A
Amy Sawvell
Does anyone know of any good videos for training for MS
Project 2003?????
Project 2003?????
S
Steve House
IMHO, learning MS Project requires more than the sort of "this is how to
work the software" training one can find in typical training videos.
Using the software itself is very straight forward, especially if you
are already familiar with MS Office applications in general. But using
it effectively requires not just software knowledge but more importantly
one also needs a firm foundation in the methodology and discipline of
project management in general. Effective training is not "How to use MS
Project" but rather "Project Management using MS Project." I'd
strongly recommend a classroom course of *at least* 2 days to get you
started.
work the software" training one can find in typical training videos.
Using the software itself is very straight forward, especially if you
are already familiar with MS Office applications in general. But using
it effectively requires not just software knowledge but more importantly
one also needs a firm foundation in the methodology and discipline of
project management in general. Effective training is not "How to use MS
Project" but rather "Project Management using MS Project." I'd
strongly recommend a classroom course of *at least* 2 days to get you
started.
M
M. Jacobs
Considering Steve's response, no wonder why everyone has such a disdain for Microsoft. Instead of helping, let's just pass the buck.
Amy, please post any helpful hints or sources, aside from "a classroom course of at least 2 days," that you come across. Many are in our boat.
All I can say, I got a good laugh at that reply.
Marc
Amy, please post any helpful hints or sources, aside from "a classroom course of at least 2 days," that you come across. Many are in our boat.
All I can say, I got a good laugh at that reply.
Marc
R
Roy J. O'Kelly
In general I'd agree that it will probably take you a very long time to get
any benefit from MS Project without some extensive self-study or classroom
training. I don't know of any videos and I don't believe that video training
of 1-2 hours could possibly prepare you to manage a project using the tool.
I would NOT agree that the tool is easy to use. There are options and
selections (e.g. task types) that need to be chosen so as to be consistent
with a particular scheduling strategy. Consider the following books as a
place to start.
Microsoft Project 2002 Bible Elaine Marmel - Hungry Minds Inc
Project 2002 Inside Out - Microsoft Press - Microsoft Press International
Also consider your local chapter of MPUG (Microsoft Project Users Group
www.mpug.org). You'll at least get a feel from other users of what kind of
effort is required to use the tool effectively. As you might imagine there
wouldn't be an MPUG if it was all that easy to use.
A fairly common scenario is for a person with no previous experience with
either project management or MS project to buy the box and think they're
going to whip up a schedule after a few hours with a manual. A few weeks
later they have a schedule, but it quickly falls apart when updating and
maintaining the schedule becomes an impossibly complex task. If you can't
afford to invest at least 2 weeks of training then don't bother. You'll be
just as successfull with a spreadsheet and have a lot less frustration.
While I have little use for Microsoft's legion of self proclaimed
professional project managers, there are some who give freely of credible
advice. This seems like such a case.
Regards
Roy
any benefit from MS Project without some extensive self-study or classroom
training. I don't know of any videos and I don't believe that video training
of 1-2 hours could possibly prepare you to manage a project using the tool.
I would NOT agree that the tool is easy to use. There are options and
selections (e.g. task types) that need to be chosen so as to be consistent
with a particular scheduling strategy. Consider the following books as a
place to start.
Microsoft Project 2002 Bible Elaine Marmel - Hungry Minds Inc
Project 2002 Inside Out - Microsoft Press - Microsoft Press International
Also consider your local chapter of MPUG (Microsoft Project Users Group
www.mpug.org). You'll at least get a feel from other users of what kind of
effort is required to use the tool effectively. As you might imagine there
wouldn't be an MPUG if it was all that easy to use.
A fairly common scenario is for a person with no previous experience with
either project management or MS project to buy the box and think they're
going to whip up a schedule after a few hours with a manual. A few weeks
later they have a schedule, but it quickly falls apart when updating and
maintaining the schedule becomes an impossibly complex task. If you can't
afford to invest at least 2 weeks of training then don't bother. You'll be
just as successfull with a spreadsheet and have a lot less frustration.
While I have little use for Microsoft's legion of self proclaimed
professional project managers, there are some who give freely of credible
advice. This seems like such a case.
Regards
Roy
for Microsoft. Instead of helping, let's just pass the buck.M. Jacobs said:
course of at least 2 days," that you come across. Many are in our boat.
S
Steve House
Who's passing the buck - and by the way, neither I nor any of the other
MVPs work for Microsoft. However I have worked as a consultant and
trainer in MS Project for over 10 years and as such I think I have a
little feel for the strong and weak points of both Project and the
different approaches to developing skills in its use. As such, I
responded with the best advice I have available. One doesn't need to be
trained as a professional writer to use MS Word and know everything
there is to know about the software but Project is a different critter
all together. To use it effectively one simply must have some
foundation knowledge in the formal discipline of Project Management,
specifically the CPM and PERT methodologies as codified by PMI, as they
are the basis for the way Project does its thing. Because it doesn't do
any hand-holding to speak of, without that foundation knowledge it's
very easy to create project plans in MSP that have no relation to
reality whatsoever. Project is a toolkit, and just like a knowledge of
Excel doesn't make you an accountant, a knowledge of just the software,
which is what video courses might be good at teaching, won't make you an
effective project manager able to use it properly in the larger context
of achieving one's business objectives.
