uCertify Introduces Microsoft Project 2019 Course

Microsoft Project 2019 course has been designed to address the needs of project managers in corporate environments. There are no specific prerequisites for this course, however, candidates are expected to have some prior knowledge of project management procedures and practices. The course helps you in applying this knowledge through the use of Microsoft Project as a project management tool.

uCertify Introduces Microsoft Project 2019 Course

The course is divided into two parts:

Microsoft Project 2019 Level 1: After completing level 1 candidates will gain knowledge in navigating the important features of the Microsoft Project environment, creating a new project schedule from scratch,  working with resources, including scheduling and assignment, scheduling options, working with task types, and task constraints. Candidates will also understand about managing the project schedule in accordance with the critical path and project baseline, printing project views, dashboards, and various other kinds of reports.

Microsoft Project 2019 Level 2: After completing level 2, candidates will know how to work with the Quick Access Toolbar and advanced calendar topics, add task notes; set task deadlines and priorities; group, sort, filter, highlight, and add fixed costs to tasks. They will also understand how to group, sort, filter, and highlight resources; set resource working-time exceptions and pool resources for sharing; and create resource budget cost items. Candidates will gain expertise to work with multiple baselines and interim plans, update a project schedule using a status date, resolve resource conflicts and scheduling issues; use the task form, task details form, and task name form; use the resource form and resource name form; understand the relationship diagram and compound views; consolidate projects using master projects and sub-projects; work with Project Online, Project Server, and SharePoint, use project data in other applications, and create the final reports.

Microsoft Project 2019 course comes with labs. These labs provide a real-world learning environment by simulating software and applications. They can be mapped to any course or textbook and adds value and a “hands-on” component to virtually any training.

So, check out the uCertify course and start learning Microsoft Project 2019 features today.

How to Write a Proper Project Management Plan?

You have a big project and you know that the basis of successfully executing lies in the project management plan. The pressure is rising. But there is no need for you to get overwhelmed because all you need is some guidance on how to write the project management plan.

Writing a project management plan will help you present important elements such as goals, objectives, timelines, and so on. If you know how to put those ideas and plans in writing effectively, you’ll be able to have everyone on your side in no time. To speed things up, these tips on how to write a proper project management plan will save you from stressing about how your plan will turn out. Let’s get started!

How to Write a Proper Project Management Plan?

Identify Clients’ Needs and Expectations

Clients are the ones who need to accept your plan and see potential in it. Instead of writing and rewriting the plan numerous times, talk to the clients at the very beginning.

Discuss with them their goals, ideas, the value of the project, expectations, budget, timeline, etc. Ask anything that will help you determine what they want. 

Having this information clearly defined from the very start will instantly give you pointers on what you need to focus on and in which direction your planning should go. 

Write everything they say and prepare a basis for your plan. Use a Scope Statement Document to ensure that everyone is on the same page. 

Set Out Goals

Based on research, the executive leaders claim that a lack of clear goals accounts for 37% of project failure.

Clear goals help you plan out deadlines, requirements, and tasks that need to be fulfilled. 

There is an organizational goal-setting tool used by Google and Intel. It is called Objective & Key Results (OKRs). This goal setting technique can help you identify and set your goals.

You can create a project plan board for your goals to have an overview of your ideas and how the process should go to meet the planned goals. 

Scrum_vs_Kanban_Board_Building_Project_Plan_1.jpg

Source: Wrike

What is important during the goal-setting phase is that you also prioritize them. If you don’t prioritize the goals it will affect the project process. 

Discuss Your Plan with Your Team

Every project consists of a team of people who will be designated to execute that plan. Those people are just as important as the project manager.

Get in touch with your team and express your ideas and goals. Ask them about the timeline, whether they find it manageable. Consider their ideas and suggestion.

In this way, you’ll look at your plan more objectively. If your team agrees with your ideas, you’ll know that you can look forward to successful cooperation. 

“Clear communication is essential for writing a good project management plan. Your team is the one who will turn your ideas to life, and they can give you a different perspective on some of your ideas,” advises George Harned, a project manager at TopWritersReview.

