Microsoft® Project 2013

Lesson 02
Creating a Project Plan

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Objectives

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

● List the information required while setting up a new project
● Create a new project in Microsoft® Project 2013
● Describe calendar and its types
● Create a template from a completed project

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Basic Information for a New Project

The Project Manager needs to define basic project details at the commencement of a new project.

Start date of a project

Finish date of a project
Project Schedule

Project Calendar

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Microsoft® Project 2013 Interface

There are different methods to create a project in Microsoft® Project 2013.

From a From a From an
From an
As a blank Microsoft® Microsoft® existing
existing
project Excel SharePoint project
project
workbook task list template

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Create Project from a Blank Project Template

A new project can be initiated in Microsoft® Project 2013 by creating a blank project and then adding project details
into it.

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Components of a Blank Project Template

The important components of a Blank Project template are shown here.

Quick Access
Toolbar

Ribbon

View

Task Name and

Description

Gantt Chart

Zoom

Status Bar

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Create Project from an Existing Template

Microsoft® Project 2013 has many pre-installed templates that can be used to create a new project.

New Product launch Market Research

Schedule

Residential
Construction

Commercial Merger or Acquisition

Construction Evaluation

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Create Project from an Existing Project

A new project can be created from an existing project.

• A similar project can be used from the previous history to enter the new project details to it.
• When a project is created this way, the existing project acts as the foundation for the new project.

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Create Project from Microsoft® Excel Workbook

New project can be created from an Excel workbook.

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Create Project from Microsoft® Excel Workbook (contd.)

If the project information is in Microsoft® Excel Workbook format, it can be imported into Microsoft® Project, without
losing the data or format.

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Create Project from Microsoft® SharePoint Task List

If the development team is using SharePoint for a project, the Project Manager can synchronize the task list from
SharePoint without using the Project Web App.
• This will allow the team members to view the project schedule on SharePoint.
• Any updates on SharePoint will be reflected in the Microsoft® Project plan.

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Sample SharePoint Task List

Sample task list from SharePoint Project tasks is shown here.

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Introduction to Base Calendar

When planning a schedule, knowledge about working days and hours, down time, vacations, holidays, etc., are critical for a
project manager.
• These details allow the project manager to plan the project resourcefully.
• Hence, the project manager can set up a base calendar to plan his project in a better way.

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Base Calendar

The key elements of a base calendar are as follows:

Resource Allocation This helps in assigning the right resources for the project.

Project Scheduling This helps in scheduling the project.

Resource Availability This helps in identifying the working time to determine when the resources are available to work in the project.

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Types of Base Calendar

There are three types of base calendar.

• This calendar is from Monday to Friday.

Standard Calendar • This calendar is based on the standard work timings, between 8.00
a.m. to 5.00 p.m.

• This calendar is from Monday to Friday.

Base Calendar Night Shift Calendar • This calendar is based on the general night shift work timings,
between 11.00 p.m. to 8.00 a.m.

• This calendar is used throughout the week.

24-Hour Calendar
• This calendar is based on round-the-clock-work concept.

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Create New Base Calendar

When the project team is spread across geographies, with each region having its own set of working and non-working
days, the Project Manager can create a new calendar for each geographical region.

• He can apply these calendars to the resources and tasks.

1
Click Change Working
Time. Create New Base 3
Calendar window is
displayed.
2
Click Create New
Calendar…

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Set Baseline

The ‘Set Baseline’ command can be used to compare the status of the project with the original plan.
• Baseline records the project plan and the resource allocation.
• Microsoft® Project 2013 permits eleven benchmarks.

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Create a Template from a Completed Project

Microsoft® Project 2013 allows you to save the completed project plans as project templates.

• Strategies from past projects can be shared and can be applied to future projects.

3
1

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Quiz 1

Which of the following provides the overall information of the project?

Select the answer.

a. Project Schedule
b. Base Calendar
c. Pre-Installed Templates
d. Project Information

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Quiz 1

Which of the following provides the overall information of the project?

Select the answer.

a. Project Schedule
b. Base Calendar
c. Pre-Installed Templates
d. Project Information

Answer: d. Project Information

Explanation: ‘Project Information’ option in Microsoft® Project 2013 provides the overall information of the
project to the user.

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Quiz 2

Which of the following provides option to create benchmarks to compare project performance?
Select the answer.

a. Gantt Charts
b. Project Schedule
c. Set Baseline
d. Standard Calendar

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Quiz 2

Which of the following provides option to create benchmarks to compare project performance?
Select the answer.

a. Gantt Charts
b. Project Schedule
c. Set Baseline
d. Standard Calendar

Answer: c. Set Baseline

Explanation: ‘Set Baseline’ command is used to create a base point, which acts as a benchmark to compare
the project performance.

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Quiz 3

Which of the following calendar is used from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.?
Select the answer.

a. Base Calendar
b. Standard Calendar
c. Night Shift Calendar
d. 24-Hour Calendar

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Quiz 3

Which of the following calendar is used from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.?
Select the answer.

a. Base Calendar
b. Standard Calendar
c. Night Shift Calendar
d. 24-Hour Calendar

Answer: b. Standard Calendar

Explanation: ‘Standard Calendar’ is the type of calendar which is used from 8.00 AM to 5.00 PM.

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Quiz 4

How many benchmarks can be created with ‘Set Baseline’ command?

Select the answer.

a. 5
b. 7
c. 11
d. 15

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Quiz 4

How many benchmarks can be created with ‘Set Baseline’ command?

Select the answer.

a. 5
b. 7
c. 11
d. 15

Answer: c. 11

Explanation: You can create up to 11 benchmarks using ‘Set Baseline’ command.

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Quiz 5

Which of the following can be used to synchronize the task list, without using the Project Web App?
Select the answer.

a. Existing Projects
b. Microsoft® SharePoint
c. Existing Templates
d. Microsoft® Excel Workbooks

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Quiz 5

Which of the following can be used to synchronize the task list, without using the Project Web App?
Select the answer.

a. Existing Projects
b. Microsoft® SharePoint
c. Existing Templates
d. Microsoft® Excel Workbooks

Answer: b. Microsoft® SharePoint

Explanation: You can synchronize the task list from the SharePoint without using the Project Web App.

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Summary

Here is a quick recap of what was covered in this lesson:

● Information such as, project information, project schedule, project calendar, start
date, and finish date of the project are important to create a new project.
● In Microsoft® Project 2013, a new project can be created using a blank template,
an existing project, an existing template, a Microsoft® Excel workbook, and a
Microsoft® SharePoint tasks list.
● A base calendar is the main calendar used in a project. The types of base calendar
are standard, night-shift, and 24-hour calendar.
● The Set baseline command can be used to create a base point that acts as a
benchmark to compare the project performance.
● Microsoft® Project 2013 provides option to save an existing project, as a template
for future use.

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 Thank You

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