1. Seven Basic Steps to
Build Realistic Schedule
in Project 2010
B Sai Prasad
PMP, PMI-SP, MCTS Project 2007,
MCTS Project 2010
www.sainivas.com

2. “Microsoft Project is the enhanced
version of Microsoft Excel”
Anonymous
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3. Takeaways
• Forecast scheduling with Project 2010
1. Realistic
2. Dynamic
3. Presentable
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4. Seven Steps To Success
1. Enter project information
2. Create work breakdown structure
3. Sequence tasks
4. Estimate resources
5. Optimize schedule
6. Baseline schedule
7. Record Progress
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5. Step 1: Enter Project Information
Set the project start date
 Don’t: Type project start date in Gantt Chart view.
 Do: Set Project Information in Project ribbon
Set working time, holidays
 Don’t: Change Calendar settings in Options dialog
 Do: Use Change Working time in Project ribbon
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6. Step 2: Create work breakdown
structure
 Display project objective and estimates
 Don’t: Insert summary task in Gantt Chart
 Do: Show Project Summary task using Format ribbon
 Add deliverables and detail tasks
 Don’t: Auto schedule tasks, combine tasks into one
 Do: Manually schedule tasks, insert tasks using Task
ribbon
 Check WBS granularity
 Don’t: Expand/collapse the summary tasks
 Do: Use Outline button in View ribbon
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7. Step 3: Sequence tasks
 Set dependencies
 Don’t: Enter the task dates, drag the task bar
 Do: Set dependencies using Task forms
 Validate network
 Don’t: Use Gantt Chart view
 Do: Use Task forms, Network diagram in Task ribbon
 Compare top-down and bottom-up estimates
 Don’t: Set constraints on low-level tasks
 Do: Manually schedule summary tasks, auto schedule
detail tasks
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8. Step 4: Estimate resources
 Add resource details
 Don’t: Type resource name in Gantt Chart
 Do: Use Resource Sheet in Resource ribbon
 Assign resources
 Don’t: Select resource name in Gantt Chart
 Do: Use Assign Resources, Team planner in Resource
ribbon
 Fix task duration or work or resource assignment
 Don’t: Change the work or duration
 Do: Use the task type to control the behavior
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9. Step 5: Optimize schedule
Identify critical path
 Don’t: Have broken critical path
 Do: Check slack, critical path using Format ribbon
Level resources
 Don’t: Use Gantt chart view
 Do: Use Resource Usage, Team planner in
Resource ribbon
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10. Step 6: Baseline schedule
Set baseline
 Don’t: Copy the file (or) fields to custom fields
 Do: Set Baseline using Project ribbon
View baseline
 Don’t: Insert columns in view
 Do: Use Baseline table, Show baseline bar using
Format ribbon
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11. Step 7: Record progress
 Record actual
 Don’t: Use the Entry table for recording actual
 Do: Use the Tracking table with % complete in Task
ribbon
 Slippage
 Don’t: Write formula to calculate variance
 Do: Use Slippage of Format ribbon, Variance table
 Report progress
 Don’t: Use the standard reports, copy picture
 Do: Print views, copy timeline view
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12. Seven Steps To Success
1. Enter Project Information
2. Create Work breakdown structure
3. Sequence tasks
4. Estimate resources
5. Optimize schedule
6. Baseline schedule
7. Record Progress
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13. Thank you
Email: sai@sainivas.com
Web: www.sainivas.com
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