Project

I'd begin by establishing a strong understanding of basic project management concepts like tasks, duration, dependencies, resources, and the project lifecycle. Then, I'd introduce them to the Microsoft Project interface, guiding them through the Ribbon, Backstage view, the crucial Gantt Chart view, and other essential views like the Task Usage and Resource Sheet. I'd also show them how to customize the interface to their liking.

Next, we'd jump into setting up a new project, focusing on defining the project start/finish dates, configuring calendar settings (working days, holidays), and understanding project properties.

The core of our learning would revolve around defining tasks. I'd teach them how to enter tasks, estimate and input durations, and organize them logically using a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) with indentation and outdenting. A critical skill would be establishing task relationships (dependencies) like Finish-to-Start to build the project schedule logic. We'd also cover applying task constraints and deadlines to manage scheduling effectively.

Then, we'd move on to managing resources. I'd explain how to define different resource types (work, material, cost) in the Resource Sheet, including setting their availability and costs. A key step would be learning how to assign resources to tasks and understanding the impact on the schedule and budget. If needed, we'd also explore the concept and tools for resource leveling to resolve over allocations.

Working with the project schedule would be another significant area. I'd teach them how to interpret the Gantt Chart, understanding task bars, dependencies, slack time, and identifying the critical path. We'd also cover using filters and sorting to analyze specific aspects of the schedule. Crucially, I'd guide them on tracking progress by updating task status (percent complete, actual dates, remaining duration) and setting a baseline to compare planned versus actual performance.

Finally, we'd delve into reporting and analysis. I'd introduce them to the standard reports available in Project and show them how to customize reports and potentially create visual reports to communicate project information effectively.

Throughout our sessions, my emphasis would be on practical application through real-world examples and hands-on exercises. I'd encourage them to actively participate, ask questions, and would provide step-by-step guidance and troubleshooting support. My goal would be to empower them with the skills to confidently plan, execute, and track their projects using Microsoft Project. As their proficiency grows, we could explore more advanced features like master projects, subprojects, and earned value management.