The management of MPP “Monstera” approached me with the following tasks:
- deepen employees’ knowledge of modern project management methods;
- train the team to work effectively with MS Project Professional and MS Project Online;
- develop practical skills in planning schedules, costs, and resources;
- implement a systematic approach to monitoring project execution and replanning;
- increase the overall level of project maturity within the company.
The main goal of the training was to build a solid knowledge base that would enable employees to use digital tools to support decision‑making and increase the transparency of project execution.
Solution: development and delivery of a specialized training program
As part of the project, a practice‑oriented training course “Project Management Based on MS Project” was developed and delivered, fully tailored to the specifics of the company’s operations.
The program included five key modules:
1. Project schedule and scope planning
- analyzing the project structure;
- creating a WBS and decomposing tasks;
- defining logical dependencies between tasks;
- building a network diagram and calculating the critical path.
2. Project cost planning and cash‑flow management
- assigning resource rates;
- creating a project budget;
- recording actual costs;
- analyzing financial variances.
3. Labor resource planning
- creating and configuring resource pools;
- assessing and analyzing team workload;
- identifying overloads and adjusting them;
- applying resource leveling tools.
4. Progress tracking, analysis, and replanning
- recording actual progress;
- identifying deviations from the baseline plan;
- methods for adjusting schedules and resources;
- recreating or updating the baseline plan.
5. Portfolio management in MS Project Online
- working with the corporate project repository;
- organizing participant access;
- using reporting tools and visual dashboards;
- configuring processes for managing multiple projects.
My Role in the Project
As the lead trainer‑consultant, I provided:
- analysis of employees’ current knowledge level and needs;
- adaptation of the training program to the company’s real projects;
- development of demo examples and practical exercises;
- delivery of live training sessions with analysis of typical mistakes and best practices;
- consulting employees on configuration and use of MS Project;
- recommendations on implementing project management standards and optimizing processes.
Special emphasis was placed on ensuring that employees not only learned the tool itself but also understood its methodological purpose, could apply it in daily work, and recognized the value of a structured project management approach.
Results and Impact on Company Operations
As a result of the project, MPP “Monstera”:
- obtained a clear and structured approach to project planning;
- improved the accuracy of schedule and budget estimates;
- enhanced allocation and control of labor resource workload;
- established a unified approach to progress tracking and replanning;
- gained a tool for transparent project portfolio monitoring;
- strengthened employee competencies and increased the overall level of project management culture.
The company’s management expressed official gratitude for the professional delivery of the training and noted its high practical value.
Conclusion
The project enabled MPP “Monstera” to transition from a fragmented approach to a comprehensive project management system based on modern digital tools and methodologies.
