Project Planning Software (MS Project / Primavera) Training Course

This course equips participants with the knowledge and practical skills required to plan, schedule, monitor, and control projects using industry-standard tools such as Microsoft Project and Primavera P6. It focuses on project scheduling techniques, resource allocation, critical path analysis, baseline setting, progress tracking, and reporting. Participants will learn how to use project management software to improve accuracy, efficiency, and control in project delivery.

Target Groups

• Project managers and coordinators
• Planning and scheduling engineers
• Construction and engineering professionals
• Program and portfolio managers
• Government and NGO project staff
• Procurement and operations officers
• Monitoring and evaluation officers
• Consultants and analysts
• IT and business project teams
• Students in project management, engineering, and business

Course Objectives

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Understand project planning concepts and scheduling techniques
• Create and manage project schedules using MS Project and Primavera
• Develop Work Breakdown Structures (WBS)
• Assign and manage resources effectively
• Perform critical path analysis and scheduling optimization
• Set and manage project baselines
• Track project progress and performance
• Generate project reports and dashboards
• Manage project constraints (time, cost, resources)
• Improve project delivery efficiency using planning tools

Course Modules

Module 1: Introduction to Project Planning Software

• Overview of MS Project and Primavera P6
• Role of software in project management
• Project planning lifecycle
• Interface and navigation basics
• Setting up a new project

Module 2: Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) Development

• Understanding WBS concepts
• Creating WBS in MS Project and Primavera
• Task hierarchy and structuring
• Defining deliverables and milestones
• Best practices in WBS design

Module 3: Project Scheduling Fundamentals

• Task definition and sequencing
• Dependencies and relationships (FS, SS, FF, SF)
• Duration estimation techniques
• Calendar setup and working times
• Building a project schedule

Module 4: Resource Planning and Allocation

• Resource types and assignment
• Resource loading and leveling
• Cost allocation and budgeting
• Managing resource constraints
• Optimizing resource utilization

Module 5: Critical Path Method (CPM)

• Understanding critical path analysis
• Float and slack concepts
• Identifying project bottlenecks
• Schedule optimization techniques
• Impact of delays on project timelines

Module 6: Baselines and Project Tracking

• Setting project baselines
• Tracking planned vs actual progress
• Updating project schedules
• Variance analysis
• Performance measurement

Module 7: Project Monitoring and Reporting

• Progress tracking tools and dashboards
• Gantt charts and visual reporting
• Earned value management basics
• Report generation in MS Project and Primavera
• Communicating project status

Module 8: Advanced Features in MS Project / Primavera

• Multi-project management
• Risk and issue tracking
• Custom fields and filters
• Templates and automation
• Integration with other tools

Module 9: Project Control and Optimization

• Schedule compression techniques
• Resource optimization strategies
• Change control in schedules
• Delay analysis and recovery planning
• Scenario analysis

Module 10: Emerging Trends in Project Planning Tools

• Cloud-based project management systems
• AI-powered scheduling and forecasting
• Integration with ERP systems
• Real-time collaboration tools
• Future trends in digital project planning and control systems