Last Updated: November 8, 2023
Figure 10.1 Acquire Project Team in Project MAP.
Activity 10 - Acquire Project Team
Activity Page Outline
Application 3 - Wrap-Up Acquire Team Workflow (1 hour 3 minutes) jump to
Review Determine Acquire Team Workflow Best Practices (3 minutes) jump to
Review Microsoft Project Features Covered on Acquiring the Project Team (15 minutes) jump to
Ensure Your Master Project is Up-To-Date with Acquire Project Team (15 minutes) jump to
Review List of Competed Application Files for Acquire Project Team (5 minutes) jump to
Evaluate the Learning Objectives for Acquire Project Team (10 minutes) jump to
Take the Acquire Project Team Exam (15 minutes) jump to
Send Suggestions and Corrections jump to
Application 1 - Acquire Project Team Workflow (30 minutes)
Learn the Acquire Project Team Workflow (10 minutes)
Update Journal on the Acquire Team Workflow (15 minutes) jump to
Application 2 - Complete Acquire Project Team Exercises (3 hours 55 minutes) jump to
Exercise 1: Define Timing Constraints (20 minutes) jump to
Exercise 2: Select Task Mode (10 minutes) jump to
Exercise 3: Select Task Mode and Timing Constraints for Master Project (30 minutes) jump to
Exercise 4: Review Scheduling Engine (15 minutes) jump to
Exercise 5: Link Detail Tasks and Milestones (10 minutes) jump to
Update Journal on The 4 Hour House and Determine Schedule Logic (20 minutes) jump to
There are two applications on the page. Complete each when directed in the MS Project Master Class Book.
This entire page should take 5 hours and 23 minutes to complete.
Application 1
Acquire Project Team Workflow (25 minutes)
A workflow is a set of sequential or parallel processes or steps performed to complete a specific Activity in a project life cycle. It typically involves a series of interdependent tasks that must be completed in a particular sequence, often with specific criteria or conditions that must be met before moving on to the next step. The workflow for each Activity in this MS Project Master Class is the Activity (chapter) outline.
Learn Acquire Project Team Workflow (10 minutes)
Setting Sail: Acquiring Your Project Crew
With the initiation and planning phases complete, the project sets sail into the execution phase. Here, the focus shifts from charting the course and preparing for the voyage to navigating the open seas and heading toward our destination. At this critical juncture, the first step is acquiring the project crew—a process that lays the keel for the entire execution phase. This involves identifying and assigning the right crew members and establishing a cohesive framework for collaboration. By effectively reallocating resources and defining team dynamics, project managers can ensure the crew is well-prepared to tackle upcoming challenges, maintain momentum, and achieve set objectives. This chapter explores the strategies and considerations essential for assembling an aligned, motivated, and ready crew to steer the project toward successful completion.
Acquiring a project crew is a crucial component of project management, directly influencing the voyage's success or failure. Effective crew acquisition involves strategic planning, resource management, and establishing clear guidelines to ensure seamless collaboration and productivity. This activity (chapter) delves into two pivotal aspects of crew acquisition: reallocating resources or modifying activities around availability and deciding how the crew will work together. This strategic planning empowers project managers, giving them the tools to make informed decisions and steer the project toward success.
Reassign Resources or Modify Activities Around Availability
Resource allocation is often one of the most challenging aspects of project management. Project managers must navigate constraints and changes in resource availability to keep the project on course. Reassigning resources or modifying activities around availability is a strategic approach to ensure that project objectives are met efficiently and effectively. The primary question is: How can we optimize the allocation of resources and adjust project activities to ensure that the project stays on schedule and within scope despite changes in resource availability or constraints?
One valuable tool in this context is Microsoft Project, which includes algorithms designed for resource-leveling. This feature helps project managers optimize resource allocation by smoothing out assignments, reducing overallocation, and ensuring a balanced workload across the project schedule. However, it is essential to recognize that this feature is not universally applicable and may only suit some projects or users.
One valuable tool in this context is Microsoft Project, which includes algorithms designed for resource-leveling. This feature helps project managers optimize resource allocation by smoothing out assignments, reducing overallocation, and ensuring a balanced workload across the project schedule. However, it is essential to recognize that this feature is not universally applicable and may only suit some projects or users.
