I have a question that maybe someone could help answer. I am hoping to take a class on MS Project at my current job. It's only offered to managers and supervisors at this point. I would like to expand my knowledge of Miscrosoft offerings, along with increase my value as an assistant and possible look into wmving into a project manager position at some point. One of my supervisors is wondering how I could use MS Project in my current role....any thoughts.
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According to the Project Management Institute (pmi.org), the credentialing authority for all project managers, a project is the development of ANY activity that has a definite start and finish and which hasn't been done before. There are no size constraints except those imposed in the project scope.
Every project requires nine management plans -- scope management, HR management, procurement management, cost management, risk management, integration management (putting the nine areas together), communication management, quality control management, and time management. As you have already figured out, every project is nothing more than a series of tasks (in PM lingo, work breakdown structures or WBS) strung together to accomplish a final outcome. MS Project simply helps a project manager identify WBS's and put the nine plans together into interlocking timelines (Google or Wikipedia Ishikawa and Gantt charts).
The nine management plan areas are relatively self-explanatory. If you need more information, simply google for it. If you have the time, I recommend you research Project Management on Wikipedia and then follow your interests... Otherwise, you now have enough information to figure out how you can contribute to organization's project goals.
By the way, project management certification is big these days. There are project managers (PM's) and certified associate project managers (CAPM's). Visit PMI.org for more information and your local community college's adult education courses for more information.
You might also want to explore the similarities between event planning and project management. You will be surprised with what you discover!
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Anonymous on
9/4/2008 6:52:36 AM
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Go ahead and take the class if allowed by your seniors. In our positions any software is beneficial. At this point you can offer your assistance after learning the software. You can also offer this boss or others to take over or assist when he or she may need help.
As far as moving up, take classes outside of work to strengthen your skills and plan for the future.
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Lue Gallegos on
9/3/2008 8:33:57 PM
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Some features of Microsoft Project 2007 for the common user:
You can integrate Project 2007 tools with Microsoft Office applications.
Project 2007 helps you efficiently plan work ranging from small projects to large-scale operations. You can use Project 2007 to plan schedules, allocate resources, and manage budgets. You can easily track data and estimates such as percent complete, budget versus actual cost.
Project 2007 also enables you to use different formats for presenting information. In Project 2007, you can format data and present it in the form of reports, charts, PDF documents, and one-page printable schedules. To create reports, you can use ready-to-use report templates present in Project 2007. You can also create your own templates and share them with other users.
You can customise Project 2007 and efficiently export data to Microsoft Office Word, Microsoft Office Excel, and Microsoft Office PowerPoint by using the Copy Picture to Office Wizard.
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Robin Lewis on
9/3/2008 11:23:34 AM
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From an assistant standpoint, I see Project being for scheduling vents, paying invoices, listing tasks and building on project data. And it has the capabilities of transfering information from Excel and Outlook into the program through the use of features set up to specifically for that purpose, or so I've read. While I've never used it myself, I've relied on the old-fashioned filing system and Excel and Access, however, I do believe a program of this complexity can be beneficial if your position broadens on a wide scale of scheduling and your responsibilities are such that it woud be ideal in your day-to-day operations, to say the least. I do not believe, though, that just using the basics of the program would work, rather, if time permits, you should thoroughly investigate the program itself to see just how it could help you and the areas it would make the most difference, and once you've ascertained that you've concluded the program would be worth implemented into your current job description, then you should move forward with getting trained on how to use it.
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Rene Rivers on
9/3/2008 10:36:24 AM
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If YOU don't know how it will benefit you or how you could use it, you may not need to take it. I think your supervisor is valid in asking this question and seems to doubt the need for you to do so.
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Anonymous on
9/3/2008 10:33:49 AM
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Project is a very complex program and might very well be more than you need for some of the ideas I have, but...
Do you plan events? Especially big complex ones that involve input from others?
How about printing promotional materials or annual directories?
Any major mailings?
What I'm getting at here is that any project that requires multiple steps, particularly when there is overlapping responsibilities or input from others. (e.g. you need copy from marketing, before you can send it to a designer, but while waiting on that, you can make arrangements to get the mailing list data and print labels.)
My boss says he uses Project, but I haven't seen evidence of that yet. Meanwhile, I've been so buried since I started my job 7 months ago that, while I could use a system to better manage myriad details of my job, there's no time to commit to learning more than the very basics of the program. (I've settled on a 43-folder system, which is helping a LOT.)
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Anonymous on
9/3/2008 8:54:37 AM
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It can be used for event planning. You can use it as a timeline from scheduling the place to paying the invoices.
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Paula Kelly on
9/3/2008 8:53:48 AM
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