Planning and Control Using Microsoft Project and PMBOK Guide: Updated for Microsoft Office Project 2007

This is a user guide and training manual written for Project Management Professionals following the "PMBOK[registered] Guide Third Edition" who wish to learn how to schedule projects in a single project environment with or without Resources with Microsoft Project. The book is packed with screen shots, constructive tips and is suitable as a training course handout, for learning the software or as a reference book. The book contains workshops with solutions at the end of each chapter for the reader to practice the skills taught in the chapter. The book is based on the Microsoft Project 2007 but may be used with Microsoft Project 2000, 2002 or 2003 as the book points out the differences. This book was written for people learning to use Microsoft Project in a project environment applying the "PMBOK[registered] Guide Third Edition" processes. It aims to teach readers how to plan and control projects created within the software package and stays focused on explaining how to use Microsoft Project to schedule projects by: explaining which "PMBOK[registered] Guide" processes the software will support and which it will not support; and concentrating on the core functions required to plan and schedule a project. It also presents workable solutions to real day to day planning and scheduling problems and contains practical advice on how to set up the software and import data; each subject is covered in one chapter and the reader does not have to flick backwards and forwards through the book to read about a subject; explains some of the important difference between Microsoft Project and other scheduling software; explains some of the more difficult calculations often omitted in other books; includes exercises to reinforce the learning outcomes, a large number of screen dumps, numerous tips, a detailed index and command list at the start of each chapter as a quick reference; and it has a chapter dedicated to the new functions available in Microsoft Project 2007.

Table of Contents:
1 Introduction 2 Creating a Project Plan 3 Creating Projects and Setting up the Software 4 Navigating Around the Screen 5 Defining Calendars 6 Adding Tasks 7 Organizing Tasks Using Outlining 8 Formatting the Display 9 Adding Task Dependencies 10 Network Diagram View 11 Constraints 12 Filters 13 Views, Tables and Details 14 Printing and Reports 15 Tracking Progress 16 Grouping Tasks, Outline Codes and WBS 17 Options 18 Creating Resources 19 Assigning Resources and Costs to Tasks 20 Resource Histograms, Tables, S-Curves & Leveling 21 Statusing Projects with Resources 22 Tools and Techniques for Scheduling 23 What Is New In Microsoft Project 24 Items Not Covered in This Book 25 Appendix 1 - Screens Used To Create Views 26 Index

About the Author :
Paul Harris holds an Honours Degree in Civil Engineering obtained in the UK and is a Certified Cost Engineer through AACEI International, a certified PRINCE2 Practitioner and Approved PRINCE2 Trainer. He has worked in the project controls industry for a number of years and has assisted many companies in a range of industries to set up and run project controls systems. His Melbourne, Australia based company, Eastwood Harris Pty Ltd, offers project controls consulting and training services with a strong focus on Microsoft Project and Primavera software.

Review :
A. Larry Aaron CCE President, T&M Concepts Las Vegas, NV www.tandmconcepts.com Microsoft's has released Microsoft Project 2007--and Paul Harris has kept in step by writing a reference and user's guide to help utilize MS-Project in concert with PMI's PMBOK.. This book is useful for students and teachers in the classroom, and by project management and scheduling practitioners, both new and experienced. It is a rewrite of Harris' recent book, "Planning and Scheduling Using Microsoft(R) Project 2007." This new book addresses the latest features and carry-over functions of Microsoft's latest release to the project management public with a PMI/PMBOK spin. Sustaining his clear and concise manner of writing, Harris explains the basic and intermediate functions, both new and carry-over, of using Microsoft(R) Project. The book covers most available functions and features, and adds complexity gradually and palatably as the users work their way through the book's 24 detailed chapters of content and reference information. Like the MS Project 2003, 2002, and 2000 books, Harris takes some pretty complicated topics like "how duration, work, resources, and units trade-off with each other" and makes it seem like anybody can learn to use the software. Harris' books continue to be functionally organized, not by menu item. So, if you are using the book as a reference manual or help guide, it's easy to find a particular topic since you don't have to know which menu the function is called up from--you just need to know the subject that you are looking for. The detailed index at the back is thorough and handy. Harris also provides a list of menus and related sub-menus at the beginning of most chapters for people who cannot remember how to find or use a particular function. Having used his books for several years as training manuals for my own scheduling classes, I see how effective the workshop exercises are in giving students an opportunity to practice the lessons taught by the immediately preceding text--the only way to really learn complicated software applications. And the book is not just aimed at software usage. It is loaded with PMI's recommended practices per its own PMBOK. Paul Harris has succeeded in explaining how to plan, schedule and track projects using Microsoft(R) Project 2007 within the practices prescribed by PMI's PMBOK. I recommend reading and using it. Bruce McNaughton Director, Customer Driven Solutions www.process-aide.com An accurate and maintainable project plan is critical for project success. Paul Harris has created a book that not only introduces a very powerful Project Management tool, Microsoft Project 2007, and he also provides PMBoK process context and the steps to ensure that a plan is created that is accurate and maintainable!!. The guidance in the book stresses the importance of setting up MS Project first before entering a plan by explaining how some of the subtle and critical settings influence the use of the product. In addition, Paul has provided a single example project that is developed through a series of workshops in the context of the PMBoK processes. Each workshop includes a set of correct answers and screen shots to confirm the correct use and understanding of the way MS Project helps project managers manage their planning data. The screen shots are carefully crafted to communicate each step of the way supported by text that is clear and written for the project manager in their language. I highly recommend the book as the basis for learning Microsoft Project in a workshop training or individual study environment.