Microsoft Project Professional 2016

Microsoft Project Professional 2016: Plan projects efficiently

Project implementation is a daily occurrence in many companies. When a specific event is planned, a new product is being developed, or internal processes need to be optimized, it makes sense to group the associated tasks into a project. Appointing a project manager creates clear areas of responsibility. Defining project objectives creates precise guidelines and often leads to increased motivation. To successfully complete a project, it is important to plan it down to the last detail.

MS Project for efficient scheduling management

Deadlines form the backbone of most projects. There is usually a fixed deadline by which the entire project must be completed. However, meeting this deadline requires many small intermediate steps. It's also useful to specify precise deadlines for these. It's also important to plan for time reserves to be prepared for any delays that may occur. Microsoft Project makes it easy and efficient to plan the necessary deadlines for a project. The program automatically takes into account the selected deadlines, time buffers, holidays, and other constraints.

Plan resources with Microsoft Project

To successfully manage a project, it's not just necessary to meet the set deadlines. To complete all work steps, it's also essential that the necessary resources are available. Therefore, Microsoft Project software allows for very detailed resource planning. This is divided into three sub-areas: labor, materials, and costs. This makes it easy to ensure that all resources are available at the desired time.

Monitor projects and write reports

Once the planning is complete, the project can begin. It's important to closely monitor whether all plans are being adhered to. The project team can enter all work results into this software. The software then automatically compares the results with the specifications. This quickly alerts the project manager to any schedule issues. Furthermore, the program uses this data to automatically generate reports that can be used for lectures and presentations, for example.

Standard or Professional: the differences between the editions

Project 2016 is available in two different editions: standard and Professional. These differ significantly. The Standard version is suitable for a single-user computer. Therefore, it is primarily suitable for small projects involving only a few people. For professional users, however, the Professional Edition is recommended. This allows connection to the Microsoft Project Server. This makes collaboration with other team members much easier. It also includes several practical additional functions – for example, for multi-project management, risk management, and central resource planning.

Easy connection to additional Microsoft services

The software Project is part of the Office family. Even if you purchase it individually, you benefit from the fact that it is very easy to integrate with other Office features. For example, if you use Skype for Business, you can make calls or send messages to other team members without leaving the Project interface. The integration of other Office programs It is very easy to use the relevant documents for planning or to share them with the whole team.

What-if scenarios: Prevent problems before they even begin

Microsoft Office Project allows you to play through various scenarios. For example, you can test how the overall project would be affected if a supplier missed its delivery deadline. You can also find out what would happen if a key employee were to fall ill. These scenarios help you deal effectively with such deviations from your schedule. This way, you can prevent many problems from occurring.