dual screen computer set-up (one screen for observing the instructor's computer and one for doing the hands-on exercises), a web camera, headset, and a high speed internet connection. Live Virtual Instructor Lead versions of this course use the same course materials and instructors as as our in-person sessions, but courses are held over four consecutive days from 12:30 - 4:00pm (Toronto - Eastern Time Zone).  For questions about this or any other version of the course, contact info@wcpconsulting.com 

Learning Outcomes

Through a series of progressive exercises which simulate the use of Microsoft Project on an actual project, participants completing this workshop will be able to…

Enter a fully defined project into Microsoft Project

• Set key-defaults in Microsoft Project to assist in more predictable performance
• Create and apply custom project, task and resource calendars, and understand how they interact with one another
• Enter tasks in a properly structured WBS
• Add duration estimates to tasks
• Assign project resources (work, material, and cost resources)
• Establish multiple cost rates for a given resource
• Work with MS Project task types (fixed work, fixed units, fixed duration)
• Determine when to make a task “effort driven” and when not to
• Set task dependencies and constraints
• Apply resources from a pre-defined resource pool

Analyze a project to identify resource and schedule conflicts

• Use Microsoft Project filters to help isolate problem areas within the project
• Identify and solve resource conflicts using a variety of techniques
• Analyze and solve scheduling conflicts

 Set the Project baseline then track and report project status

• Set the project baseline – and understand the various options available when doing so
• Update the schedule with actual task duration, resource usage, and costs
• Evaluate and adjust the schedule once project updates have been made
• Create meaningful status reports for key stakeholder groups

Prerequisites

Prior to taking the Hands-on Microsoft Project course, participants should already have a solid understanding of project management. Participants who have not had prior training in project management are therefore required to first take the following workshop:

Three day Project Management Essentials: Part 1 - the Fundamentals (or equivalent)

* This course can be applied towards a Canadian Construction Association (CCA) Gold Seal Certificate

** When taken at the University of Waterloo, this course may be applied towards a University of Waterloo Project Management Certificate.