TIPS - Setting basic options in MS Project

Before you add any resources or tasks to the schedule, ensure you have some basic defaults set up appropriately so that MS Project works effectively.

• MS Project's default task type is Fixed Units.  Change this to either Fixed Duration (recommended since people think in terms of how long it will take) or Fixed Work under File > Options > Schedule since always want to know one or the other for the scheduling calculations to work best.  It is also advised to set it to 'Non Effort Driven'
• set up the calendar to reflect statutory holidays and other days when project work will not happen
• ensure the work days are set up with the appropriate number of working hours.  The default is 8 which should probably be changed to 7 to reflect a Waterloo work day
• ensure resource availability is reflected in the calendar for individual project resources
• set up the project start date
• create views to see different data points (best practices is to create separate views for entering, editing, reviewing, and analysing the schedule)
• look at the different options available and set up according to how you want to manage your project schedule