Getting started: Introduction to project management

For many people, learning how to use Microsoft Project 2010 means learning the basics of project management at the same time. The two go hand-in-hand. This overview points you to information about understanding project management and how to use those concepts in Project 2010. Follow the links in each step for detailed information.

In this article

History of project management

Project management basics

Connect with other Project users

History of project management

Did you know that Gantt Charts have been around for over a hundred years? Bet you didn't. The discipline of project management has evolved and been refined for longer than you might suspect.

A quick history of project management

The theory behind the techniques you use as a modern project manager has been influenced by over a century's worth of scientific, social, and business methodologies.

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Project management basics

In a nutshell, project management is the discipline of planning, organizing, and managing resources to complete a specific goal. And then everything goes wrong. The following articles can arm you with the basics to manage a project and deal with the problems that come up.

Getting started: Get to know Project 2010	Learn the fundamentals of Project 2010, what it is and what you can do with it to become an effective project manager.
Getting started: Microsoft Project basics	Dive more into the mechanics of creating a schedule.
Every project plan is a triangle	No matter how normal or different your project is, you cannot escape the triangle of time, money, and scope. Learn to use it to your advantage.
How your project fits into the big picture	Phases, processes, portfolios... Project management terminology can be overwhelming, but this article can help keep you on track.

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Connect with other Project users

Experienced project managers and Microsoft Project users can be the most useful resource for a new project manager. There are many methods of joining the community and finding answers to your questions.

Connect with other Project users	Tap the collective wisdom of other Microsoft Project users by posing questions in discussion groups, reading Project blogs, joining project management Facebook and Twitter groups, or using any of the other community resources mentioned in this article.
Project Facebook page	Let friends and fans on Microsoft Project's Facebook page help you understand Project and the basics of project management.
Project updates on Twitter	The Project Help team tweets announcements about new and updated content.
Project team blog	Let the designers of Project offer opinions and insights into Microsoft Project is and where it is going.

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