Frequently Asked Questions

What is SharePoint? Microsoft SharePoint is a technology that connects people, process and information by allowing individuals to easily develop and maintain their own collaborative Web sites. In addition, it has seamless integration with existing products and tools from Microsoft such as Windows and Office. SharePoint does not refer to a specific product or technology. It consists of several aspects of Web-based collaborative solutions. Why should I take this course? This course is specifically targeted so project managers learn how to apply common and practical project management concepts to SharePoint. Consider the following: your colleague is in Los Angeles and you are in London. You both need to complete a status report, but what's the best way to jointly work on the report? You could try e-mail, but then you'd have multiple copies and versions. Or, you could store it in a network folder, and then the file might get overwritten. SharePoint is the ideal solution for this and similar project management challenges. For example, as project manager, have any of these scenarios happened to you? A key stakeholder wants a special, customised report each week Project team members are spread through six time zones Nobody knows who has the latest versions of important documents Key input from team members has been lost Burdensome reporting requirements rob your time and distract you from more important tasks Your organisation has implemented SharePoint, but you don't know how to use it for project management Even if your projects tend to run smoothly, there are always ways to improve efficiency, which can translate to reduced time and fewer costs. And, since SharePoint can easily be adapted to a project management environment, it's a logical choice to manage project challenges. Who will benefit from this course? This course is beneficial for project managers or individuals working with projects whose organisations have adopted SharePoint and who wish to learn the best practices to adapt it for project management. What background do I need? Course 296, Project Management: Skills for Success, or equivalent knowledge is assumed. Familiarity with Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Office is also assumed. Prior experience with SharePoint is helpful but not required. Do I need to know SharePoint? No. This course gives you an overview of SharePoint and focuses on leveraging SharePoint for project management applications. However, please refer to Course 538, SharePoint® Technologies: A Comprehensive Introduction, for comprehensive training on the fundamentals of SharePoint. Will I learn how to set up a project site? Yes, you learn to identify required standards and processes, set up, customise and administer a SharePoint Project Management Information System (PMIS) site. Will I learn how to centralise project information such as documents, calendars and contacts? Yes, you create lists and document libraries in SharePoint that enable users (Project Managers, team members, and other stakeholders) to easily store and retrieve important project information in a centralised manner. How much time is spent on each topic? Content Hours Navigating a SharePoint PMIS 1.0 Setting up a SharePoint PMIS 2.0 Adding stakeholders into the PMIS 1.5 Defining PMIS structure 2.0 Supporting project team collaboration 3.5 Tracking a project 2.5 Creating and disseminating project reports 2.0 Integrating project management tools 1.5 Archiving the PMIS 1.0 Times, including the workshops, are estimates; exact times may vary according to the needs of each class. How much time is spent on hands-on exercises? Approximately 40% of class time is spent on hands-on exercises. These include: Taking advantage of relevant project management standards and processes Building and customising a SharePoint PMIS Creating a project communication plan Generating lists and document libraries Utilising SharePoint collaboration tools Monitoring and updating project tasks Enabling change control with the three-state workflow Customising management dashboards with Web Parts Creating a lessons learned site Is this course applicable to a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification? Yes. Although this course is not designed as preparation for the exam, it is beneficial to anyone working toward PMI's PMP certification. For those who are currently certified, completion of this course counts as 17 professional development units (60 units must be completed every three years to maintain certification). For more details, please see the Learning Tree PMI Registered Education Provider Q&A. If you are an experienced project manager intending to take the PMP exam, you should take Course 276, Preparing for the Project Management Professional (PMP®) Exam. In this course you learn essential PMBOK® Guide terminology, tools and techniques. You gain practical test-taking experience through PMI-style practice exams and create your own personal study plan for continued use after the course. How is this course related to other Learning Tree courses? Learning Tree offers a number of courses that will help you expand upon the knowledge gained in this course and further your skills in several key areas. Those courses include: 296, Project Management: Skills for Success  340, Project Management for Software Development  248, Project Scheduling and Budgeting  287, Strategic Project Management: Achieving Organizational Goals  914, Project Portfolio Management: Successfully Managing Multiple Projects  344, Effective Time Management  To expand your technical knowledge in SharePoint, please consider the following courses: 538, SharePoint® Technologies: A Comprehensive Introduction  956, Administering Microsoft Office SharePoint® Server 2007: Hands-On  954, Deploying Microsoft Office SharePoint® Server 2007: Hands-On  955, Microsoft Office SharePoint® Designer 2007: Hands-On

SharePoint is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation.