Friday, May 18, 2018

Enterprise Custom Field in Microsoft Project Server or Project Online

Enterprise Custom Fields in Microsoft Project Server or Project Online

The purpose of this article is to offer a set of formulas that can be used with different versions of the desktop Microsoft Project application i.e. Project Server or Project Online.

Summary: Use the New Custom Field page in Project Web App settings to specify the options for a custom field.

Applies to: Project Server 2016, Project Server 2013
_________________________________________________________________________________

Tasks That Have Negative Total Slack

Purpose: The Negative Slack field shows the amount of negative slack for a task indicating the amount of time that must be saved so that successor tasks are not delayed.
Negative slack indicates that there is not enough time scheduled for the task and if not catered it may result in delays in project.

Field Type: Flag

Formula: IIf([Total Slack]<0,True,False)

________________________________________________________________________________

Project Baseline Indicator

Purpose: A baseline allows a user to compare a Project's current Start and Finish dates to the originally planned Start and Finish Dates.

Field Type: Flag

Formula: [Baseline Start] = ProjDateValue("NA")


_________________________________________________________________________________

If Tasks Have Dependencies?

Purpose: A task that does not have any predecessors or successors may not properly show its impact to other tasks in the schedule.

Field Type: Flag

Formula: IIf(([Predecessors]="" Or [Successors]="") And [Summary]=False,True,False)

_________________________________________________________________________________

Task Start Date or Finish Date Needs To Be Updated

Purpose: Makes it easy to see when a task’s Start is earlier than the current date, but still is 0 % Complete, or a task’s Finish is earlier than the current date, but less than 100 % complete.

Field Type: Text

Formula: Switch(Date()>[Start] And [% Complete]=0,"Should Have Started",
Date()<=[Finish] And [% Complete]<100,"Should Have Finished", Date ()<=[Start],"",
Date()<=[Finish],"")


Thursday, May 10, 2018

CAPM Exam Prep Notes

CAPM Cheat Sheet


CAPM EXAM CONTENT OUTLINE

(Learning Objectives)
1. Introduction to Project Management (6%)
1.1 Understand the five project management process groups and the processes within each group
1.2 Recognize the relationships among project, program, portfolio, and operational management
1.3 Define a typical project lifecycle
1.4 Understand the function and importance of tailoring for different projects

2. Project Environment (6%)
2.1 Identify the factors and assets that may impact the outcome of a project
2.2 Distinguish between organizational systems
2.3 Understand the purpose and activities of a Project Management Office
2.4 Recognize the hierarchy of projects, programs and portfolios

3. Role of the Project Manager (7%)
3.1 State the primary functions of a project manager
3.2 Understand a project manager’s sphere of influence
3.3 Identify the major elements included in the PMI triangle
3.4 Recognize the difference between leadership and management

4. Project Integration Management (9%)
4.1 Understand the seven project management processes in the project integration management knowledge area
4.2 Identify the input, tools, techniques and outputs defined in the seven processes in project integration management
4.3 Understand the purpose of project integration management and the project manager’s role within it
4.4 Identify concepts and procedures related to project change management
4.5 Identify tailoring consideration in project integration management and recognize key documents
4.6 Identify methods for project integration and knowledge management

5. Project Scope Management (9%)
5.1 Understand the six project management processes in the project scope management knowledge area
5.2 Identify the Input, tools, techniques and outputs defined in the six processes in project scope management
5.3 Identify key concepts and tailoring consideration for project scope management, and key roles in scope management
5.4 Identify the purpose and elements of a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) for both Product and Project scope
5.5 Understand project scope management for agile/adaptive projects, including the use of prototypes

6. Project Schedule Management (9%)
6.1 Define the six project management processes in the project schedule management knowledge area
6.2 Identify the Input, tools, techniques and outputs defined in the six processes in project schedule management
6.3 Solve simple network diagrams problems and perform basic scheduling calculations
6.4 Identify considerations for agile/adaptive environments in project schedule management

7. Project Cost Management (8%)
7.1 Understand the four project management processes in the project cost management knowledge area
7.2 Identify the Input, tools, techniques and outputs defined in the four processes in project cost management
7.3 Identify key concepts in project cost management, including tailoring and special considerations for agile/adaptive environments
7.4 Understand and apply basic forecasting and earned value methods for project cost management