Create a Schedule

A project schedule can sometimes be the toughest for project managers to determine. The reason why is that you need to calculate how much time each task demands in order to determine the final deadline.

You need to think about deadlines within the project as well as the final deadline. Setting just the final deadline will give you too much space to improvise during the project execution and that is not advisable.

Creating a clear schedule will also make the project more manageable and give the team a better structure and organization.

If you want to visualize your schedule, try out the Gantt chart tool. Those who are visual learners can have a better understanding of the project’s organization if they can see and follow up on the timeline.  

Резултат слика за gantt chart

Source: TemplateLab

Set Milestones

Firm milestones are a must for a successful project. They need to be in line with the timeline.

Every team member should know their timeline and milestone because the work they do affects whether the project will be developed according to plan. 

Stating milestones in advance will help you show the clients that you have a specific plan in mind. It will also help your team members understand their duties and obligations. 

These project planning steps will help you meet the goals as well as meet the set deadlines. 

Not to mention that milestones make it easier for the project manager to keep track of the project process. 

Identify Potential Risks

As much as we would all like that everything goes according to plan, you should still understand that no plan is risk-free.

Write down all potential risks and issues that can affect the project execution. For example, an employee getting sick and not being able to work.

Why is identifying risk so important? Because it gives you the time to think about solutions in advance and prepare yourself for some other options. 

You need to think about steps that help you to prevent those risks as well as to manage them if they do happen. 

Outline the Project

Before you start writing the final plan, it is better that you write the outline first. Having all this information about the planning process can be confusing, so it is normal that you go back and forth and make some changes.

However, it is better that you correct the outline than the final plan.

It is very helpful to have some guidelines before you start with THE plan.  For a fast, quality writing and research service, take a look at https://essayshark.com/

Write and Present the Plan

Once you’ve finished all the previous steps it is time to get to writing. You’ll realize how setting out all the important elements of the project and outlining the plan will help you to write the plan easily. 

When you’re all done with the writing and you feel confident about your planning and writing skills, it is time to present the plan and get that approval that you deserve! Good luck!

Microsoft Project 70-343 Labs – Learn Managing Projects with uCertify

uCertify is offering Managing Projects with Microsoft Project 2016 Lab for Microsoft Project certification. The 15+ performance-based labs simulate real-world, hardware, software & command line interface environments and can be mapped to any textbook, course & training. The labs focus on the objectives of the 70-343 exam with the help of real-world experiences. The Microsoft Project 70-343 certification ensures that IT professionals have the necessary skills to successfully implement business solutions using Microsoft Technology. The Microsoft Project 70-343 labs utilize the Microsoft Project technology that familiarizes you with the basic features and functions of Microsoft Project Professional 2016 so that you can use it effectively and efficiently in a real-world environment. The labs also provide you with the critical knowledge and skills a project manager needs to create a project plan with Project 2016 during the planning phase of a project.

Microsoft Project 70-343 Labs - Learn Managing Projects with uCertify

The 70-343 labs cover the areas such as:

  • Understanding Views
  • Updating and Tracking Status
  • Enterprise Project Management
  • Using Filters, Groups, and Sorts
  • Using Tables and Custom Fields
  • Setting and Maintaining Baseline
  • Assessment of Resources and Costs
  • Setting Dependencies and Critical Paths
  • Estimating and Entering Duration of Work
  • Calculation Engine for Automatic Scheduling
  • Variance Analysis and Taking Corrective Actions
  • Creating, Formatting, and Reporting Custom Views

About Exam

Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) certification validates IT professional and developer technical expertise through industry-recognized exams that cover a wide range of Microsoft products, technologies, and solution. The 70-343 certification provides knowledge of modelling, scheduling, resourcing, communicating, collaborating on, and delivering projects using Project Standard, Project Professional, Project Pro for Office 365, SharePoint, and SharePoint Online. The Microsoft Project 70-343 certification exam measures your skill in the following areas:

  1. Initialize a project
  2. Create a task-based Schedule
  3. Manage resources and assignments
  4. Track and analyze a project
  5. Communicate project information

So, start preparing for this certification exam with uCertify course that will help you pass the Microsoft Project 70-343 exam in your first attempt.