Posted on 10/25/2023 by Niko Venev
Many project managers have turned to Microsoft Project when they're looking for ways to keep their teams organized and boost their productivity. MS Project assists with creating project schedules, planning timelines, controlling projects, defining tasks for each teammate, assigning resources, and tracking progress. Like with any software, it can take some time and effort to learn all the different intricacies of the program, but by learning some of the common shortcuts and tips for improving efficiency in MS Project any project manager can utilize it to enhance their own skills. There are so many MS Project tips to consider, but project managers may find that some are more tailored to their specific needs than others.
Live Microsoft Project Instructor-led Courses |
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Course Title | Length | Price (USD) |
Project - Level 1 | 1 day | $350 |
Project - Level 2 | 1 day | $350 |
Project - Combo (Levels 1 & 2) | 2 days | $625 |
Self-Paced Microsoft Project eLearning |
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Course Title | Length | Price (USD) |
Project 2016/2019 eLearning Bundle | 6 courses | $300 |
Project 365 eLearning Bundle | 6 courses | $300 |
Project 2016/2019: Part 1 - Beginner | 5 courses | $150 |
Project 2016/2019: Part 2 - Advanced | 5 courses | $150 |
Project 365: Part 1 - Beginner | 5 courses | $150 |
Project 365: Part 2 - Advanced | 5 courses | $150 |
Of all the Microsoft Project tips and tricks, one of the most beneficial ones for project managers to gain insight into team progress is to change the views because each one offers different insights and caters to varying needs.
Baselines serve as a reference point for project managers to look to when they're comparing the project progress to the original plan. In MS Project, you can set up to 11 baselines to get a better idea of whether or not the project is heading in the right direction. Baselines can be set for specific tasks or projects as a whole and appear as a gray bar that can be used as a source for noticing any deviations from the plan.
When looking for tips for MS Project, one of the most important ones to consider is utilizing templates on the software to help save time in the long run, especially if you are constantly creating your own templates every single time you start a new project. Instead, you can utilize the default MS Project template or you can create your own and save it to utilize for the next one. Templates are completely customizable so they can be edited and tweaked to fit every single project, no matter how different they may be. You can save a file as a template by:
It will be saved as that template and when you want to use that template again for another project. Simply locate the saved file and click Open.
When used correctly, project managers will find that MS Project is a great way to efficiently manage their teams. For those who are new to the software, there's a bit of a learning curve involved to learn all the different tricks and tips MS Project has to offer. That's why it can be beneficial for new project managers to take a Microsoft Project learning course where they can learn all the nuances of the program that they may not have picked up quickly if they tried to learn on the fly. Certstaffix Training makes it simple for project managers to learn this software with our professionally taught courses that can either be taken online or onsite. Students will always have a live instructor available to answer any questions they may have so when they're done, they feel confident that they've learned as many Microsoft Project tips and tricks as possible to better utilize it while managing their team.