8. Project Quality Management (7%)
8.1 Understand the three project management processes in the project quality management knowledge area
8.2 Identify the Input, tools, techniques and outputs defined in the three quality management processes
8.3 Understand the reasons for and approaches to adapting quality management in different project environments
8.4 Identify quality tools and approaches for continuous improvement

9. Project Resource Management (8%)
9.1 Define the six project management processes in the project resource management knowledge area
9.2 Identify the Input, tools, techniques and outputs defined in the six processes in project resource management
9.3 Identify key concepts and trends in project resource management, including tailoring and special considerations for agile/adaptive environments
9.4 Identify techniques for developing a team, managing conflict, and resolving resource-related problems
9.5 Understand the components of a resource management plan and data representation techniques for managing project resources

10. Project Communication Management (10%)
10.1 Understand the three project management processes in the project communication management knowledge area
10.2 Identify the Input, tools, techniques and outputs defined in the three project communication management processes
10.3 Identify key concepts and approaches in project communication management, including tailoring and special considerations for agile/adaptive environments
10.4 Recognize the dimensions of communication and components of a communications management plan
10.5 Identify communications skills and methods for project communication management

11. Project Risk Management (8%)
11.1 Understand the seven project management processes in the project risk management knowledge area
11.2 Identify the Input, tools, techniques and outputs defined in project risk management
11.3 Identify the key documents in project risk management
11.4 Perform simple risk calculations
11.5 Recognize when and how to adjust risk based on the project environment

12. Project Procurement Management (4%)
12.1 Understand the three processes in the project procurement management knowledge area
12.2 Identify the Input, tools, techniques and outputs defined in the three project procurement processes
12.3 Identify key concepts and tailoring considerations for project procurement management, including trends and emerging practices
12.4 Identify various types of contracts, agreements, and source selection methods

13. Project Stakeholder Management (9%)
13.1 Understand the four project management processes in the project stakeholder management knowledge area
13.2 Identify the Input, tools, techniques and outputs defined in the four project stakeholder management processes
13.3 Recognize key stakeholders roles and needs
13.4 Identify the key concepts and benefits of stakeholder management

Thursday, May 3, 2018

Exam 70-348 Managing Projects and Portfolios with Microsoft PPM (Definitions - 2)


  1. Business Drivers
    A business driver is a specific goal that your organization wants to accomplish. Examples include improving customer satisfaction, increasing market share, or reducing IT costs. In the Microsoft PPM cloud service, business drivers are used as part of the portfolio analysis process to help rank the relative importance of your projects. Using this process, can help you determine which projects to do and which not to do to get the best overall value for your budget.
  2. Project Impact Statements
project impact statement is a way of defining how a given project affects a business driver. 
  1. Enterprise Custom Fields
An enterprise custom field is a data field that you can configure to suit your own unique project needs or specific organizational needs, which is then shared with the rest of the organization for widespread use. There are a number of enterprise custom field types, including:
1.      Cost
2.      Date
3.      Duration
4.      Flag
5.      Number
6.      Text
  1. Enterprise Global Objects
An enterprise global object, therefore, is an application object that is included in the Enterprise Global file and shared with members of the organization for use in the Microsoft Project and the Microsoft PPM cloud service interfaces. When Microsoft Project is connected to the Microsoft PPM cloud service, the Enterprise Global and the local global file merge so that both the Enterprise objects and local objects are available.
  1. Enterprise Project Types
Enterprise project type (EPT) is a wrapper for a project that includes specific project elements—such as phases, stages, workflows, and/or Project Detail Pages (PDPs)—which can be used to create projects in a consistent manner. Each EPT represents a single project type that can be used to create a new project. Using enterprise project types helps categorize projects within the same organization that have a similar project life cycle. Normally, project types are aligned with an individual department, such as marketing projects, IT projects, or HR projects.

