Microsoft Project Professional 2016

Microsoft Project Professional 2016: Plan projects efficiently

Carrying out projects is a daily routine in many companies. Whether a specific event is upcoming, a new product is being developed, or internal processes need to be optimized, it makes sense to bundle the tasks involved into a project. By appointing a project manager, clear areas of responsibility are established. Defining the project goals creates precise guidelines and often leads to special motivation. To successfully carry out a project, it is important to plan it down to the smallest detail.

MS Project for efficient schedule management

Deadlines form the framework of most projects. Usually, there is a fixed end date by which the entire project must be completed. To meet this deadline, many small intermediate steps are necessary. It is also useful to set exact dates for these. Furthermore, it is important to plan time buffers to be prepared for any possible delays. Microsoft Project makes it easier to plan the necessary deadlines for a project simply and efficiently. The program automatically takes into account the selected milestones, time buffers, holidays, and other constraints.

Plan resources with Microsoft Project

To make a project successful, it is not only necessary to meet the set deadlines. To complete all work steps, it is also necessary that the required resources are available. Therefore, Microsoft’s Project software also allows very detailed resource planning. This is divided into three sub-areas: labor, materials, and costs. This way, it is very easy to ensure that all resources are available at the desired time.

Monitor projects and create reports

Once the planning is complete, the project can begin. It is important to closely monitor whether all plans are being followed. The project team can enter all work results into this software. It then automatically compares the results with the specifications. This allows the project manager to quickly become aware of any scheduling problems. Additionally, the program generates automatic reports based on this data, which can be used, for example, for lectures and presentations.

Standard or Professional: the differences between editions

Project 2016 is available in two different editions: Standard and Professional. These have significant differences. The Standard version is suitable for a single workstation. Therefore, it is primarily suitable for small projects involving only a few people. For professional users, the Professional edition is recommended. This allows connection to the Microsoft Project Server. This enables much easier collaboration with other team members. In addition, several practical additional features are included – for example, for multi-project management, risk management, and centralized resource planning.

Easy integration of other Microsoft services

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

What-if scenarios: prevent problems at the outset

Microsoft Office Project allows you to simulate different scenarios. For example, you can test how it would affect the overall project if a supplier misses their delivery date. You can also find out what happens if an important employee falls ill. These scenarios help you to deal sensibly with such deviations from your schedule. This way, you prevent many problems right from the start.