No matter what features Microsoft introduces into its latest release of Microsoft Project, it will forever fail to address some basic needs for project managers as they approach the tool. Here are six practical suggestions when using any version of Microsoft Project.

Understand the Challenges to Using Microsoft Project

There's a reason that spreadsheets are the most commonly used software tools to manage projects. Spreadsheets are more intuitive and predictable than Microsoft Project. Project is relatively easy to use when starting to coordinate tasks, but it can quickly become cumbersome and unmanageable when attempting to optimize resources and control your schedule or budget. A streamlined approach to using the most appropriate features is highly recommended. I have generally found that a project manager can effectively plan and control their projects with far less than half of the tool's functionality. One way to streamline your approach to the tool is to minimize data entry to certain key fields (e.g. Task Name, Predecessor, Duration, Actual Start, Actual Duration, and Remaining Duration, to name a few)...

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