  1. Workflow Phases
A workflow phase is a collection of steps or stages that, when executed collectively, result in a particular outcome. In the Microsoft PPM cloud service, it is used to organize the multiple stages that make up a common set of activities in the project life cycle. The phases themselves are just a way of organizing your stages and do not necessarily determine the order in which the stages are executed.
  1. Workflow Stages
A workflow stage represents one step in the project lifecycle, at which some specific set of data must be entered, modified, reviewed, or processed in some way. In the Microsoft PPM cloud service, this includes entering data on one or more project detail pages, grouped to gather information about a project, and possibly entering values in enterprise custom fields.
  1. Documents Library
Documents include any documentation or recorded piece of information related to the project that project team members may need to share with one another and/or on which they may need to collaborate with each other. The Documents library provides a location where these documents can be created, stored, edited, and as needed, attached to the project or a task.
  1. Deliverables Library
A deliverable is a tangible and measurable result, outcome, or product that must be produced to complete a project or part of a project. Typically, the project team and project stakeholders agree on the project deliverables before the project begins. Clarifying the deliverables before the project work begins can help ensure that the outcome of a project meets all the stakeholders' expectations and that the goals of the project align with the larger business goals.
  1. Risks Library
A risk is any possible event or condition that could have a negative impact on the project if it were to occur. Each risk is rated by severity and assigned an estimate for how likely it is to occur. Risk management involves proactively identifying and tracking any potential risks for your project. You can capture any of the potential risks that might affect the day-to-day operations or the final outcome of your project and they will be visible on the project site for all team members to be aware of.
  
  1. Issues Library
An issue is any event or condition that is already occurring that is having a negative impact on your project. They can also be used to track work items that are not easily identified as assignments or tasks in projects. Project managers, resource managers, and team leads can then determine whether the issues will affect the project and identify strategies to manage the issues before they become larger problems. You can capture any issues for your project and they will be visible on the project site for all team members to be aware of.
  1. Web Parts
Your project site is made up of various widgets or components, known as web parts. You can edit these web parts to include or display specific information, delete web parts from the page, and add web parts to insert different components on the page.

Wednesday, May 2, 2018

Exam 70-348 Managing Projects and Portfolios with Microsoft PPM (Definitions)

Managing Projects and Portfolios with Microsoft PPM (Definitions)
  1. Project
    A temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product, service, or result.
  2. Program
A group of related projects managed in a coordinated way to obtain benefits and control that are otherwise unavailable when managed individually.
  1. Portfolio
A collection of projects or programs and other work grouped together to facilitate effective management of that work to meet strategic business objectives.
  1. Project Management
A set of processes and procedures for a team to follow when initiating, planning, executing, controlling, and closing a project to achieve specific goals and meet specific success criteria.
  1. Portfolio Management
A set of the processes, methods, and technologies used by project managers and project management offices (PMOs) to analyze, select, prioritize, and manage projects based on a number of key characteristics, such as cost, benefits, and alignment with corporate strategic objectives.
  1. Workflows
Workflows enforce your business processes and provide a structured way for projects to move through phases and stages. You can set up a workflow to do a variety of actions based on the user input for each stage, including sending emails, assigning tasks, and waiting for specific project actions.
  1. Master Projects and Subprojects
master project is simply a project that has other project(s) embedded in it.
subproject, therefore, is a project that is embedded in another project.
  1. Cross-Project Task Dependencies
If your project has a task that depends on a task in another project, use cross-project links to tie the task dates to one another. This way, if the task that you are dependent upon slips, the new dates are reflected in your own task.
  1. Enterprise Resource Pools
An Enterprise Resource Pool gives you the ability to assign the same resources to more than one project or use shared resources in more than one project. It holds all the information about each resource and is managed through the Resource Center in the Microsoft PPM cloud service. From there, you can add and modify resources in the Enterprise Resource Pool.

