USPPM - Utilizing SharePoint for Project Management

Leverage Microsoft SharePoint to increase the success rate of your projects and meetings.

Duration

2 Days

In this class, you will learn how to:

• Utilize SharePoint Technologies to track and manage projects
  
• Build a Project Management Information System (PMIS) with SharePoint
  
• Develop and customize a SharePoint site for project collaboration
  
• Utilize Document Management and SharePoint Libraries for multiple document types
  
• Automate project workflows with SharePoint Workflows
  
• Integrate and utilize Microsoft Office technologies for project management
  
• Utilize Microsoft Project for Project Management
  
• Leverage Business Process Automation using SharePoint 2007
  
• Create project reports using SharePoint’s Excel Services
  
• Create SharePoint Dashboards for project overviews
  
• Forecasting projects with Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
  
• Utilize SharePoint for Business Intelligence
  
• Target project information to key project stakeholders
  
• Secure projects utilizing SharePoint security
  
• Utilize SharePoint Sites and Workspaces for effective project organization
  
• Archive project sites once they have been completed

Who should attend this course:

This course is vital for anyone working in a project environment and utilizing Microsoft SharePoint 2007 including:

• Project Managers
• Business Analysts
• Operation Managers
• Team Leads
• Product Managers
• Marketing Managers
• IT Managers
• Data Analysts

Immediate Benefits of This Class:

1. Construct a PMIS using SharePoint to schedule planning, reporting, and forecasting for your project
   
2. Understand how to establish standards, such as HIPAA and SOX within SharePoint
   
3. Allow all of the project stakeholders access to invaluable information quickly and easily
   
4. Unlock “silos” of information by using a SharePoint portal
   
5. Set up one or multiple projects using a Microsoft Project Plan
   
6. Understand how to run a meeting using SharePoint
   
7. Enable stakeholders with project status information and quickly communicate and solve problems
   
8. Easily build Business Intelligence reports using Excel Services
   
9. Understand potential tool integrations like Crystal Reports and SSRS
   
10. Leverage Visio and Powerpoint within Sharepoint
    
11. Develop standard project management processes using SharePoint’s BPM capabilities
    
12. Utilize SharePoint Dashboard to see the big picture of your project
    
13. Build Gantt Charts using MS Project and SharePoint
    
14. Create custom lists, calendars, contacts, and project tracking for each project
    
15. Utilize Web 2.0 capability in SharePoint 2007 like RSS and Wikis to increase project communication and efficiency
    
16. Establish project tracking guidelines through SharePoint 2007 on all your projects
    
17. Comprehend the importance of archiving old projects in SharePoint for reuse

The leading collaboration software choice among project managers
More and more successful project managers are utilizing SharePoint 2007 to drive their projects and operational initiatives. SharePoint 2007 allows teams to have a specified location for information on a particular project. This allows Project Managers to drive what they need from each player with ease and keep everyone on the same page.

Gain firsthand knowledge you can use immediately in the workplace
This hands-on, lab driven course will guide managers through the process of using SharePoint 2007 to drive their projects, improve efficiency, and increase the likelihood of project success. Build your Project Management Information System, develop your SharePoint project site, build document management and libraries, integrate Microsoft Office software, build SharePoint workflow, and archive your project after it is completed. Add the necessary tools to your project management knowledge and make every project more successful.

In this course, you will complete Hands-On labs that will build a project from the ground up, using SharePoint as the driver. Each section will give you relevant knowledge that you can take back to the office and implement using SharePoint.

This Course Includes Nine Real-World, Extensive Hands-On Labs

Lab 1: In this lab you will prepare the proper configurations, and review SharePoint collaboration features.

Lab 2: In this lab, you will start by creating your SharePoint project site. You will configure all the site options to make sure it is correct for your IT environment. After that, you will configure the permissions and all the team members for your project site. Once that is complete, you must customize your PMIS (Project Management Information System) with contacts, calendars, To Do lists, and document libraries.

Lab 3: In this lab, you need to configure your content management features for your project site. You will also take advantage of SharePoints Web 2.0 abilities and set up a discussion forum, a wiki, and a survey. Once that is completed, you will build document work spaces for your project site.

Lab 4: In this lab, you will set up automated alerts for your project status and include RSS updates for all members. You will also learn to update the project tasks list as well as updating the issues list. Once that is complete, you will learn to “search” for your vital project information using SharePoint’s search capabilities.

Lab 5: In this lab, you will build Business Intelligence into your SharePoint project. You will create aManagement Dashboard that will give all the vital information pertaining to and coming from your project using SharePoint WebParts. You distribute project status to key players as well as forecast using Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). You will finish up by utilizing the Business Data Catalog (BDC).

Lab 6: In this lab, you will build a business process automation using a three state workflow within SharePoint. You will also define your corporate compliance goals within your SharePoint project and establish and maintain those compliance standards.

Lab 7: In this lab, you will develop meeting workspaces for your project within SharePoint. You will then utilize a meeting workspace and integrate Microsoft Outlook into your project.

Lab 8: In this lab, you will integrate Microsoft Project, Excel, and PowerPoint into SharePoint. These indispensable tools all integrate seamlessly into SharePoint.

