3 Truly Useful Microsoft Project Tips for Planning and Scheduling

There is no denying that Microsoft Project Online has become THE project scheduling tool. It's tempting to assume that most people know the ins and outs of the software, but this is hardly the case. Surprisingly, a lot of users have no or little training for Microsoft Project. 

A lot of project professionals do not have the ability to create and use a useful project schedule. Sure, majority of them can build a schedule of tasks and assign resources. But not all can use the tool to track project costs. This is just one of the many examples of inadequacies that a lot of people have when it comes to using Microsoft Project. 

It's time to start correcting that. Check out these practical tips to get yourself acquainted with the ins and outs of Microsoft Project. 

1. Plan Structure 

Create high-level plans with your team members using post-it notes and then transform them later on into a Microsoft Project schedule. Use a hierarchal structure with stages and phases which are then divided into smaller tracks. For good measure, add milestones on the start and end of each stage or phase. 

2. Plan Detail 
Unless your project is a one-week affair, you don't need to track what your team member is scheduled to do next Wednesday afternoon at 3 pm. There is no need to mirror every individual task that your team members will do. For example, a six-month project should be made up of tasks spread to 1 to 1o working days instead of over a few hours or weeks. 

3. Auto Scheduling 

If your tasks are still being scoped out or not yet agreed on or finalised, you can use manual scheduling to put things in order. Otherwise, auto scheduling is the best way to go. It doesn't make sense scheduling manually if the scope is already approved for your project. 

Until such time that you can go through a formal course in order to make full use of this tool, you will do better with these tips and make Microsoft Project Online work better for your organisation.