Decide How the Crew is Going to Work Together
The success of a project also hinges on effective collaboration and well-defined crew dynamics. Establishing clear guidelines, communication channels, roles, responsibilities, and a shared understanding of goals and objectives is crucial. These clear guidelines act as a roadmap, guiding the crew towards the project's success. This fosters teamwork, enhances productivity, minimizes conflicts, and improves the overall quality of project outcomes. A well-defined approach to crew collaboration helps manage expectations, reduces misunderstandings, and ensures everyone is aligned and committed to achieving project milestones.
Acquiring a project crew requires meticulous planning and strategic adjustments. Project managers can navigate resource constraints and enhance collaboration by reallocating resources and defining crew dynamics, ultimately leading to successful project execution.
Figure 10.2 Acquire Project Team Workflow.
Download
Click on the Download icon above to open the Determine Schedule Logic Workflow.pdf file.
Update Journal on Determine Schedule Logic Workflow - 20 minutes
Before reading this chapter on acquiring a project team, consider your past experiences with team collaboration and resource management, whether in academic projects, professional settings, or personal endeavors.
Write a journal entry exploring these experiences and considering how they relate to team acquisition, resource reallocation, resource leveling, and collaboration. This reflection will help you connect your insights with the strategies and considerations discussed in the chapter.
Journal Questions:
Team Dynamics: Think about a time when you were part of a team. What strategies did you and your team use to define roles, responsibilities, and communication channels? How did these strategies impact the team’s ability to work cohesively and achieve its goals?
Resource Management: Reflect on a project where you had to manage resources effectively. How did you handle changes in resource availability or constraints? What approaches did you use to reassign resources or modify activities to ensure the project stayed on track?
Balancing Workload: Have you ever faced challenges with workload and resource capacity? How did you address these challenges to balance the workload and ensure that resources were utilized efficiently?
If you are working with a Master Class Coach, send them your updated journal as scheduled.
If you are not working with a Master Class Coach but plan to apply for either of the MS Project Master Class certificates, this journal will be submitted for review by a Master Class Reviewer. Be sure to make the appropriate backups.
Return to the MS Project Master Class Book and review the next section for this Activity.
Application 2
Complete Determine Schedule Logic Exercises (3 hours, 55 minutes)
This exercise series focuses on determining a project plan's schedule logic. In this series, you will:
Define Timing Constraints: A direct relationship exists between timing or scheduling constraints and creating links or a network.
Select the Appropriate Task Mode: Selecting Task Mode, where tasks are manually vs. automatically scheduled, is a feature that can not be ignored.
In addition, this application will review several Microsoft Project features and characteristics defined below.
Definitions
Task Mode: In Microsoft Project, "Task Mode" is the setting that determines how a task is scheduled within a project's timeline. There are two types of task modes:
Manually Scheduled: When a task is set to Manually Scheduled mode, the project manager has complete control over setting the task's start and end dates. In this mode, Microsoft Project does not automatically adjust the task's dates based on changes in the project schedule or dependencies with other tasks. This mode provides flexibility and is helpful in the early stages of project planning when details are still being determined. However, it requires careful management as it only utilizes some of Microsoft Project's full scheduling capabilities.
Download
To follow along with the figures related to what is critical in Microsoft Project, click on the Download icon above to open the What is Critical.mpp file.
Before starting the first exercise, let’s review what is critical in Microsoft Project.
The obvious is that any task on the critical path is critical. In the figure below, in Project Options, you can define what task qualifies for the critical path.
Figure 7.3 Defining Total Slack in Project Options.
Exercise 1: Define Timing Constraints (20 minutes)
In this first exercise we are going review Timing Constraints with an exercise file. Because of the relationship between Timing Constraint and scheduling, a general best practice is to determine your Timing Constraints before you link tasks and milestones. A Timing Constraint can determine the types of links you make.
Download
Click on the Download icon above to open the Travel.mpp file.
When you open the Travel.mpp file, Zoom Entire Project. This command is on the Bridge Quick Access Toolbar.
This plan, let’s say, is for your next business trip.
Figure 7.6 To add a drawing to the Gantt Chart view, Go to the Format tab / Drawing command on the ribbon.
When Finished with the Exercise
The Travel.mpp should look similar to the one in the following figure. The Flight Departs' Must Start On date should be 7/4/21 at 3:20 PM. The green note in the Gantt Chart should show that, too. The A New Task should have an SNET constraint of 7/4/21.
Figure 7.9 Define Timing Constraints exercise results.
