Course Details

Microsoft Project Advanced Techniques & Automation Training Course: Leveraging advanced features and automation within MS Project

Introduction

Elevate your project management prowess and master the full capabilities of Microsoft Project with our "Microsoft Project Advanced Techniques & Automation" training course. Beyond basic scheduling, MS Project offers a wealth of advanced features and automation possibilities crucial for managing complex initiatives efficiently and effectively. This intensive 10-day program equips experienced project professionals with in-depth knowledge of advanced functionalities, formula creation, custom reporting, and Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) to streamline processes, enhance analysis, and boost productivity. Learn to transform MS Project from a simple planning tool into a powerful, automated project control center, ensuring greater accuracy, control, and strategic insight for all your projects.

Duration

10 Days

Target Audience

This course is designed for experienced project managers, program managers, PMO analysts, project schedulers, project controllers, and power users of Microsoft Project who wish to significantly enhance their proficiency, automate repetitive tasks, and gain deeper insights from their project data. It is particularly beneficial for those in:

• Organizations managing large, complex, or interconnected projects.
• Roles requiring advanced reporting, analysis, and customization of project data.
• Industries with highly detailed scheduling and resource management needs.
• Professionals seeking to improve efficiency and reduce manual effort in MS Project.
• Users looking to integrate MS Project with other data sources or automate workflows.

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of the "Microsoft Project Advanced Techniques & Automation" training course, participants will be able to:

• Master advanced scheduling techniques, including critical chain, multiple baselines, and complex dependencies.
• Effectively manage resources across multiple projects, addressing over-allocations and optimizing utilization.
• Design and utilize custom fields, formulas, and graphical indicators for tailored project tracking and reporting.
• Create sophisticated custom reports and visual dashboards to communicate project health and progress.
• Leverage advanced filtering, grouping, and sorting capabilities for in-depth data analysis.
• Understand and apply Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) to automate routine tasks within MS Project.
• Develop macros and custom functions to extend MS Project's capabilities.
• Integrate MS Project data with other applications (e.g., Excel, SharePoint) for enhanced reporting and collaboration.
• Optimize project plans for performance, efficiency, and data integrity.
• Formulate a strategic approach for implementing advanced MS Project techniques and automation in their organization.

Course Modules

Module 1: Advanced Scheduling & Dependency Management

• Critical Chain Project Management: Buffers, fever charts, and managing constraint resources.
• Advanced dependency types: Start-to-Start (SS), Finish-to-Start (FS), Start-to-Finish (SF), Finish-to-Finish (FF) with lead/lag.
• Using custom calendars for complex work patterns.
• Task types: Fixed Duration, Fixed Work, Fixed Units and their impact on scheduling.
• Understanding and troubleshooting schedule logic errors.

Module 2: Advanced Resource Management & Optimization

• Resource leveling: Understanding different methods and their impact.
• Resource calendars and availability management.
• Managing resource pools across multiple projects.
• Addressing resource over-allocations with advanced techniques (e.g., leveling options, resource assignments).
• Analyzing resource utilization and capacity planning.

Module 3: Custom Fields, Formulas, and Graphical Indicators

• Creating and managing custom fields: Text, Number, Date, Duration, Cost, Flag.
• Developing complex formulas for custom fields to calculate unique metrics.
• Using graphical indicators (traffic lights, symbols) for visual reporting based on custom field values.
• Conditional formatting for highlighting key project data.
• Integrating custom fields into views and reports.

Module 4: Advanced Reporting and Visual Analysis

• Creating custom reports from scratch: Tables, charts, dashboards.
• Leveraging the Visual Reports feature for data export to Excel and Visio.
• Using pivot tables and pivot charts in Excel for advanced MS Project data analysis.
• Building professional-grade executive dashboards from project data.
• Techniques for presenting complex project data clearly and concisely.

Module 5: Baselines, Interim Plans, and Progress Tracking

• Setting and managing multiple baselines for complex projects and phased releases.
• Using interim plans for detailed progress tracking and variance analysis.
• Advanced earned value management (EVM) tracking and reporting in MS Project.
• Tracking actuals vs. planned: Cost, work, and duration.
• Analyzing performance indexes (CPI, SPI) for proactive decision-making.

Module 6: Cross-Project Dependencies and Master Projects

• Creating and managing master projects and subprojects.
• Linking tasks between separate projects for cross-project dependencies.
• Managing shared resource pools across master projects.
• Best practices for maintaining integrity and performance of master projects.
• Overcoming challenges in managing large, interconnected project portfolios.

Module 7: Introduction to VBA for MS Project Automation

• Understanding the Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) environment in MS Project.
• Recording, editing, and running basic macros.
• The Project Object Model: Understanding project elements as objects.
• Writing simple VBA code to interact with tasks, resources, and views.
• Debugging VBA code and handling errors.

Module 8: Automating Tasks with VBA Macros

• Automating repetitive project management tasks (e.g., updating progress, formatting reports, exporting data).
• Creating custom buttons and forms for user-friendly macro execution.
• Developing macros for custom data validation and cleanup.
• Automating recurring reporting processes.
• Practical examples of VBA solutions for common PM challenges.

Module 9: Integrating MS Project with Other Applications

• Advanced data export and import techniques with Excel.
• Leveraging ODBC connections for connecting to databases.
• Integrating MS Project with SharePoint for document management and collaboration.
• Utilizing external data sources for dynamic project planning and reporting.
• Basics of using MS Project data with Power BI for advanced analytics.

Module 10: Optimizing MS Project Performance & Best Practices

• Performance considerations for large project files.
• Best practices for data integrity and file maintenance.
• Customizing the Ribbon and Quick Access Toolbar for personalized efficiency.
• Troubleshooting common MS Project issues and errors.
• Formulating a strategic approach to standardize and optimize MS Project usage within your organization.
• Personalized action plan for implementing advanced techniques and automation.

CERTIFICATION

• Upon successful completion of this training, participants will be issued with Macskills Training and Development Institute Certificate

TRAINING VENUE

• Training will be held at Macskills Training Centre. We also tailor make the training upon request at different locations across the world.

AIRPORT PICK UP AND ACCOMMODATION

• Airport pick up and accommodation is arranged upon request

TERMS OF PAYMENT

Payment should be made to Macskills Development Institute bank account before the start of the training and receipts sent to info@macskillsdevelopment.com