A guide to Microsoft Project that focuses on developing a successful project management strategy across the organization to drive better decisions Making Effective Business Decisions Using Microsoft Project goes far beyond the basics of managing projects with Microsoft Project and how to set up and use the software. This unique guide is an indispensable resource for anyone who operates within a Project Management Operation (PMO) or is affected by the adoption of project management within an organization. Its focus is to provide practical and transitional information for those who are charged with making decisions and supporting corporate and strategic objectives, and who face cost and resource constraints. Because more and more companies are aligning project management with their business strategies, the book not only provides guidance on using Microsoft Project and teaching project management skills, but also includes important information on measuring results and communicating with the executive branch. It also provides valuable guidance in using SharePoint Server for social networking and working within a team. Clearly written and presented, the book: Covers work management using Microsoft Project at multiple levels within an organization Focuses on using Microsoft Project 2010 to integrate and support overall organizational strategies Includes hundreds of graphics, screen shots, and annotations that make it the most accessible and usable guide available on the subject Making Effective Business Decisions Using Microsoft Project is a valuable reference for project managers at all levels, and it sets a new standard for training manuals used by businesses that teach courses on project management using Microsoft Project.

Table of Contents:
1 Business Intelligence: Knowledge of Key Success Ingredients for Project Server 2010 1 In This Chapter 1 Maximizing PPM Ingredients, Culture, and Technology for Business Success 2 What Is the Project Management Lifecycle? 7 Information: What Fuels a PMO's Success? 16 Stakeholders in a Project Management Environment 21 Technology Meets Strategy: Welcome to the Business User Network 29 Important Concepts Covered in This Chapter 32 References 33 2 Value Proposition by Role of Project Server 2010 35 In This Chapter 35 Clairvoyance with Project/Server 2010: Forecast Future Results 37 Important Concepts Covered in This Chapter 75 References 77 3 Meeting CFO Needs with Project/Server 2010 79 In This Chapter 79 How the CFO Gets the Attention of the PMO 79 What and Why Is Work Management Critical to Organizational Success? 87 Synchronization of Strategic Objectives to Actual Effort 93 Important Concepts Covered in This Chapter 97 Reference 98 4 The Business Shakes Hands with the Microsoft Project 2010 Platform 99 In This Chapter 99 Logical Architecture Is More Natural for Business Users 100 Microsoft Project 2010 Platform Is Highly Extensible 122 Important Concepts Covered in This Chapter 130 References 131 5 End Users' Critical Success Factors: Using MS Project 2010 133 In This Chapter 133 Project Management in Small Business and the Enterprise 134 Initiating and Managing Projects Using the Microsoft Project Desktop Client 143 Being an Effective Enterprise Project Manager Using Microsoft Project Server 161 Fluent Project Management Using the Fluent UI: Introducing the Ribbon 171 Important Concepts Covered in This Chapter 181 References 182 6 Thinking Local, Going Social: Project Teams Can Thrive Using Microsoft Project Server 2010 185 In This Chapter 185 Project Management Looking Ahead 185 PPM Lifecycle 188 Important Concepts Covered in This Chapter 202 7 Better Together: Microsoft Project 2010 Worksites Using SharePoint Server 2010 203 In This Chapter 203 Integration of Collaboration, Social Media, and Project-Related Information 203 SharePoint Server 2010 Offers Critical Business Capabilities 208 Being Social in a Project Environment 217 Important Concepts Covered in This Chapter 221 8 Effective Transition of Strategy and Execution: Program Management Using Microsoft Project Server 2010 223 In This Chapter 223 Projects Are the 'How,' Programs Are the 'Why' 224 Important Concepts Covered in This Chapter 249 References 249 9 Intelligent Business Planning and Controlling Using Microsoft Project 2010 251 In This Chapter 251 Understanding Strategic Planning with Project Server 251 Creating and Managing Portfolio Lifecycle for Project Server 256 Understanding and Building Business Drivers 259 Using Project Server to Master Demand Management 268 Building Project Selection Criteria 286 What the Effi cient Frontier Is and How to Use It 292 Working with Constraints in Portfolio Planning 296 Creating and Running Multiple Scenarios for Portfolio Planning 303 Applying Strategic Analysis for Corporate to Departmental Needs 306 Committing New Work Portfolios and Measuring for ROI 309 Project Server Optimizing Governance for PMOs 315 Important Concepts Covered in This Chapter 319 References 320 10 Intelligent Business Planning and Reporting Using Microsoft Project 2010 321 In This Chapter 321 What Is Dynamic Reporting . . . 321 Creating Easy-to-Access Reporting in Project Server/SharePoint BI 324 Important Concepts Covered in This Chapter 361 Index 363