Exercise 2: Select Task Mode (10 minutes)
In this next exercise we will review the Task Mode feature in Microsoft Project. Although I argue, that all tasks should have the auto schedule Task Mode selected, this is a prominate feature in the software and must be addressed.
Download
Click the Download icon above to download the Task Mode 2.mpp file.
After you open Task Mode 2.mpp, note the following:
The Task Mode for row zero, or what is also called the Project Summary Task, is Auto Scheduled. This can not be changed; it is always Auto Scheduled.
Summary 1 and Task 1, 2, and 3 are Manually Scheduled tasks. If you use Manually Scheduled during the early rounds of estimating, notice that you can type in any text in the duration, start, and finish fields. The task responds to those entries if you type in an actual duration or date.
Change Summary 1 to Auto Scheduled. What happens? In Auto mode, it calculates what it can. It moves to the first date in time. The rollup on the summary level, the period of the tasks indented below, is now five working days.
Figure 7.10 Auto Scheduled summary task with Manually Scheduled tasks.
Save this project.
When Finished with the Exercise
The file Task Mode 2.mpp should have the same durations as in the figure below. The first four tasks are manually scheduled, and the next six are auto-scheduled. The durations for Summary 2 and the indented tasks should be the same as in the figure.
Figure 7.12 Exercise results, rollup of duration on the summary level.
Exercise 3: Select Task Mode and Timing Constraints for Master Project (30 minutes)
Open your Master Project and do the following:
Make sure all tasks are Auto Scheduled.
Select the appropriate Timing Constraints for detail tasks and milestones.
Ensure that the Timing Constraints for summary tasks are ASAP.
Download
Click the Download icon above to download the Task Mode 2.mpp file.
When Finished with the Exercise
All tasks in your Master Project are Automatically Scheduled, and you have applied the correct Timing Constraints to detail tasks, milestones, and summary tasks.
Exercise 4: Review Scheduling Engine (15 minutes)
When we begin to link tasks, our schedule begins to take shape. Before starting to link, let’s review Microsoft Project’s scheduling engine.
Click the Download icon above to download the Scheduling Engine.mpp file.
This exercise reviews the Scheduling Engine rules and the subsequent impact of each feature’s rules on the schedule. The software’s features have specific rules that need to be understood to understand how tasks are being scheduled. In addition, some features, if needed, may or may not be based on project management thinking, they are just software features.
It is a bit like driving an automobile. The purpose of a car is to take a trip, and the car has all kinds of features to help you do that safely and comfortably. In many ways, all automobiles are alike. Traditional Project Management software also works pretty much the same way. It uses the same tools and techniques and follows pretty much the same set
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Figure 7.13 Scheduling message.
It would be more useful for the schedule message to say:
Figure 7.14 Proposed schedule conflict messager.
Figure 7.22 Negative Total Slack caused by a Timing Constraint conflict with a Link.
The scheduling message above does point us in the right direction. The figure directly above shows that the schedule is being pushed out past the Must Finish On Timing Constraint on the last task. There are three days of negative slack, meaning the schedule needs to be brought in by three working days to be completed on time.
When Finished with the Exercise
The Scheduling Engine.mpp file should look similar to the one in the figure below.
The duration of the project should be around 4.5 months.
The two tasks other than standard dependencies should be highlighted in green.
#7 should be ASAP.
#6 should have the Instructional Designer assigned.
#12 should have notes in bold red.
All tasks should have some slack.
Figure 7.15 Exercise Results.
Exercise 5: Link Detail Tasks and Milestones (10 minutes)
In this exercise, we will look at the various ways to set and edit links or dependencies.
Watch the video below on “The five ways of setting and editing links in Microsoft Project” (7:24 minutes). During this exercise, you will create links in several different ways.
Download
Click the Download icon above to download the Types of Links.mpp file.
In the Types of Links.mpp file:
Select the Start task and Task 1, right-click, and link them together using the Link command on the little toolbar at the top. You can also select tasks and use the Link command in the Schedule group under the Task tab.
Double-click on Task 2, go to the Predecessors tab and make Task 1 a predecessor with a Finish to Start type and a 2-day lead.
Figure 7.16 Types of links or dependencies in Microsoft Project.
When Finished with the Exercise
The Types of Links.mpp file should have the same links as those in the figure below.
Figure 7.17 Exercise Results.
