UNSW Canberra

Introduction to Microsoft Project

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Enrol

This course currently has no scheduled dates. To express interest in this course or to discuss bespoke options for yourself or your organisation, please submit an expression of interest or contact the Professional Education Team on +61 2 5114 5573 or profedcourses@adfa.edu.au
Duration

3 days

Delivery mode

Online or face-to-face

Location

Canberra

Standard price

$2,850.00

Defence price

$2,850.00

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Overview

This course provide attendees with an understanding of the processes for managing projects using Microsoft Project (MS Project) as one of the most widely used tools for project management. The course uses several practical exercises to reinforce parcipants' understanding of project management and the use MS Project for managing sample real-life projects. The exercises are conducted as a combination of tutorials and activities that step through the various project management activities, focusing on developing work breakdown structure, project schedule and budget, allocating and managing resources and optimising their use, and managing project baselines and controlling project using MS Project. 

No prior knowledge or experience is assumed.

Course content

Project Management Framework

  • Introduction to project management
  • Using MS Project for developing Work Breakdown Structure
  • Using MS Project for developing Project Schedule Management
  • Using MS Project for Resource Management
  • Using MS Project for developing Project Budget
  • Using MS Project for developing Project Baseline
  • Using MS Project for Project Control.

Introduction to Project Management

Reviewing project management concepts and available tools and applications, and also visualisation of project data.

Using MS Project for developing Work Breakdown Structure

  • Scope definition and planning
  • Develop Work Breakdown Structure
  • Manage Gantt Chart
  • Identify WBS elements (the link between Business plan and WBS).

Using MS Project for developing Project Schedule Management 

  • Develop Project Schedule
  • Develop Network Diagram
  • Find and Manage Critical Path.

Using MS Project for Resource Management

  • Defining Resources
  • Set up a Resource Calendar
  • Resources Allocation
  • Managing Resource Overload
  • Resource Optimisation
  • Resource levelling
  • Resource smoothing
  • Schedule Compression.

Using MS Project for developing Project Budget

  • Develop Project Cost Baseline
  • Develop Bottom-up Project Budget
  • Develop Summary Project Budget.

Using MS Project for developing Project Baseline

  • Baseline Project Plan
  • First Time Baseline
  • Subsequent Baselines.

Using MS Project for Project Control

  • Calculating Schedule based on Actual Reports
  • Analysing Impact of Cost and Time Variance
  • Define Performance update process
  • Updating Project Schedule.

Exercise 1 – WBS

An exercise to develop a work breakdown structure with MS Project and use Gantt chart.

Exercise 2 – Project Schedule

An exercise to develop a project schedule and identify the critical path(s) in MS Project.

Exercise 3 – Resource allocation and management

An exercise to set up resources and a resource calendar to support resource management and resource optimisation techniques in MS Project.

Exercise 4 – Project budget

An exercise to develop project cost baseline and project budget in MS Project.

Exercise 5 – Project baseline 

An exercise to baseline project plan in MS Project.

Exercise 6 – Project control

An exercise to incorporate actual reports in MS Project and manage cost and schedule variances.

Learning outcomes

Skills/competencies/knowledge that would be gained through this course:

Who should attend

This course is for anyone who needs an understanding of project management, including, but not exclusive to:

  • project and program managers
  • sustainment and acquisition project managers
  • aspiring project managers 
  • cost analysts
  • schedule analysts
  • systems engineers
  • technical staff
  • logistic managers
  • capability development staff
  • infrastructure planners
  • capability managers
  • contract/procurement managers
  • engineers
  • engineering managers
  • business managers 
  • procurement officers.

Facilitator

Dr Alireza Abbasi

Dr Alireza Abbasi is Director of Postgraduate Studies and Coordinator of Project Management programs at UNSW Canberra. He obtained his PhD in Project Management from the University of Sydney in 2012 before joining the School of Engineering & Information Technology (SEIT) at UNSW Canberra. He also holds a graduate certificate in University Learning and Teaching from UNSW Sydney. His research and teaching interests include project management, management science, information systems management and network science. He has written a book, three book chapters and more than 60 technical journal and conference papers.  

Dr Abbasi has had several appointments and been involved in different projects in IT/Software, oil, education and R&D sectors. He is an active member of several professional bodies including the Australian Institute of Project Management (AIPM), Project Management Institute (PMI), and Australian & New Zealand Academy of Management (ANZAM).

Cancellation policy

Courses will be held subject to sufficient registrations. UNSW Canberra reserves the right to cancel a course up to five working days prior to commencement of the course. If a course is cancelled, you will have the opportunity to transfer your registration or be issued a full refund. If registrant cancels within 10 days of course commencement, a 50% registration fee will apply. UNSW Canberra is a registered ACT provider under ESOS Act 2000-CRICOS provider Code 00098G.