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Description

Microsoft Project: Scheduling, Resource Allocation and Progress Tracking

Build a realistic schedule in Microsoft Project and track the true progress of your project

  • 3 days — 21 h
  • In-person or virtual
  • Foundation
  • Up to 6 participants

A schedule built in a spreadsheet holds up only until the first slippage. As soon as one task moves, every following date has to be reworked by hand, resources end up booked twice and no one can say which tasks genuinely threaten the completion date.

Three days to build a schedule in the desktop version of Microsoft Project, from the work breakdown structure through to progress reporting. A single case study runs throughout the programme, from initial set-up to the dashboard presented to the steering committee.

Learning objectives

  • Set up a project file and its working calendar
  • Build a schedule from a work breakdown structure
  • Assign resources and resolve overallocation
  • Track progress against a saved baseline
  • Produce the reporting outputs expected by project governance

What makes this programme different

A single case study is built from initial set-up through to the final report
Participants may import an existing schedule and rework it during the workshops
The most common scheduling errors are reproduced and then corrected

Programme

1Set-Up and Work Breakdown Structure

Laying the groundwork before the first task

  • Configure the working calendar and project options
  • Build the work breakdown structure
  • Distinguish summary tasks
  • detail tasks and milestones
  • Name and code tasks to make tracking easier

2Scheduling and the Critical Path

Letting the software calculate the dates

  • Enter durations and links between tasks
  • Use constraints and deadlines with judgement
  • Identify the critical path and available float
  • Compress an over-ambitious schedule

3Resources and Costs

Knowing who does what and at what cost

  • Create the resource pool and associated rates
  • Assign resources and understand how work is calculated
  • Detect and resolve overallocation
  • Build the project cost baseline

4Progress Tracking

Comparing actuals with the plan

  • Save the project baseline
  • Enter progress and remaining durations
  • Analyse schedule and cost variances
  • Reschedule the remaining work

5Reporting and Multi-Project Consolidation

Reporting without re-entering data

  • Customise tables and filters
  • Format a readable Gantt chart
  • Produce the expected progress reports
  • Share a schedule and consolidate several projects

Who is it for

Project managers · project support officers · planners and operational leads required to build and monitor a schedule.

Prerequisites

Familiarity with basic project management principles and confident use of a Windows environment.

Dates & locations

36 scheduled dates between November 2026 and December 2027. Seats are confirmed in the order enquiries are received.

November 2026

December 2026

January 2027

February 2027

March 2027

April 2027

May 2027

June 2027

September 2027

October 2027

November 2027

December 2027

None of these dates suit you? We open additional sessions on request, and any programme can be run privately for your team.

Practical details

Before the programme
Online positioning questionnaire. Your development objectives are shared with the trainer, who tailors the practical case studies to your context.
Teaching methods
Theoretical input, workshops and practical case studies. Digital course materials and method sheets provided.
Assessment
Multiple-choice tests and role-play exercises. Assessment of learning at the start and end of the programme, with immediate and 60-day follow-up evaluations.
After the programme
One year of access to the e-learning platform. Self-assessment of the skills acquired and a 30-day follow-up session with your trainer.
How to register
Registration online or on the basis of a quotation.
Lead time
11 working days after confirmation of registration.
Accessibility
Accessible to people of determination. Contact our accessibility coordinator to design a suitable solution: contact@mpf-academy.ae
Start dates
Rolling intake: in addition to the scheduled sessions, this programme can start on request.