Exercise 6: Link Detail Tasks and Milestones in Master Project (30 minutes)
Open your Master Project and complete the following:
Link all of your detailed tasks and milestones. Except for the Project Started and Project Finished tasks, all detail tasks and milestones should have at least one predecessor and one successor.
Download
Click on the Download icon above to open the Constraints Analysis Worksheet.xlsx.
When Finished with the Exercise
Your Master Project should now have preliminary scope, time, work, and cost estimates. The WBS is the scope estimate. If all those tasks are completed, the product, service, or result will be delivered along with the project objectives. On the project summary level, you can review the work, cost, and schedule.
It is tempting to consider the project estimating phase nearly completed at this point; however, we have several more things to consider and plan around, such as risk and resource availability.
Exercise 7: Analyze Critical Path (20 minutes)
In this exercise, we are going to review the Critical Path Method. The actual exercise will only take a couple of minutes.
Download
Click the Download icon above to download the Boulder to Tampa.mpp file.
In addition to the graphic above on the different types of links, we are going to review nine addition graphics (#2-10) untill you have good sense of Crtical Path Method.
Figure 7.18 Boulder to Tampa, forward pass in the Critical Path Method.
Of course, Google Maps doesn’t let you enter stops or stays. If this was entered in Project, it would, and you could get as much detail as needed.
Open the Boulder to Tampa.mpp file.
This is my next trip, I am leaving Thursday the 18th at 6 AM and expected to get into Tampa Monday the 22nd at 4 PM. If I make any changes, the schedule will be recalculated immediately.
Because of how I think about this schedule, I used the 24-hour calendar to travel on weekends, etc. However, if you look at the figure below, Microsoft Project tells me the trip will take over 13 days. Something isn’t calculating correctly!
Figure 7.19 Trip from Boulder to Tampa with stops.
The schedule looks correct, but the rollup on the summary level can’t be over 13 days!
We have reviewed this particular issue three or four times. Think about what you know about the scheduling engine and selections. Debug and correct the problem, then save the project.
When Finished with the Exercise
After this review, you should have a good understanding of CPM calculations. Microsoft Project has fields for all of these calculations:
Early Start (Separate, but same calculation for Start)
Early Finish (Separate, but same calculation for Finish)
Last Start
Late Finish
Total Slack
Free Slack
Project Duration (Duration field on the Project Summary Level)
You should have figured out what was causing the miscalculation on the project summary level for the Boulder to Tampa.mpp file. The duration should be 4.42 days.
Figure 7.28 Schedule with the correct duration calculation on the summary level.
Exercise 8: Format Network Diagram (40 minutes)
One of the primary views in Microsoft Project is the network diagram. In this exercise, you will format or create a new template and then import that template into a new network diagram view. In addition, we will look at the fields used for Critical Path Method in a Gantt Chart view.
Download
Click on the Download icon above to open the CPM1.mpp file.
This project opens with the Network Diagram view applied. While in this view let’s look at the features associated with this view.
Network diagrams aren’t used much these days. Printing a network diagram was very common, more than even printing Gantt Charts. However, this view is still the best place to check dependencies. If you are in an engineering environment and have access to a plotter, you could easily find that printing a network diagram is an important part of your project management practice.
Figure 7.22 Network Diagram with the Format tab on the ribbon selected.
agram is applied, and we see the available templates in that view. Views are stored in either the active project file or in the Global.MPT files are copied, moved, or deleted in the Organizer.
Figure 7.30 Box Style and the Data Templates dialog boxes.
To do this,
Click on More Templates… and select the Example - Critical Path Template.
Click Edit. Add another row and on this row add the Free Slack and Total Slack fields. First, make sure you have the available rows, so click Cell Layout… and add a 4th row.
Add Total Slack and Free Slack fields and be sure to Show Label in cell: and then Click Ok / Close / Ok to note changes.
Save the project to save your changes.
When Finished With This Part of The Exercise
At this point, with the CPM1.mpp file, your nodes should have the same fields as those in the figure below. Don’t worry if there are other differences.
Figure 7.31 Network Diagram highlighting critical tasks (nodes) and displaying CPM calculations.
The Network Diagram view in the Global.mpt file that ships with Microsoft Project has ten templates, as observed in the figure below. When a new Network Diagram type of view is created, only the Standard template is available in that new view. Remember that if you are ever designing a new Network Diagram, you might want a template in Network Diagram includes with the Global.mpt fie. You can import these templates into a new or existing Network Diagram view.