The benefit of an Enterprise Resource Pool is that all information for your resources is captured in one place and is consistent across all projects using the same pool.
  1. Resource Center
The Resource Center page in the Microsoft PPM cloud service allows you to view resource availability, view resource assignments, add a resource, filter for resources, and export data to a spreadsheet.
  1. Generic Resources
A generic resource is typically a resource named after a role. Your system administrator should have already entered roles to the Microsoft PPM cloud service for your company and created one generic resource for each role. For example, there should be a generic resource created for the role of project manager called “Project Manager.”
  1. Resource Engagements
Resource engagements are requests from a project manager to a resource manager for a particular resource over a period of time. They help align project managers and resource managers on the specific amount of work and time period associated with a project.
  1. Committed vs. Proposed Assignments
A resource can be committed if you want to assign the resource to the project, or proposed if you do not yet have authorization to assign the resource to the project. 
  1. Resource Leveling
Resource leveling refers to identifying resources that have too many hours assigned to them on a project and spreading the hours out so that the resource only works available hours each day. You can level your project resources in Microsoft Project, using the commands available in the Level command group on the Resource tab. 
  1. Baselines
baseline is a specific measurement, calculation, or point on some sort of scale that is used as a basis for comparison. A baseline is made up of nearly 20 primary reference points across five categories: start dates, finish dates, duration, work, and cost estimates. 

You can set up to 10 additional baselines to help measure changes in the schedule. For example, if your project has several phases, you can save a separate baseline at the end of each phase, to compare planned values against actual data.

  1. Assignment Owners
An assignment owner is the person responsible for entering task status updates for an assignment.
  1. Status Managers
A status manager is the person who will receive the status updates made for a task. The status manager is automatically set to the name of the person who created the task, and in most cases it is the project manager. However, there may be an instance where a different person needs to be assigned as the status manager and receive status updates for a task. In this case, another person from the enterprise can be assigned as the status manager.
  1. Task Progress
When work is being performed against the tasks in your project, you need to capture your task progress in order to keep the project plan up to date. When you update the progress on a task, the amount of work completed and the associated costs may be automatically updated (depending on the task’s settings).
  1. Methods for Tracking Tasks
In the Microsoft PPM cloud service, there are four tracking methods available for updating tasks in a timesheet. The tracking method will already be set for your organization based on company policy. You should be aware of all the possible methods, as the tracking method will affect how you approve timesheets submitted by your resources.
Percent of work complete: Resources report the percent of work they have completed, ranging from 0 to 100 percent.
Actual work done and work remaining: Resources report the actual amount of work done and the work remaining to be done on each task, in a unit of time (usually hours).
Hours of work done per period: Resources report their hours worked on each task per period.
Free form: Resources report their hours using any method that they choose.
  1. Cost-Related Views in the Microsoft PPM Cloud Service
There are three cost-related views available:

The Assignments Cost view displays cost information for all of the project tasks and their resource assignments in a simple table, including the cost rate, the baseline cost, the cost variance, the actual cost, and the remaining cost for each assignment.

The Resources Cost view displays the cost information for all of the project resources in a simple table, including the cost rate, the baseline cost, the cost variance, the actual cost, and the remaining cost for each resource.
The Tasks Cost view displays the cost information for all of the tasks in the project schedule in a simple table on the left, including the fixed cost, fixed cost accrual type, total cost, baseline cost, cost variance, actual cost, and remaining cost for each task. It also shows each task in a Gantt Chart view on the right.


Tuesday, May 1, 2018

Sample Questions Exam 70-348 - Managing Projects and Portfolios with Microsoft PPM - 2

Free Exam 70-348 - Managing Projects and Portfolios with Microsoft PPM Practice Exam Questions



Prepare for your Exam 70-348 - Managing Projects and Portfolios with Microsoft PPM test by practicing with free sample questions.

* Answers are provided at end of page.


Question: 1
A company is using Microsoft PPM to track task progress. The company implements standard overtime
and non-billable time tracking.
You observe that you cannot enter overtime hours in your current time sheet.

You need to ensure that you can enter overtime hours. What should you do?
A. In your time sheet, add Overtime, and then enter the overtime hours.
B. In your time sheet, switch to the My Work view, and then enter the overtime hours.
C. In your time sheet, add Non-Billable, and then enter the overtime hours.
D. Ask your project administrator to increase Maximum Hours per Day.
E. In your time sheet, add the overtime hours to your regular hours.


________________________________________________________________________

Question: 2
You are a project manager using Microsoft PPM.
You need to create a new project that uses one of your company’s templates.

