Community Updates - March 2015
Hello, Microsoft PPM Community.
This is our monthly blog post about what is happening in the PPM Community around the world.
This means webcasts/webminars, PMI and MPUG chapter events, and all about what you need to know to stay up to date about Microsoft Project, Project Server, and Project Online.
Microsoft Project Webcast Series
Creating O Data Reports
March 17 @ 12:30pm – 2:00pm EST
This session will cover how to quickly build three basic Power BI reports using OData - a resource management report, a project / portfolio management report, and an issues / risks management report.
Presented by Guarav Wason
MPUG Events
For MPUG chapter’s events, click here.
Answering the R vs. CC equation with Project Online
March 4 @ 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm EST
One of the most common requirements of a PPM solution deployment is Resource Management. While Resource Management could mean many things to many people, the common underlying questions, which every executive wants answered through the tool are:
- How is my current resource utilization?
- How does my Requirements vs. Committed Capacity charting look like?
- Can my organization/group handle the requirements that are lined up for them for the upcoming period?
Ironically, while these questions are the most basic and common questions to ask, are also the difficult to answer accurately. These questions touch several areas like the planning of work, estimation, tracking of actual work, and maintenance of the plans. A sensible approach is needed to put the proper framework in place, so that when these questions are asked, you are ready with answers.
This sessions will cover how to use Project Online, and set up the frame work, to plan the work, execute it, track it and provide accurate reporting, from Resource Management perspective.
Presented by: Prasanna Adavi(Project MVP, PMP, MCTS, MCITP, MCT) is a Senior Enterprise Project Management (EPM) Consultant. He specializes in helping organizations meet their business needs in the areas of Project Management and Portfolio Management. His main focus is on building “business driven solutions” using, MS Project, Project Server and SharePoint Platforms.
Exporting and Importing Data into Project, Excel and Outlook
March 11 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm EST
Microsoft Project is a fabulous tool for Project Managers, but it’s not always the best tool for Team Members. In this session we’ll investigate two common scenarios. The first one will be exporting task related data to Excel to that we can use it as the basis of a timesheet, and then import the modified data back into Project. The second scenario is exporting the data to Outlook so that it appears in a user’s calendar. It’s a lot to cover in 60 minutes, so climb on board for a pacey ride!
Presented by: Ben Howard - Awarded Community Leader for his very popular and comprehensive UK web training series. Ben Howard has over 20 years experience of implementing enterprise solutions such as MRPII, ERP, and latterly Microsoft’s EPM (Project and Project Server) solution. During that time he’s worked for IBM, DELL, and Microsoft, as well as several smaller organisations. He now runs his own EPM consultancy (Applepark Ltd), providing Project Server implementation and training services. His has been awarded the Microsoft Most Value Professional award for Project for the last 5 years, and has published the successful “Microsoft Project 2013 Plain and Simple” book.
How To Automate Business Processes with Project Online/Project Server 2013 Workflows
March 18 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm EST
Learn how to meet your organization’s need for automation of business process and enforcement of Project Portfolio Management governance through the powerful new workflow capabilities in Project Online/Server 2013. During this session we will demonstrate our 10 steps for workflow success including designing, building and implementing Project Server workflows for Project Online/Server 2013.
Topics Include:
- Benefits of Workflows
- Workflow Capabilities for Project Online/Server 2013
- Workflow Building Blocks
Presented by: Scott Clausen has been helping client customers with Microsoft based Project and Portfolio Management solutions for over 13 years. Scott is presently Managing Director, Delivery at PPM Works, Inc. (a full service Microsoft Silver PPM Partner). Scott is an expert at envisioning and delivering solutions that leverage full capabilities of Project Server, SharePoint and SQL Server Business Intelligence platforms. Scott has worked in numerous industries with customers of all sizes. Having launched 40+ Project Server environments, Scott is well versed at architecture design, upgrade planning, requirements gathering, configuration best practices, test plans, training, workflows, PSI, C#, SharePoint solutions, SQL reports and troubleshooting issues. Scott holds a MBA from UC Berkeley and is an active PMP and MCP with 19 exam certifications.
March 25 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm EST
Resource leveling in Microsoft Project is probably one of the most misunderstood features available, yet it is one of the most important tools in the proactive project manager’s tool kit. In a nutshell, it is a process that ensures resource demand does not exceed resource availability. It schedules work according to priorities on a single project or across multiple projects and ensures that individual resources are not over-allocated (or minimizes over-allocation, at least). In this webinar you will learn what the pre-requisites to resource workload leveling are and how to use it properly on a single project or across multiple projects.
Partners Events
How Strategic PMOs Are Bridging the Planning & Execution Gap in 2015
March 03 @ 11:00 am PT
For many organizations, traditional PPM just isn’t delivering the anticipated results. One of the main culprits is a gap between organizational strategy and PPM execution. The good news? Bridging this gap is possible – but success requires new thinking and a different approach.
- Connect - Integrate portfolios & strategy
- Cost - Provide financial transparency & insights
- Plan - Analyze & synchronize roadmaps
- Deliver - Improve project execution & ROI
- Measure - Track performance & results
Join ProjectsAtWork SME Andy Jordan, and UMT360 CEO Mike Gruia for this invaluable PMO live event. Widely recognized as a strategic visionary, Mike is focused on helping businesses transform their operations and investment management processes with powerful portfolio management solutions. PDUs also available for this webinar.
Presented by: ProjectsAtWork and UMT360
Connect ERP systems with Microsoft Project
March 04 @ 1:00 pm EST
Substantial decisions are based on reliable data. However, in practice, usually no single, unified data platform exists in which all of the data related to a project – from the project schedule to actual work to actual costs – is consolidated and easy to access. Join this webcast to learn how to use data available in multiple sources in a user-friendly way within your projects. Experts from Campana & Schott will connect the PM platform Microsoft Project with established controlling processes in ERP systems like SAP to create an integrated data base. All involved roles feel at ease since decision-relevant data is consistently up-to-date and provided in their common work environment.
Presented by: Campana & Schott
Discover: Microsoft Project Online / Server
March 10 @ 10:30 GST | March 31 @ 10:30 GST
In particular the webinar will be of interest to organisations that are currently only using Microsoft Project Standard or Professional. The webinar will demonstrate how you can leverage the wider benefits of Project and Portfolio Management (PPM).
Presented by: Wellingtone
Manage your Projects in the Cloud
March 18 @ 12:30 GMT
Easily plan projects and manage your portfolio from virtually anywhere and collaborate with Project managers, project teams and decision makers easily using Microsoft Project Online.
?Join us to find out how to:
- Get up and running with reliability and zero up-front infrastructure costs.
- Add teams and projects within minutes with a web-based portal.
- Immediately glean insight about your portfolio with new point and click reporting capabilities.
- Get Team Members to clearly see all their tasks in one place, across multiple projects.
- Use the new visual tiles to quickly begin or flex project portfolio management capabilities.
- Enable your teams to work within a familiar environment. Project Online includes SharePoint Online and comes to you through Office 365.?
Presented by: CPS
If you are aware of some event that will occur this month and it is not listed here, please, leave a comment with the link.