Microsoft Project 2007 Level 1: Creating Project Tasks By Robin Peers ©Robin Peers, 2008Microsoft Project 2007Level 1 Creating Project Tasks Page 2 ABOUT THIS CLASS Regardless of job title, most of us have needed to act as a project manager, at one time or another. As a project manager, you need to gather information about tasks involved in creating a project, how to add resources to accomplish the tasks, and how to constrain and link tasks. Microsoft Office Project Standard or Professional 2007 acts as a tool to help you manage the information that you need to track to manage your projects effectively. In this course, you will create and modify a project plan. COURSE DESCRIPTION In this class, you will learn how to create and manipulate project plans in Microsoft Office Project 2007, including a few project management pointers and resources. You will also work with Microsoft Office Project 2007 to create a project plan from scratch, including setting a start date for the project, creating and linking tasks, and constraining tasks. COURSE OBJECTIVES • Review briefly project management terms and some available resources • Get started using Microsoft Office Project 2007 • Create a project plan • Manage tasks in a project planMicrosoft Project 2007Level 1 Creating Project Tasks Page 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS ABOUT THIS CLASS....................................................................................................................................2 COURSE DESCRIPTION.................................................................................................................................2 COURSE OBJECTIVES ..................................................................................................................................2 LESSON 1 PROJECT MANAGEMENT OVERVIEW AND RESOURCES...................................................5 A. DEFINING A PROJECT ...........................................................................................................................5 B. PROJECT MANAGEMENT IN A NUTSHELL (A BRIEF OVEVIEW)....................................................................5 C. ONLINE RESOURCES ...........................................................................................................................6 LESSON 2 GETTING STARTED USING MICROSOFT OFFICE PROJECT 2007 .....................................7 A. DISPLAYING A PROJECT PLAN IN DIFFERENT VIEWS ................................................................................7 ACTIVITY 2-1 DISPLAYING A PROJECT FILE IN DIFFERENT VIEWS ..................................................................8 LESSON 3 CREATING A PROJECT PLAN ...............................................................................................10 A. CREATE A NEW PROJECT PLAN ...........................................................................................................10 B. WORKING WITH PROJECT CALENDARS AND SETTING A PROJECT START DATE ........................................10 ACTIVITY 3-1 CREATING AND ASSIGNING THE PROJECT CALENDAR AND PROJECT START DATE.................11 C. ADDING TASKS ..................................................................................................................................14 ACTIVITY 3-2 ADDING TASKS...................................................................................................................14 D. ENTERING TASK DURATIONS...............................................................................................................16 ACTIVITY 3-3 ADDING DURATIONS ...........................................................................................................16 E. ADDING RESOURCES..........................................................................................................................19 ACTIVITY 3-4 ENTERING RESOURCES......................................................................................................19 LESSON 4 MANAGING TASKS IN A PROJECT PLAN.............................................................................21 A. OUTLINING TASKS..............................................................................................................................21 B. PROJECT SUMMARY TASKS.................................................................................................................21 ACTIVITY 4-1 OUTLINE TASKS AND SHOW PROJECT SUMMARY TASK........................................................23 C. LINKING DEPENDENT TASKS ...............................................................................................................24 ACTIVITY 4-2 LINK TASKS .......................................................................................................................26Microsoft Project 2007Level 1 Creating Project Tasks Page 4 D. CONSTRAINING TASKS .......................................................................................................................28 ACTIVITY 4-3 CONSTRAIN TASKS AND CHANGE RELATIONSHIP TYPES.........................................................29 E. MANAGING A PROJECT TO A “DEADLINE” TASK .....................................................................................30 F. TASK DEADLINES ...............................................................................................................................30 ACTIVITY 4-4 CREATE A TASK DEADLINE..................................................................................................31Microsoft Project 2007Level 1 Creating Project Tasks Page 5 LESSON 1 PROJECT MANAGEMENT OVERVIEW AND RESOURCES A. DEFINING A PROJECT What is a project? A project is a temporary endeavor undertaken to achieve particular goals and objectives. What is project management? Project management is the use of skills and knowledge to successfully plan, manage and complete a project. Project management skills are industry independent. B. PROJECT MANAGEMENT IN A NUTSHELL (A BRIEF OVEVIEW) What is project management? Project management is the application of knowledge, skills, tools and techniques to successfully plan, manage and complete a particular project. Who are stakeholders? Stakeholders are individuals and organizations actively involved in the project, who are affected by the outcome of the project and who may have influence over the project. They include: • Project team • Clients/Customers • Executive sponsor •