What are two ways to achieve the goal? Each correct answer presents a complete solution.
A. From Microsoft Project, select Enterprise.
B. In Project Center, select New, and then select the desired enterprise project type.
C. In Resource Center, select New.
D. From Microsoft Project, select Featured.
___________________________________________________________________________________

Answers:

     1 - Answer: A
     2 - Answer: A,B

Wednesday, April 4, 2018

Sample Questions Exam 70-348 - Managing Projects and Portfolios with Microsoft PPM

Free Exam 70-348 - Managing Projects and Portfolios with Microsoft PPM Practice Exam Questions

Prepare your Exam 70-348 - Managing Projects and Portfolios with Microsoft PPM test by practicing with free sample questions.

* Answers are provided at end of page.


Question: 1
You are a project manager in an organization that uses Microsoft PPM. You create a proposal for a new
project by entering values for the Name, Description, Proposed Cost, Proposed Benefits, and Sponsor
Name properties.
The PMO must be able to approve all project proposals that have a proposed cost above a certain
threshold value.
You need to use a project approval workflow.

Which three objects should use? Each correct answer presents part of the solution.
A. Project Departments
B. Enterprise Project types
C. Project Detail Pages
D. Project schedule templates
E. Phases and stages

_________________________________________________________________________________

Question: 2
You use Microsoft PPM to manage an e-commerce portal development program.
The program is separated into individual projects that represent each area of development. This allows
each group to manage its own tasks while still having progress visibility at the program level.
You need to be able to see all programs and their associated individual projects from within Project
Center.

What should you do?
A. Select the Enterprise Project Type Name field as the value for grouping.
B. Select the Master Program field as the value for filtering.
C. Select the Sub projects check box.
D. Select the Project Details view.

_________________________________________________________________________________

Question: 3
You are the Microsoft PPM administrator for a large company. The IT manager uses four business drivers for prioritization. The priority of all four drivers is set at 25 percent.
The IT manager adds an additional business driver that has a priority value set to 30 percent.
You need to create a new prioritization that includes the additional business driver.

What should you do?
A. Create a new calculated prioritization. Select the drivers to prioritize.
B. Create a new manual prioritization. Select the correct department, and then select the drivers to
prioritize.
C. Create a new manual prioritization. Select the drivers to prioritize, enter the value for each driver, and then choose to normalize.
D. Create a new manual prioritization. Select the drivers to prioritize, and then rank the drivers
sequentially.

_________________________________________________________________________________

Question: 4
You are using Microsoft PPM to manage an e-commerce portal development program. The program is separated into individual projects that represent each area of development.
You have the following requirements:
You need to set up the e-commerce portal development program and its associated projects in
Microsoft PPM.

Where should you add resources?
A. in the e-commerce portal development program project site
B. in the individual project schedules
C. in Build Team, in the e-commerce portal development program schedule
D. in the individual project sites

_________________________________________________________________________________

Question: 5
Your organization is using Microsoft PPM to manage large projects. Within the Microsoft PPM
environment, you use SharePoint sites with task lists to manage smaller projects. You turn on the
Time sheets feature.
You must collect information about the time that resources spend on all projects.
You need to ensure that you can capture timesheet data from the existing SharePoint task lists.

Which two actions will achieve the goal? Each correct answer presents a complete solution.
A. Convert the SharePoint task lists into an enterprise project.
B. Use the Get Started with Project Web App web part to add existing SharePoint task lists to Project
Center.
C. Activate the enterprise project features for the SharePoint sites.
D. In Project Center, add existing SharePoint task lists to PWA as a project.
E. In SharePoint, add existing SharePoint task lists to Project Center.

_________________________________________________________________________________

Question: 6
You are a project manager using Microsoft PPM. You need to create a new project that uses one of your company’s templates.

What are two ways to achieve the goal? Each correct answer presents a complete solution.
A. From Microsoft Project, select Enterprise.
B. In Project Center, select New, and then select the desired enterprise project type.
C. In Resource Center, select New.
D. From Microsoft Project, select Featured.