When Finished with the Exercise
At this point, with the CPM1.mpp file, your nodes should have the same fields as those in the figure below.
You created a new network diagram view in your Master Project. This view should contain the Example - Critical Path template.
Last, in the Gantt Chart view of your Master Project, you should have:
The Bridge Critical Path table applied.
The background of the Critical Tasks, the Text Styles item, formatted.
Critical Tasks and Slack are displayed in Bar Styles, as shown in the figure below.
Figure 7.35 Customized nodes in a network diagram.
Figure 7.36 Exercise Results, Critical Formatted in the table and view. Slack formatted in the taskbars side of the window pane.
Exercise 9: Analyze The 4 Hour House (40 minutes)
In this exercise, you will view a short video and discuss the techniques used to compress the duration of a project, along with fast-tracking and crashing.
Building Houses Faster and Better
In 1945, in Santa Rosa, California, the building association attempted to build a house as fast as possible as a promotional stunt and study building practices. Since then, almost every year, groups worldwide have tried to make something (primarily houses, office buildings, hotels, skyscrapers, and bridges) in record time.
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Figure 7.37 Before and after of the Tampa Extreme Makeover home.
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Update Journal on the 4 Hour House and Determine Schedule Logic (30 minutes)
Journal
Make a note in your journal of things the planners and participants did on The 4 Hour House video that are not standard building practices related to:
In this video, what was done to compress the project's duration?
(For instance, they made this attempt with a single-story house built on a slab rather than a basement, which was stick construction vs. concrete block.)
What are some examples of fast-tracking you noticed in the video?
(For instance, they poured the slab, framed much of the house, and built the roof simultaneously.)
What are some examples of crashing?
(For instance, the event directors created a competitive environment; they built two houses side by side, with different teams building each house. The idea is that competition creates fun and is a strong performance motivator.) For example, the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, were built by two competing construction companies. See video of the Petronas Twin Towers construction
Journal question:
"Reflect on the exercises you completed in Microsoft Project, including understanding critical tasks, defining timing constraints, selecting task modes, reviewing the scheduling engine, linking tasks, and analyzing the critical path. How have these exercises enhanced your understanding of project management principles and ability to use Microsoft Project effectively?
If you are working with a Master Class Coach, send them these files as scheduled.
Send them your Master Project (your name).mpp file.
Send them your updated Journal.
If you are not working with a Master Class Coach but plan to apply for either of the MS Project Master Class certificates, these files will be submitted for review by a Master Class Reviewer. Be sure to make the appropriate backups.
Application 3
Wrap-Up Acquire Project Team (1 hour, 3 minutes)
In this last Application for Determine Schedule Logic:
Review Project Management and Microsoft Project Best Practices: Reflect on the fundamental principles of project management and the best practices associated with utilizing Microsoft Project as a project management tool.
Master Project Assessment: Ensure that your master project is up-to-date and a testament to your understanding of the intricacies involved in effective project initiation, planning, and execution.
File Review: Examine the list of files used throughout the application to consolidate your understanding of the tools and resources that have played a role in your project management journey.
Learning Objectives Evaluation: Reflect on the learning objectives set for this Activity, considering how well you've achieved each goal and identifying areas for further growth.
Activity Exam: Demonstrate your proficiency by tackling the Activity exam, which focuses on the key concepts and practical applications discussed in the MS Project Master Class Book and this Online Applications page.
Review Determine Acquire Project Team Best Practices (3 minutes)
Best practices in project management, including Microsoft Project, refer to a set of proven techniques, methods, or processes recognized as effective and efficient in achieving project objectives. These practices have evolved through the collective experiences of project managers and organizations across various industries. They are considered the most reliable and successful approach to managing projects and can be applied in different environments. When incorporating Microsoft Project into project management workflows, several specific best practices can further enhance project initiation, planning, execution, closing, and control.
Summary Tasks
In general, except for notes, don’t change summary tasks. Instead, allow summary tasks to reflect what is indented below them rather than attempting to interact with indented tasks and milestones. This best practice will make it easier to work with and interpret changes to the schedule.
Only link detail tasks and milestones.
Do not apply timing constraints to summary tasks.
Hard Logic Soft Logic
The critical path method begins with you passing through a schedule and setting links between detailed tasks and milestones.
