Lab 5: Resource Planning for Project Execution in MS Project
Objectives:
- Learn to plan resources for project execution using MS Project.
- Master the program's core functions for managing project resources, tasks, and schedules.
Steps for completing the lab:
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Creating a new project:
- Open MS Project.
- Create a new project by selecting «File» → «New» → «New Project».
- Set the project start date in the «Project» → «Properties» section.
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Defining the project tasks:
- Enter the list of tasks in the «Tasks» table. Include task names, durations, and dependencies (if any).
- Use the «Task Name», «Duration», «Start», and «Finish» columns to organize the tasks.
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Creating resources:
- Go to the «Resources» view (View → Resource Sheet).
- Enter information about the resources needed for the project:
- Resource name: Name (e.g., «Developer», «Tester»).
- Resource type: Work, Material, Cost.
- Workload: Specify the number of hours the resource will be available per week.
- Resource cost: If required, specify the hourly rate or fixed cost.
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Assigning resources to tasks:
- Return to the «Tasks» view (Task View).
- Select the task to which you want to assign a resource.
- On the «Task» tab, select «Assign Resource» (Assign Resources).
- In the window that opens, select the resource and click «Assign».
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Setting dependencies between tasks:
- Set up dependencies between tasks if one task depends on another.
- To do this, select the task and enter the number of the preceding task in the «Predecessors» field (Predecessors).
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Optimizing resource utilization:
- Go to the «Resource Graph» view (Resource Graph) to analyze resource workload.
- If resource utilization exceeds 100%, consider redistributing tasks or adding additional resources.
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Building a Gantt chart:
- Go to the «Gantt Chart» view (Gantt Chart) to visualize the tasks and their timelines.
- Make sure all tasks are displayed correctly and show their dependencies.
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Saving the project:
- Save the project by selecting «File» → «Save As» and choose a location to save the file.
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Project report:
- Go to the «Reports» section (Reports) to create reports on resources and tasks.
- Select the desired reports and configure their display.
Assignments to complete:
- Create a project consisting of 5–10 tasks with various dependencies and resources.
- Assign resources to each task and analyze the workload.
- Optimize resource utilization if necessary.
- Prepare and print a resource report.
Results of the lab:
Upon completing the lab, you should:
- Master the core resource-planning functions in MS Project.
- Be able to assign resources to tasks and analyze their workload.
- Learn to use a Gantt chart to visualize the project.
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