_________________________________________________________________________________

Answers:

     1 - Answer: B, C, E
     2 - Answer: C
     3 - Answer: C
     4 - Answer: C
     5 - Answer: A, C
     6 - Answer: A, B


Tuesday, December 5, 2017

ICOs - Where to Invest Where to use Referrals

While surfing web & searching for a good new ICO launch, I came across some interesting comments on newly launched ICO’s:
Here are some of them:
"We're seeing at least one ICO per day at the moment," says John Henderson, a partner at Sydney tech investment firm AirTree Ventures.


"Some have all the hallmarks of a great scam. Some are simply crowdfunding under a different guise, taking advantage of speculation and hype. Many will go to zero."




As per Coin Cap
5-Dec-2017
Coin Name
Coin code
Rank
Website
 Market supply
Current price
 Market Capitalization
Bitcoin Cash
BCH
3

              16,838,700
1573.00000000
     26,487,275,100
Ripple
XRP
4

       38,706,833,272
0.24570000
       9,510,268,935
IOTA
IOT
5

         2,779,530,283
2.80000000
       7,782,684,792
Litecoin
LTC
7

              54,134,183
102.00000000
       5,521,686,666
Bitcoin Gold
BTG
8

              16,689,199
307.00000000
       5,123,584,093
Cardano
ADA
9

       25,927,070,538
0.13240000
       3,432,744,139
NEO
NEO
12

              65,000,000
40.00000000
       2,600,000,000
Stellar Lumens
XLM
15

       17,763,049,478
0.09660000
       1,715,910,580
Lisk
LSK
16

            115,606,484
9.17000000
       1,060,111,458
OmiseGO
OMG
18

            102,042,552
10.22000000
       1,042,874,881
Bytecoin
BCN
30

     183,253,534,612
0.00230000
          421,483,130
Ark
ARK
31

              97,981,284
4.41000000
          432,097,462
Siacoin
SC
42

       31,350,251,849
0.00940000
          294,692,367
Dogecoin
DOGE
43

     112,203,884,954
0.00270000
          302,950,489
Status
SNT
46

         3,470,483,788
0.07300000
          253,345,317
Santiment Network Token
SAN
66

              60,522,560
2.56010000
          154,943,806
TRON
TRX
71

       65,748,192,475
0.00220000
          144,646,023
Verge
XVG
88

       14,347,105,769
0.00790000
          113,342,136
AdEx
ADX
98

              60,248,315
1.44770000
            87,221,486
NAV Coin
NAV
105

              62,122,632
1.37000000
            85,108,006
Streamr DATAcoin
Data
112

            677,154,514
0.10430000
            70,627,216
Kin
KIN
140

     756,097,560,976
0.00006689
            50,575,366
Decentraland
MANA
145

         2,273,755,650
0.02080000
            47,294,118
Voxels
VOX
148

            210,000,000
0.20490000
            43,029,000
Zeusshield
ZSC
162

         1,153,170,765
0.03320000
            38,285,269
Time New Bank
TNB
165

         1,132,673,199
0.03270000
            37,038,414
Gulden
NLG
174

            357,418,745
0.09440000
            33,740,330
Synereo
AMP
195

              82,256,324
0.34250000
            28,172,791
LEOcoin
LEO
196

              94,274,788
0.29870000
            28,159,879
CoinDash
CDT
197

            560,650,080
0.04960000
            27,808,244
Dentacoin
DCN
221

     325,190,215,376
0.00006756
            21,969,851
DigitalNote
XDN
236

         6,885,695,758
0.00031000
              2,134,566
Rialto
XRL
237

              85,000,000
0.23180000
            19,703,000
Soarcoin
SOAR
243

            711,480,735
0.02590000
            18,427,351
Monetha
MTH
248

            216,863,420
0.08600000
            18,650,254
FedoraCoin
TIPS
401

     443,168,182,458
0.00001157
              5,127,456
MetalCoin
Metal
613

              76,925,527
0.01060000
                 815,411
Metal Music
MTLMC3
868

              79,719,140
0.00120000
                   95,663

Software Testing and STLC (Software Testing Life Cycle)

Software Testing and Software Testing Life Cycle Software Testing: Testing is the process of exercising the software product in pre-define...