In the first pass through the schedule, link tasks based on hard logic; ask, “What must precede a task?”
During the second pass, apply soft logic. You can’t do everything at once, so ask, “What do I prefer to do before something else?”
Review Microsoft Project Features Covered on Acquire Project Team (15 minutes)
Task Mode
Task Mode in Microsoft Project determines whether a task is scheduled manually or automatically using the scheduling engine rules. Here are the key points about Task Mode:
Figure 7.38 Task Mode selections.
Timing Constraints
Understanding the three types of constraints in Microsoft Project is crucial as it empowers you to effectively schedule tasks by specifying conditions or restrictions on when a task can start or finish. These constraints are:
exible ones should be used judiciously to allow Microsoft Project's scheduling engine to adjust dates based on dependencies and project changes properly.
Figure 7.39 Timing Constraints selections.
Linking tasks in Microsoft Project is not just a feature, but a powerful tool that can significantly enhance your project management. Establishing dependencies between tasks ensures that specific tasks cannot start or finish until their predecessor tasks have reached a particular point. This feature is crucial in creating an accurate and realistic project schedule, as it effectively helps you manage your project's timeline.Types of Task Links
Finish-to-Start (FS): This is the most common type of link. It indicates that the dependent task cannot start until the predecessor task has finished.
Figure 7.40 Linking tasks in Microsoft Project.
Critical Path
The Critical Path Method (CPM) in Microsoft Project is used to identify and manage the sequence of tasks critical to completing a project on time. Here's an overview of the Critical Path Method in Microsoft Project:
The critical path is the most extended sequence of linked tasks determining the shortest possible project duration.
Tasks on the critical path have zero total slack or float time, meaning any delay in these tasks will directly impact the project's finish date. Total slack can be redefined in Project Options.
Microsoft Project highlights critical tasks in red by default on the Gantt chart timeline when the "Show Critical Path" option is enabled.
Figure 7.41 Critical path in Microsoft Project.
What is Critical in Microsoft Project
A task (A) is marked as critical if the Total Slack, it is zero (meets the Total Slack criteria in Project Options). However, other schedule conditions can mark a task as critical, or calculate zero Total Slack.
B - A Must Start On or Must Finish On timing constraint.
C - An As Late As Possible timing constraint in a project scheduled from the start date in Project Information.
D - A task with a Deadline date at or past the date.
E - A timing constraint that is at or past the date.
Figure 7.42 What is marked as critical in Microsoft Project.
Ensure Your Master Project is Up-To-Date with Acquire Project Team (15 minutes)
Your Master Project should have the following:
The correct Task Mode and Timing constraints selections. Timing Constraints for summary tasks should be ASAP.
All of your detailed tasks and milestones. Except for the Project Started and Project Finished tasks, all detail tasks and milestones should have at least one predecessor and one successor.
There is no redundancy in your linking.
Summary tasks have no links.
You created a new network diagram view. This view should contain the Example - Critical Path template. See figure below.
Last, in the Gantt Chart view of your Master Project, you should have:
The Bridge Critical Path table was applied.
The background of the Critical Tasks, the Text Styles item, formatted.
Critical Tasks and Slack are displayed in Bar Styles, as shown in the figure below.
Figure 7.43 Customized nodes in a network diagram.
Figure 7.44 Exercise Results, Critical Formatted in the table and view. Slack formatted in the taskbars side of the window pane.
The Travel.mpp should look similar to the one in the following figure. The Flight Departs' Must Start On date should be 7/4/21 at 3:20 PM. The green note in the Gantt Chart should show that, too. The A New Task should have an SNET constraint of 7/4/21.
Figure 7.45 Exercise 1 results for Travel.mpp.
The file Task Mode 2.mpp should have the same durations as in the figure below. The first four tasks are manually scheduled, and the next six are auto-scheduled. The durations for Summary 2 and the indented tasks should be the same as in the figure.
Figure 2.46 Exercise 2 results for Task Mode 2.mpp
The Scheduling Engine.mpp file should look similar to the one in the figure below.
The duration of the project should be around 4.5 months.
The two tasks other than standard dependencies should be highlighted in green.
#7 should be ASAP.
#6 should have the Instructional Designer assigned.
#12 should have notes in bold red.
All tasks should have some slack.
Figure 2.47 Exercise 4 results for Scheduling Engine.mpp
The Types of Links.mpp file should have the same links as those in the figure below.