--
Steve House
MS Project MVP
Visit http://www.mvps.org/project/faqs.htm for the FAQs
MVPs work for Microsoft. However I have worked as a consultant and
trainer in MS Project for over 10 years and as such I think I have a
little feel for the strong and weak points of both Project and the
different approaches to developing skills in its use. As such, I
responded with the best advice I have available. One doesn't need to be
trained as a professional writer to use MS Word and know everything
there is to know about the software but Project is a different critter
all together. To use it effectively one simply must have some
foundation knowledge in the formal discipline of Project Management,
specifically the CPM and PERT methodologies as codified by PMI, as they
are the basis for the way Project does its thing. Because it doesn't do
any hand-holding to speak of, without that foundation knowledge it's
very easy to create project plans in MSP that have no relation to
reality whatsoever. Project is a toolkit, and just like a knowledge of
Excel doesn't make you an accountant, a knowledge of just the software,
which is what video courses might be good at teaching, won't make you an
effective project manager able to use it properly in the larger context
of achieving one's business objectives.
--
Steve House
MS Project MVP
Visit http://www.mvps.org/project/faqs.htm for the FAQs
disdain for Microsoft. Instead of helping, let's just pass the buck.M. Jacobs said:
course of at least 2 days," that you come across. Many are in our boat.
B
Bat Cylde
Amy, a good book is Project 2003 Step-by-Step, combined with Project Managment for Dummies. Project SBS will teach you the analyitcial steps while Project Management for Dummies will teach you all the underling methology. Project Management is quite easy in general the previous poster tried to make it sound like rocket science, he must use it for a careeer
----- Amy Sawvell wrote: ----
Does anyone know of any good videos for training for MS
Project 2003????
----- Amy Sawvell wrote: ----
Does anyone know of any good videos for training for MS
Project 2003????
G
Gary L. Chefetz [MVP]
Marc:
If someone with no driving experience jumps into a Chevy Malibu, starts
driving and immediately crashes, is it GM's fault for not helping? Now let's
say the car is owned by a company and the company gave the car to the person
without checking to see if they had a driver's license, who's responsible?
If someone with no driving experience jumps into a Chevy Malibu, starts
driving and immediately crashes, is it GM's fault for not helping? Now let's
say the car is owned by a company and the company gave the car to the person
without checking to see if they had a driver's license, who's responsible?
for Microsoft. Instead of helping, let's just pass the buck.M. Jacobs said:
course of at least 2 days," that you come across. Many are in our boat.
S
Steve House
Considering that it is often a specialty at the MBA level and looking at the
requirements for the PMP or Comptia IT Project certifications, project
management is not a trivial pursuit either. Excellent recommendation on the
MS PRoject Step-by-Step book however. I use the first 1/3 of it during a
series of 2 day "Project Bootcamp" training classes I've put together and
cover the entire book in a 2 week MS Project module that's part of a 2 month
general PM course for people prepping to write the Comptia IT Project +
certification exam.
Steve House
MS Project MVP
while Project Management for Dummies will teach you all the underling
methology. Project Management is quite easy in general the previous poster
tried to make it sound like rocket science, he must use it for a careeer.
requirements for the PMP or Comptia IT Project certifications, project
management is not a trivial pursuit either. Excellent recommendation on the
MS PRoject Step-by-Step book however. I use the first 1/3 of it during a
series of 2 day "Project Bootcamp" training classes I've put together and
cover the entire book in a 2 week MS Project module that's part of a 2 month
general PM course for people prepping to write the Comptia IT Project +
certification exam.
Steve House
MS Project MVP
Managment for Dummies. Project SBS will teach you the analyitcial stepsBat Cylde said:
while Project Management for Dummies will teach you all the underling
methology. Project Management is quite easy in general the previous poster
tried to make it sound like rocket science, he must use it for a careeer.
M
Microfool
Steve,
I am considering becoming PMP certified, just as a trophy to my credits. Is the ceritification process just testing out? or do you have to get alot of recomendations and CEU's like I did when I got my CPA back in the 80's? I have taking online Project Management courses and have an MBA from Michigan Business School, been using MS Project since Project 98 and am using the new MS Project 2003 now.
I am considering becoming PMP certified, just as a trophy to my credits. Is the ceritification process just testing out? or do you have to get alot of recomendations and CEU's like I did when I got my CPA back in the 80's? I have taking online Project Management courses and have an MBA from Michigan Business School, been using MS Project since Project 98 and am using the new MS Project 2003 now.
S
Steve House
You can check the PMI website for the currenbt requirements. www.pmi.org
Essentially it is 6500 hours documentable work experience over the past 3 to
5 years, distributed over specific project management responsibilities, plus
65 academic units in pm related areas to qualify to write the exam.
Steve House
MS PRoject MVP
of recomendations and CEU's like I did when I got my CPA back in the 80's?
I have taking online Project Management courses and have an MBA from
Michigan Business School, been using MS Project since Project 98 and am
using the new MS Project 2003 now.
Essentially it is 6500 hours documentable work experience over the past 3 to
5 years, distributed over specific project management responsibilities, plus
65 academic units in pm related areas to qualify to write the exam.
Steve House
MS PRoject MVP
Is the ceritification process just testing out? or do you have to get alotMicrofool said:
of recomendations and CEU's like I did when I got my CPA back in the 80's?
I have taking online Project Management courses and have an MBA from
Michigan Business School, been using MS Project since Project 98 and am
using the new MS Project 2003 now.
S
Steve House
At least, those were the requirements last time I looked;.