Using Microsoft Project Through Your Dreamspark Login

Using Microsoft Project Through Your Dreamspark Login Review The Plan

Using Microsoft Project through your DreamSpark login, review the plan provided. The project plan is the initial draft based on the case. You will need to analyze the plan and make proper adjustments to meet the timeline requirements, as well as to ensure that resources are properly allocated. Additionally, you will add resource per hour costs so that you can include the estimate of cost for the project. For additional details, please refer to the Module Two Homework Activity Guidelines and Rubric document, the Module Two Case Study document, and the Module Two Homework Project File in the Assignment Guidelines and Rubrics section of the course.

To complete this you will need to have Microsoft Project installed on your computer. I have attached all documents needed for the assignment. To complete this assignment you will need Microsoft Project.

Paper For Above instruction

The assignment requires a comprehensive review and adjustment of a project plan using Microsoft Project, accessible through a DreamSpark login. The core focus is to analyze an initial draft of the project plan, perform necessary modifications to align it with specified timeline requirements, and ensure resource allocation is both accurate and efficient. An essential part of this process involves adding per-hour resource costs to facilitate an accurate estimate of the total project expenditure. This task demands critical assessment of the existing plan, precise recalibration of tasks, durations, and dependencies, as well as detailed resource management, to optimize the project's execution and cost-effectiveness.

The first step in executing this assignment is to thoroughly examine the provided project plan document, which serves as the initial baseline derived from the case study. The plan typically includes task lists, durations, dependencies, and assigned resources. An initial review should focus on assessing whether the scheduled durations are realistic and whether task dependencies accurately reflect the project workflow. Adjustments need to be made where discrepancies or inefficiencies are identified, such as overlapping tasks or unrealistic timeframes that could jeopardize the project’s timeline.

Upon reviewing and identifying areas for improvement, adjustments should be made within Microsoft Project. This may involve modifying task durations, re-sequencing activities, or altering dependencies to realign the plan with the desired deadline. It is critical to consider resource constraints during this process, ensuring that the workload is balanced and that no resource is over-allocated, which could cause delays or resource burnout.

Resource management is a central component of this assignment. In Microsoft Project, resources such as personnel, equipment, and materials should be properly assigned to respective tasks. The next step involves adding hourly cost rates to each resource to facilitate cost estimation. This process entails entering the per-hour cost for each resource, which, when combined with task durations, allows the generation of a detailed cost report. Accurate resource expense data is vital for estimating the total project budget and for making informed decisions on resource allocation.

Furthermore, it is necessary to review the overall project timeline with the adjusted plan. Comparing the new schedule against the original deadline helps verify whether the current plan meets the project delivery requirements. If not, further adjustments may be required, such as compressing schedules through techniques like Fast Tracking or Crashing, provided they are feasible within resource and budget constraints.

Throughout this process, it is essential to document all changes made within Microsoft Project, providing clear justifications for adjustments. This documentation supports transparency and helps stakeholders understand the rationale behind schedule modifications and resource allocations.

In conclusion, this assignment necessitates the application of project management principles using Microsoft Project to refine an initial project plan, align it with specified timeline goals, and include detailed resource cost estimates. Mastery of task rescheduling, dependency adjustment, resource allocation, and cost estimation are crucial skills that underpin effective project planning. Successfully completing this task will demonstrate proficiency in utilizing project management software to create realistic and financially informed project schedules.

References

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Kerzner, H. (2017). Project management: a systems approach to planning, scheduling, and controlling. Wiley.

PMI. (2017). A guide to the project management body of knowledge (PMBOK® Guide). Project Management Institute.

Schwalbe, K. (2018). Information technology project management. Cengage Learning.

Leach, L. P. (2014). Critical chain project management. Artech House.

Meredith, J. R., & Mantel, S. J. (2014). Project management: a managerial approach. Wiley.

Shenhar, A. J., & Dvir, D. (2007). Reinventing project management: the diamond approach. Harvard Business Review Press.

Wideman, R. M. (2016). .Project and program risk management: a guide to implementing PMI's risk management standard. CRC Press.

PMI. (2019). Practice standard for scheduling. Project Management Institute.