Example one: Delaying a project start date

A project requires a designer to create mock-ups for the client, but the designer was double-booked,
and the rest of the design team is occupied as well. They decide to start the project two days later
when the designer is available. Since the designer works fast, the project end date remains the same.

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Example two: Obtaining additional resources

The IT team has been responding to a large number of IT requests to deal with a virus that infected
company computers. Since the company’s current antivirus software isn’t robust enough to handle
the virus, the team decides to invest in new antivirus software so they’re able to fix the computers.

Example three: Postponing a project end date

The marketing team is launching a new social media campaign and they’re waiting for approval from
the social media manager, who is currently out of the office due to illness. Since the campaign isn’t
time-sensitive, they decide to push the launch date back by a few days so the manager has time to
review.

Whether you lead a marketing, sales, or IT team, resource leveling can come in handy for resolving
resource conflicts. Once you decide on a solution, let the rest of your team know your plan. You can
use a meeting template to plan the agenda.
16
Advance Microsoft Project – Classroom Exercises

Exercise E9 – Base line the project & enter actual values

1. Base line the project

a. Select Tools | Tracking | Save Baseline from the main menu.

b. In the Save Baseline dialog, make sure Save Baseline and For: Entire Project is

selected.

c. Click Ok.

NOTE: this is a major step. The field values have now has been copied into base

line fields of the same name. This saves these values for later comparison and

allows the original fields to be used for entering actual values. Since this is a

major change in the project, it is recommended that you change the version

number as well as the version letter of the file name.

e. Save the project.

2. Enter actual values

a. The shed kit was ordered on time and it took 2 hours, the task information is

already correct.

i. Select the % Complete field for task 1 and enter 100.

ii. NOTE: a check mark will appear in the indicator column on the left side

of the screen showing the task is complete.

b. The site preparation was completed on time, but each worker only spent 8 hours

on this task rather than the originally projected 12 hours each.

i. Double click the Site preparation task.

ii. In the Task Information dialog, select the Resources tab.

iii. Under Units, enter 8 hours (8h) for each resource.

iv. Click Ok.

v. Select the % Complete field and enter 100 to complete the task.

c. The foundation was poured on time and on schedule.

i. Enter 100 in the % Complete field.

d. The shed kit was delivered on time, but John only spent 1 hour on this task.

i. Double click the Receive delivery task.

ii. In the Task Information dialog, select the Resources tab.

iii. Under Units, enter 1 hour (1h) for John.

iv. Click Ok.

v. Enter 100 in the % Complete field.

e. Delivery of the Shed kit is complete.

i. Enter 100 in the % Complete field.

Page 11 of 16
Tournament project

Task Task Name Task Duration

2 Determine project team 4 hours

3 Set tournament date and time 1 day

4 Prepare preliminary budget 6 hours

5 Create tournament website 2 weeks

6 Solicit potential tournament sponsors 1 week

7 Select tournament sponsors 4 hours

8 Solicit celebrity appearances 3 weeks

9 Create volunteer list 4 hours

10 Sign volunteer contracts 1 hour

Organizing a Blood Drive at Your Community College

You have been asked by the student senate to be the project lead of a blood drive at

your school to promote a cause that saves millions of lives each year. To demonstrate

your project management skills, you decide to use Project 2016 to set up the plan for

the blood drive. The senate would like to hold the blood drive in October. They note

that the campus will be closed on September 27, 2019. You decide to use Project 2016

to help determine a date for the blood drive. You are available to work on the planning

of this project Wednesday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM.

a. Open a Blank Project. Click the File tab, and then click Save. Click Browse, and

then navigate to the location where you are saving your files. Click in the File name

box, type pm01ch01BloodDrive_LastFirst.mpp using your last and first name, and

then click Save.

b. Click the Project tab, and then in the Properties group, click Project Information.

Set the Start date to August 29, 2019. Click OK.

c. On the Project tab, in the Properties group, click Change Working Time . Click

the Work Weeks tab, and then click Details. Select Monday and Tuesday. Click

Set days to nonworking time.

d. Click Wednesday, press and hold S, and then click Friday. Click Set day(s)
to these specific working times. Select row 2 in the specific working times grid.

Press D to clear the 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM working times. Click OK.

e. Click the Exceptions tab in the Change Working Time dialog box. Enter the exception name College
closed for inservice, and then press T. Click in the Start

column in row 1. Change the start date in row 1 to September 27, 2019, and then

press T. Click OK.

f. Click the Task tab. In the Tasks group, select the Mode arrow, and then click Auto

Schedule.

g. Be sure the View Bar is showing on the left-hand side of your screen. (Hint: If the

View Bar is not showing, right-click GANTT CHART on the left-hand side of your

screen, and then click View Bar from the shortcut menu.)

h. If necessary, add the Timeline below the ribbon. (Hint: If the Timeline is not

showing, click the View tab, and then in the Split View group, click Timeline.)

i. Enter the following tasks and durations into the Entry table:

TASK NAME DURATION

1 Select blood drive campus location 4h

2 Set blood drive goal 1h

3 Form a recruitment team 2d

4 Divide team roles and duties 2h

5 Plan promotional strategies 4h

6 Publicize the blood drive 1d

7 Schedule appointments 2w

8 Check site arrangements 4h

9 Get visitor parking passes 2h

10 Email appointment reminder messages 4h

11 Post directional arrows and posters around campus 1h