Microsoft Project Training - Where Do I Start?

Microsoft Project is the world's most popular project management software - but even regular users would often benefit from a better understanding of its full capabilities. Moreover new reporting and communications features in the 2007 release are well worth understanding.

Non users know it might be handy for drawing project schedules - but make do with an Excel imitation and fail to appreciate the powerful planning and tracking functionality. As project management becomes a core methodology underpinning most modern organizations it is time for companies and individuals to learn just how much more effective they could be by using Microsoft Project, alongside other everyday tools such as Word and PowerPoint.

This Guide explains the range of training options that are available

There is no simple answer! It depends very much on your current familiarity with projects and project management software tools. You also need to take into account the skill sets that you are looking to achieve.

Basic Awareness

- You want to be able to set up project timelines using Microsoft Project and understand the basic tracking and reporting functionality

- If you are starting from scratch we would recommend a 2 day Introductory (Level 1) course.

- If you already have some familiarity with the software (perhaps from an earlier release) then a 1 day course would be appropriate

- If you are totally new to a project environment then introductory project management training may be a useful start point. This will help you to understand project organisation and timelines

Advanced User

- You already know how to set up a project but you want to be confident in using Microsoft Project to update plans, produce custom reports and interface effectively with other programmes

- You have probably already been on a Level 1 course and should now choose an Advanced (Level 2) course

- Depending on your level of existing knowledge choose a 1 or 2 day course

Certified Professional

- If you need certification or you require the expertise to deploy Microsoft Project in an enterprise environment then follow the official Microsoft courses

- These will prepare you to take the relevant Microsoft exam

The content of these courses is explained in the following sections.

2. Introductory Courses - Level 1

If you need to understand how to build and manage project plans, an Introduction, or "Level 1", course in Microsoft Project will get you started. Courses cover the essential skills necessary to create and modify a project plan including tasks and resources. The emphasis will be on creating the initial plan. There are versions of these training courses tailored to align with both 2003 and 2007 releases of Microsoft Project.

o Build and edit a project plan

o Create and assign resources

o Manage project costs

o Track progress

o Filter and print project plans

o Communicate your plans

o Produce reports

There are options of one or two day courses depending upon your previous knowledge and experience. The one day course assumes basic awareness of projects and project planning - perhaps from an earlier version of Microsoft Project. If you are completely new to project management you will find it beneficial to attend a general project management introduction course first.

Please check the different training course outlines which may have a slightly different content. The Level 1 training is not accredited by Microsoft or associated with an exam. However, all Focus courses are developed and delivered by Microsoft partner companies with a deep knowledge of the subject.

3. Advanced Courses - Level 2

Advanced or "Level 2" Microsoft Project training courses are designed for existing MS Project users who want to add to their basic skills. They will also benefit Project Managers wishing to learn how to customize Microsoft Project to their own specific requirements. You will learn to use advanced features to plan, track and analyze variances from plan. The emphasis is on how you work with a plan in the implementation phase.

o Resolve resource over-allocations

o Manage multiple projects

o Integrate MS Project with other Office applications

o Customize the MS Project interface (fields, tables, views, filters and reports)

o Record and run simple macros

o Exchange project plan data with other applications including Excel & Word

o Create and print custom reports

o Import data

o Track project progress

There are versions of these training courses tailored to align with both 2003 and 2007 releases of Microsoft Project. There are also options of one or two day courses depending upon your previous knowledge and experience.

Please check the different training course outlines which may have slightly different course content.

The Level 2 training is not accredited by Microsoft or associated with an exam. However, all Focus courses are developed and delivered by Microsoft partner companies with a deep knowledge of the subject.

4. Microsoft Certified Training & Qualifications

Microsoft operates a comprehensive structure of internationally recognised certifications. Project 2007 skills have recently been incorporated into the MCTS (Certified Technology Specialist) and MCITP (Certified IT Professional) framework.

The MS5927 "Managing Projects" course is a 3 day course which provides the entry point for the other Project 2007 training. A basic knowledge of project management and experience of using MS Project to create project schedules are pre-requisites.

Microsoft Dynamics Navision Grand Slam - Score Big With This Business Solution

An efficient company is an effective company. Whatever the nature of your business, it requires a single-minded focus in order for you to stay a step ahead of your competitors and meet the demands of your customers. You need to focus on your business, not your business solution.

Microsoft Dynamics NAV (formerly Microsoft Navison) provides streamlining integration of critical business components:

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Customizable and user-friendly, Microsoft Dynamics NAV is the perfect tool for which to organize your business for growth...and this solution can grow with your business. Bring this MVP to your team, and you won't need to trade up or release it later.

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The Microsoft Small Business Specialist Certification

The Microsoft Small Business Specialist certification is designed to show that a company has proven experiencing in designing and implementing IT solutions for small businesses. It gives the company benefits that are only available to certified small business specialists including additional technical and sales support.

To gain the Small Business Specialist certification the company must first be a Microsoft partner. This can be either a registered partner or a Microsoft Certified Partner. Each has its own entry requirements that can be found on the Microsoft website. The company must also take a Microsoft Action Pack subscription and pass a Sales and marketing skills assessment. This is a small test that is taken online to verify that the applicant has the necessary knowledge to be able to sell appropriate IT solutions to small businesses.

The last requirement is that the company employs someone who has passed one of the required Microsoft technical exams. The most common exam to take is the Small Business server exam. Before switching to the 2008 exams this was the 70-282 Planning, Deploying, and Managing a Network Solution for the Small and Medium-Sized Business. With the 2008 exams you can now take the Windows Small Business Server 2008, Configuring certification.

When the requirements have been met you have access to several benefits including partner logos and specialist support. This gives you access to another level of support which includes 5 free incidents a year. There is also an active online community which you gain access to, this is helpful for resolving difficult technical issues and for getting help on selling solutions to small businesses.