This course is designed to empower project managers, planners, and team leads with the essential skills required for precise project estimation and effective cost management. By leveraging Microsoft Project, participants will learn the methodologies and best practices for estimating project costs, managing resources, and delivering projects within budget. This hands-on course combines theoretical insights with practical applications, enabling learners to master the art of project estimation from the ground up.

Section 1: Introduction

• Lecture 1: Introduction to Project Estimate and Cost
  In this introductory lecture, you’ll gain an overview of the importance of project estimation and cost management in ensuring successful project delivery. The session sets the foundation for understanding the core concepts and tools used throughout the course.

Section 2: Estimating Road Map and Key Success Factors

• Lecture 2: Estimating Road Map
  Discover a structured approach to project estimation with a detailed roadmap, guiding you through each phase from planning to execution.

• Lecture 3: Estimating Road Map Continues
  Dive deeper into the roadmap, exploring key success factors that influence accurate estimations, including stakeholder alignment and risk management.

Section 3: Estimating Work Book

• Lecture 4: Estimating Matrix and Budget
  Learn how to develop an estimating matrix to streamline budget planning, helping you allocate resources effectively.

• Lecture 5: Driver Worksheet
  Understand how to create and use driver worksheets to capture project variables and refine cost projections.

Section 4: Task and Activity in WBS

• Lecture 6: Creating the Review WBS
  Master the art of creating a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) to organize project tasks and activities systematically.

• Lecture 7: Task and Activity in WBS
  Delve into defining tasks and activities within your WBS, ensuring comprehensive project planning.

• Lecture 8: Task and Activity in WBS Continues
  Continue exploring advanced techniques for optimizing task assignments and dependencies in your WBS.

Section 5: Management and Coordination

• Lecture 9: Management and Coordination
  Discover strategies for managing and coordinating project tasks, ensuring alignment across teams and stakeholders.

• Lecture 10: Resource Summary
  Learn to summarize and optimize resource allocation for maximum efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

Section 6: Phase Major Activity

• Lecture 11: Phase Major Activity
  Explore the major activities involved in each project phase and their impact on overall project success.

• Lecture 12: Phase Major Activity Continues
  A deeper look into managing critical activities to ensure project milestones are met.

• Lecture 13: Exporting MS Project
  Get hands-on experience with exporting data from MS Project for reporting and analysis.

• Lecture 14: Output of MS Project
  Learn how to interpret MS Project outputs to track project performance.

• Lecture 15: Predecessor in MS Project
  Understand how to set up task dependencies using predecessors in MS Project.

• Lecture 16: Predecessor in MS Project Continues
  Advanced techniques for managing complex task relationships using MS Project.

• Lecture 17: Scheduling Formula of MS Project
  Master the scheduling formulas that drive MS Project, ensuring accurate timelines.

• Lecture 18: Type of Budgeting
  Explore different budgeting methods and their applications in project management.

• Lecture 19: Task Duration and Phase
  Learn how to estimate task durations accurately and plan phases effectively.

• Lecture 20: Resources and Its Types
  Understand various types of resources and how to allocate them optimally.

• Lecture 21: Resource Sheet and Resource Form Tools
  Hands-on practice with resource sheets and forms in MS Project for efficient resource management.

• Lecture 22: Example of Resources
  Practical examples of resource management to enhance your learning.

• Lecture 23: Effort Driven Scheduling
  Explore effort-driven scheduling to optimize task durations based on resource availability.

• Lecture 24: Example of Effort Driven Scheduling
  Real-world scenarios demonstrating the use of effort-driven scheduling.

• Lecture 25: Team Planner in MS Project
  Learn how to use the Team Planner view in MS Project for effective team management.

• Lecture 26: Bottom-Up Estimation
  Master bottom-up estimation techniques to improve project cost accuracy.

• Lecture 27: Overview of Project
  A holistic view of project planning and execution.

• Lecture 28: Overview of MS Project
  Get acquainted with the MS Project interface and its essential features.

• Lecture 29: Resource Over Allocation and Overview
  Identify and resolve resource over-allocations to prevent project delays.

• Lecture 30: Task Set for Project Planning
  Wrap up with a comprehensive guide on setting up tasks for seamless project planning.

Conclusion:

By the end of this course, students will have mastered the essential skills of project estimation, budgeting, and resource management using MS Project. You’ll walk away with practical knowledge and hands-on experience to manage project costs efficiently, align resources effectively, and ensure timely project delivery. Whether you’re a seasoned project manager or just starting your journey in project planning, this course will equip you with the tools and techniques to excel in any project environment.

Who this course is for:

• Aspiring Project Managers: Those who are new to project management or looking to transition into the field and need foundational knowledge of project estimation, cost control, and scheduling techniques.
• Current Project Managers: Experienced project managers seeking to refine their skills in cost estimation, resource allocation, and MS Project usage for better project tracking and management.
• Business Analysts and Planners: Individuals working in roles that require understanding project timelines, budgets, and resource management, who want to deepen their knowledge of cost estimation and project scheduling.
• Construction and Engineering Professionals: Professionals in the construction or engineering industries who need to understand and apply project estimation techniques, manage project timelines, and budget effectively for large-scale projects.
• Operations Managers: Those responsible for coordinating projects or activities within an organization who need to manage tasks, track costs, and optimize resource use for better efficiency and project outcomes.