Figure 2.48 Exercise 5 results for Types of Links.mpp
You should have figured out what was causing the miscalculation on the project summary level for the Boulder to Tampa.mpp file. The duration should be 4.42 days.
Figure 2.49 Exercise 7 results for Boulder to Tampa.mpp
If you plan on earning any of the MS Project Master Class certificates, archive these files. Do this by creating a folder system like the example above. Be sure to enter your name in the top folder. Save these files for the current Activity to the correct Activity folder. When applying for a certificate, zip up your folders and share them with the Master Class Reviewer.
Review List of Completed Acquire Project Team Application Files (5 minutes)
The files used for these Master Class Online Applications are:
Your Master Project.mpp. See previous section.
Travel.mpp.
Task Mode 2.mpp
Scheduling Engine.mpp.
Types of Links.mpp
Boulder to Tampa.mpp.
CPM1.mpp.
Your updated Journal.
Completed evaluation of the learning objectives in Learning Objectives for Develop Project Charter.xlsx.
PDF of your exam results.
If you are working with a coach, send them your files. For your coach or reviewer, get in the habit of putting your name in the file name of all files.
Keep a backup of these files. In the next Activity in this MS Project Master Class, start a new version of your Master Project.
Note
If you are working with a Master Class Coach, you could get in the practice of adding your Application files to this folder structure, and then before your next meeting, just zip the folders and email them to your Master Class Coach.
Evaluate the Learning Objectives for Acquire Project Team (10 minutes)
To assess whether you have met the learning objectives outlined for the MS Project Master Class Book, you could review the following questions:
Understand the Role of Team Acquisition in Project Execution:
Why is acquiring a project team at the beginning of the execution phase crucial for project success?
How does team acquisition set the foundation for successful project implementation?
Identify and Assign the Right Resources:
What criteria would you use to identify the appropriate resources for a project task?
How would you ensure the resources you assign to project tasks are utilized for optimal performance and efficiency?
Reassign Resources or Modify Activities Around Availability:
What strategies can be employed to reassign resources when there are changes in resource availability?
How would you modify project activities to accommodate resource constraints while meeting project objectives?
Utilize Resource-Leveling Tools:
How does Microsoft Project's resource-leveling feature help in optimizing resource allocation?
In what scenarios might the resource-leveling feature of Microsoft Project not be applicable or beneficial?
Establish a Cohesive Team Framework:
Why are clear guidelines, communication channels, and roles and responsibilities important for team collaboration?
How would you go about establishing a cohesive team framework for your project?
Enhance Team Collaboration and Productivity:
What strategies can be implemented to improve teamwork and enhance productivity within a project team?
How can you minimize conflicts and ensure alignment with project goals and objectives through well-defined teamwork approaches?
Align and Motivate the Project Team:
What techniques can you use to align and motivate your project team to maintain project momentum?
How would you drive the project team toward achieving and completing objectives?
These questions will help assess whether students have met the learning objectives by evaluating their understanding and ability to apply key concepts and strategies discussed in the chapter.
Before taking the following exam, click the Download icon above to open the Learning Objectives for Define Constraints.xlsx and complete this evaluation of the learning objectives.
f you are working with a Master Class Coach, send them this file.
If you are not working with a Master Class Coach but plan to apply for either of the MS Project Master Class certificates, this file will be submitted for review by a Master Class Reviewer. Be sure to make the appropriate backups.
Final Score
When completed, take a screen capture of your score for verification if you are working with a Coach or plan to earn one of the two MS Project Master Class certificates.
Take the Acquire Project Team Exam (7 minutes)
Complete this Activity by taking the exam. Take the exam by clicking on the Exams button below.
Here are some essential guidelines for taking the exam:
Approach the exam as a closed-book assessment, relying solely on your memory and grasp of the subject matter.
Always select the most appropriate answer.
Keep in mind that answers carry different weights.
Feel free to attempt the exam multiple times to refine your understanding.
To attain the MS Project Master Class Certificate of Completion or the MS Project/PM Master Class Certificate of Completion, achieve a final score of 70% or higher.
A final score of 80% or above is requisite for the MS Project Certificate of Mastery (MSPCOM).
Suggestions and Corrections
Please help us make this MS Project Master Class Book and the Master Class Online Applications better. Click on the Comments button below to send us suggestions and corrections.