Lab 9: In this lab, you will update your project site with “lessons learned.” After that, you will archive your project to save valuable space. Then you will learn how to go back and re-use pieces of your project.

Course Outline:

I. SharePoint as a Project Management Information System

A. What is a PMIS?
B. Why SharePoint?
C. SharePoint’s Collaboration Features

Hands-On Lab:
Prepare the proper configurations for using SharePoint in your organization

II: Creating a PMIS System

A. Creating the SharePoint PMIS

1. Presenting a project management methodology
2. Identifying relevant organizational processes
3. Setting up sites with new and existing templates
4. Configuring basic PMIS features
5. Performing initial site administrative tasks
   

B. Managing Users and Permissions

1. Defining an organizational structure
2. Determining project stakeholders and communications requirements
3. Building a communication plan
4. Assigning site memberships
   

C. Customizing the PMIS Structure

1. Planning the information architecture
2. Classifying content
3. Generating custom lists for the PMIS
   a. Issue Lists
   b. Contacts
   c. Calendars
   d. Project Tracking
   e. Custom Lists
4. Supporting multiple document types
   
   

Hands-On Labs:

• Create a SharePoint project site
  
• Configure site options
  
• Configure permissions, assign team members to the site
  
• Customize the PMIS structure
  
• Contacts
  
• Calendars
  
• To Do Lists
  
• Issues Lists
  
• Configuring Document Libraries
  
  

III: Enabling Team Collaboration with SharePoint

A. The challenges facing collaborative efforts

1. Real-Time Collaboration
2. Collaboration with remote users
3. Support for offline collaboration
4. Performing a needs assessment
5. Selecting and designing the appropriate solution
   

B. Implementing SharePoint’s Collaboration Features

1. Content Management Features
   a. Enabling version control
   b. Document check-in/check-out
   c. Content Approval
   
   
2. Polling the team with surveys
3. Discussion Forums
4. Utilizing Wiki’s
5. Document Workspaces
   
   

Hands-On Labs:

• Enabling and configuring content mgmt features
  
• Create discussion forums, surveys, and wikis
  
• Create document workspaces
  
  

IV: Tracking Projects with SharePoint

A. Monitoring the Project

1. Establishing Project Tracking Guidelines
2. Documenting a Risk Management Process
3. Keeping up-to-date with Automated Alerts and RSS
   

B. Tracking Project Progress

1. Assigning project tasks with the Project Task List
2. Updating the Issues List
3. Locating Specific Project Information with Search
   

C. Dealing with Deviations

1. Determining Change Control procedures
2. Understanding the three-state workflow
3. Re-evaluating the Project Schedule
   
   

Hands-On Labs:

• Set up automated alerts for project status
  
• Striving to RSS updates
  
• Working with project task lists
  
• Updating the issues list
  
• Searching your project for vital information
  
  

V: Working with Business Intelligence

A. Distributing Project Status to Stakeholders

1. Forecasting with KPIs (Key Performance Indicators)
2. Filtering Project information with Custom Views
   

B. Creating Management Dashboards with SharePoint WebParts

Hands-On Labs:

• Distributing project status to stakeholders
  
• Lab forecasting with KPIs
  
• Create custom views for information
  
• Creating a Mgmt Dashboard with SharePoint WebParts
  
• Utilizing the Business Data Catalog (BDC)
  
  

VI: Establishing Processes and Standards with SharePoint

A. Business Process Management

1. Optimize processes and services with SharePoint
2. Automate processes and services with SharePoint
   

B. Defining Your Compliance Goals within SharePoint

1. SOX
2. HIPAA
3. ITIL
4. PCI Compliance
5. US Patriot Act
6. Others
   

C. Establishing and Maintaining Compliance Standards with SharePoint

Hands-On Labs:
Build business process automation using a three state workflow

VII: Managing Meetings with Meeting Workspaces

A. Understanding Meeting Workspaces and their Components

1. Meeting Agendas
2. Documents
3. Action Items
4. Schedules
5. Contacts and Stakeholders
   

B. Integrating Microsoft Outlook with SharePoint

Hands-On Labs:

• Develop meeting workspaces
• Utilize a meeting workspace with Outlook
  
  

VIII: Utilizing Project Management Tools

A. Working with Microsoft Excel Spreadsheets

1. Importing data from Excel Spreadsheets
   
2. Exporting Data to an Excel Spreadsheet
   

B. Publishing a Microsoft Project Schedule to SharePoint

C. Presenting Project Status Data

1. Building a PowerPoint Presentation from SharePoint
   

D. Utilizing Vision within Sharepoint

Hands-On Labs:

• Import and Export data using Microsoft Excel
  
• Integrate Microsoft Project with SharePoint
  
• Building PowerPoint presentations in SharePoint
  
  
  

IX: Concluding a Project

A. Transferring Lessons Learned
B. Archiving the SharePoint PMIS
C. Creating Templates for Future Projects

Hands-On Labs:

• Update the project site with lessons learned
  
• Archive your project information to conclude your project
  
• Reuse components from past projects

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