Posted on 06/25/2024 by Niko Venev
One of the first responsibilities of a project manager is to decide which software to use to perform project management tasks. In most cases, they choose between Microsoft Project and Excel. The particular software used will depend on a project manager's preferences and needs, but it's important to carefully compare the two before making this decision.
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No. Microsoft Project and Excel are two separate programs with distinct functionalities. While some users may attempt to use Excel like Microsoft Project, even going so far as to create an ad hoc Gantt chart view of projects, Microsoft Project's features have been specifically designed to streamline project management tasks through its intuitive interface and templates. Those who use Excel for project management tasks often find that they need a specific set of Excel skills to accomplish their goals.
When considering whether to choose MS Project or Excel for your project management needs, you should know that MS Project has a reputation for getting more granular with project information. For example, when assessing your tasks' status, MS Project will list dependency information from most to least important. It can also provide a highly visual representation of task dependency relationships, which can help you understand how and why tasks need to be completed in a specific order. The software can even advise you on how modifications can affect project timelines. In this way, Microsoft Project offers more detailed summaries and convenient breakdowns of projects than Excel.
If you work within a corporate environment and use an enterprise version of Microsoft Project, like Microsoft Project Server, you'll be treated to a bird's-eye view of your company's resource pool. You'll have access to updated lists of resources, which can save you time when assigning your company's resources to your project's designated tasks. It can also alert you when resources aren't being used prudently. Excel doesn't have this capability.
Project wins here, too. Microsoft Project treats time like a precious resource and offers a clear understanding of a project's critical path. Users often appreciate knowing that they can set task durations to assignments. MS Project can also make allowances for staff training time or networking needs. And Microsoft Project allows changes that you make to your schedule to be automatically reflected across all of your data. This, in turn, can give you a clearer view of your project's timeline and help you learn how to address unforeseen delays or client requests./p>
Excel can also aid you in tracking a project's progress and give you updates on the time left for completion, but users will have to employ special formulas and drop-down menu manipulation to assess this information.
Since Microsoft Project has been specifically designed to facilitate project management, it has more robust communication features than Microsoft Excel. Comments can be added to projects, which can facilitate collective understanding. Its calendar, accessible to all team members, offers a convenient view of the progress of a project. And if access to more communication tools are needed, MS Project can be integrated with more advanced communication software like Skype. Automatic reminders can also be scheduled to ensure that team members can attend meetings and stay on track to meet deadlines.
Generating reports in Microsoft Project can give you convenient summaries of your project's status to provide to people who may not have the need or desire to read through technical data. These reports can be highly visual, giving audiences a clear and succinct way to assess a project's status when you use Microsoft Project; Excel can be used to create visuals as well, but it's a much more laborious process. In addition, MS Project offers ways to study several different projects at once without having to switch views.
When they compare Microsoft Project vs. Excel, most project managers choose MS Project for their project management needs, though Excel still has its proponents. No matter which software is right for your needs, though, you'll often find that it comes with a significant learning curve. That's why Certstaffix Training has created hands-on training classes that can efficiently teach you how to use either program to its full potential. Enroll in MS Project classes to master this software in just one or two days, or choose our Excel courses to become a spreadsheet pro in less than a week. Either way, you'll get training designed by a professional instructor to help you learn as quickly and easily as possible. Enroll today!