Program Management Using MS Project Server 2003 Frank Douvry PMP

Agenda Program Management problem Program Management problem –Old Solution –New Solution Inter-project Dependencies Inter-project Dependencies –Old Solution –New Solution

Program Management Problem How do you manage a program? How do you manage a program? –Many projects –What visibility do you need –Allow project managers some dignity Track Key Milestones Track Key Milestones Track Key Issues and Risks Track Key Issues and Risks

Old Solution Master Project Master Project –Insert all projects into one –Manage the Master project –Coordinate updates to projects Allowed program manager a view of entire program Allowed program manager a view of entire program Cumbersome to manage Cumbersome to manage

New Solution Program Schedule Program Schedule –Identify the Key Milestones –Create a program level schedule containing only those milestones –Make project milestones dependencies Does not duplicate resources Does not duplicate resources Only managing Key Milestones Only managing Key Milestones Any changes at project level are reflected Any changes at project level are reflected

Program Schedule View Key milestones only Key milestones only Save the schedule Save the schedule

Program Schedule View Create Master project and insert program schedule Create Master project and insert program schedule

Program Schedule View Insert other schedules as well Insert other schedules as well

Program Schedule View Show links being made Show links being made

Program Schedule View Show view of program schedule with links Show view of program schedule with links

Program Schedule Save Save program schedules Save program schedules Save individual schedules Save individual schedules DO NOT SAVE MASTER SCHEDULE DO NOT SAVE MASTER SCHEDULE

Program Schedule View Show Baseline view with variance Show Baseline view with variance

Program Schedule View Show Baseline view with variance Show Baseline view with variance

Program Schedule Issue View Show Issues at program schedule level Show Issues at program schedule level Discuss having to input all information again Discuss having to input all information again

Program Schedule Issue View Show how to get link information from original issue Show how to get link information from original issue

Program Schedule Issue View Show new program issue with link Show new program issue with link

New Solution Wrap-up Program Schedule Program Schedule Does not duplicate resources Does not duplicate resources Only managing Key Milestones Only managing Key Milestones Any changes at project level are reflected Any changes at project level are reflected Issues do not have to be re entered Issues do not have to be re entered

Inter-project Dependency Problem Tasks from one project dependent on tasks in another Tasks from one project dependent on tasks in another Need to know when things change Need to know when things change

Old Solution Inter-project Links Inter-project Links –Hard to manage –Circular Links Program manager out of the communication Program manager out of the communication All projects in link need to open All projects in link need to open

New Solution Give Get schedule Give Get schedule –Manages all inter-project dependencies –Visible at the Program level –Allows quick identification of circular references –Reduces project opens

Project 1 View Identify milestone/task that is successor of task in another project Identify milestone/task that is successor of task in another project

Give/Get View Show schedule with get milestone/give milestone and link Show schedule with get milestone/give milestone and link

New Solution Wrap-up Give Get schedule Give Get schedule –Manages all inter-project dependencies –Visible at the Program level –Allows quick identification of circular references –Reduces project opens

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