In the modern project landscape, successful outcomes hinge not just on effective planning, but on the ability to analyze and communicate real-time performance data. This "Data-Driven Project Mastery: Microsoft Project Management with Power BI Training Course" is specifically crafted for professionals who need to master the art of managing complex projects and presenting their insights with clarity and impact. By combining the robust planning capabilities of Microsoft Project with the dynamic visualization power of Power BI, you will learn to transform raw project data into actionable intelligence, enabling better decision-making and stakeholder alignment.

Over this intensive 10-day training program, you will gain hands-on experience in building a complete project management and reporting ecosystem. You will move from creating a detailed work breakdown structure in MS Project to developing sophisticated dashboards in Power BI that track key performance indicators. This course is designed to empower you to not only execute projects flawlessly but also to become a data-savvy leader who can tell a compelling story about project health, risks, and achievements to any audience.

Duration: 10 days

Target Audience:

• Project Managers
• Program Managers
• Project Coordinators
• Business Analysts
• Data Analysts
• Reporting Specialists
• IT Managers
• Portfolio Managers
• Operations Managers
• Business Intelligence Professionals

Objectives:

• Understand the core features of Microsoft Project
• Create and manage a project schedule
• Assign resources and track progress
• Build project reports in MS Project
• Understand the fundamentals of Power BI
• Connect MS Project data to Power BI
• Create interactive dashboards and visualizations
• Develop key performance indicators (KPIs) for projects
• Automate data refreshes for real-time reporting
• Present project insights to stakeholders

Course Modules:

Module 1: MS Project Fundamentals

• The role of MS Project in project management
• Navigating the user interface
• Understanding project views (Gantt, Task Usage)
• Creating and saving a new project file
• Setting up project calendars

Module 2: Building Your Schedule

• Creating a work breakdown structure (WBS)
• Defining tasks and durations
• Establishing task dependencies
• The importance of the critical path
• Using milestones to track key deliverables

Module 3: Resource Management

• Defining and assigning project resources
• Handling resource over-allocation
• Understanding resource types (work, material, cost)
• The role of a resource calendar
• Tracking resource usage and costs

Module 4: Tracking Project Progress

• Setting a project baseline
• Updating tasks with progress
• The difference between planned and actual work
• Using the tracking Gantt view
• Troubleshooting a schedule that is off track

Module 5: MS Project Reporting

• Using the built-in report templates
• Customizing reports with specific data
• Exporting reports to other formats
• Creating a visual report
• Highlighting project risks and issues

Module 6: Power BI Fundamentals

• The role of Power BI in data visualization
• Navigating the Power BI desktop interface
• Understanding datasets, reports, and dashboards
• Importing data from different sources
• Using the Query Editor to transform data

Module 7: Connecting MS Project to Power BI

• Methods for exporting data from MS Project
• Using the "Excel" option for data transfer
• The benefits of a clean data source
• The importance of a consistent data model
• Establishing the relationship between tables

Module 8: Data Modeling in Power BI

• The importance of a star schema
• Creating relationships between tables
• Understanding cardinality and filter direction
• The role of a date table
• Hiding unnecessary columns

Module 9: Creating Visualizations

• Choosing the right chart type for your data
• Building a Gantt chart in Power BI
• Visualizing project costs and budgets
• Creating a report on resource allocation
• Designing a project status dashboard

Module 10: Advanced Visualizations

• Using custom visuals from the marketplace
• Building a project timeline with a slicer
• Creating a project health matrix
• Using cards for key metrics
• The importance of clear and concise design

Module 11: DAX (Data Analysis Expressions)

• Introduction to DAX formulas
• Creating calculated columns
• Building custom measures
• The purpose of time intelligence functions
• Using DAX to calculate project variance

Module 12: Publishing and Sharing

• Publishing your report to the Power BI Service
• Creating a dashboard from your report
• Sharing dashboards with team members
• The benefits of a shared workspace
• The importance of data security

Module 13: Automation and Refreshes

• Setting up an automated refresh schedule
• Using a personal gateway for on-premises data
• Troubleshooting data refresh issues
• The importance of real-time data
• Best practices for maintaining data integrity

Module 14: Storytelling with Data

• The importance of a clear narrative
• Building a project narrative with your dashboard
• The role of tooltips and drill-through pages
• Using the Q&A feature for quick insights
• Presenting data to a non-technical audience

Module 15: Case Studies and Scenarios

• A case study on reporting a large construction project
• A scenario on managing a software development project
• Best practices for a hybrid project approach
• A use case for portfolio-level reporting
• Troubleshooting a data connection issue

Training Approach

This course will be delivered by our skilled trainers who have vast knowledge and experience as expert professionals in the fields. The course is taught in English and through a mix of theory, practical activities, group discussion and case studies. Course manuals and additional training materials will be provided to the participants upon completion of the training.

Tailor-Made Course

This course can also be tailor-made to meet organization requirement. For further inquiries, please contact us on: Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org Tel: +254 702 249 449

Training Venue

The training will be held at our Skills for Africa Training Institute Training Centre. We also offer training for a group at requested location all over the world. The course fee covers the course tuition, training materials, two break refreshments, and buffet lunch.

Visa application, travel expenses, airport transfers, dinners, accommodation, insurance, and other personal expenses are catered by the participant

Certification

Participants will be issued with Skills for Africa Training Institute certificate upon completion of this course.

Airport Pickup and Accommodation

Airport pickup and accommodation is arranged upon request. For booking contact our Training Coordinator through Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org Tel: +254 702 249 449

Terms of Payment: Unless otherwise agreed between the two parties’ payment of the course fee should be done 10 working days before commencement of the training.