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 Hands-On 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?

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 toward a Project Management Institute (PMI) certification?

Yes. Though this course is not designed as preparation for an exam, it is beneficial to anyone working toward, or maintaining, a PMI certification. Most PMI certifications require a specific number of PDUs in order to obtain and maintain the credential. Completion of this course provides 17 professional development units (PDUs).

Learning Tree offers several courses that help you prepare for PMI certifications, including Course 276, Preparing for the Project Management Professional (PMP)^® Exam, which prepares you for PMI's most popular certification. For more details on these courses and PMI certifications, please see the Learning Tree PMI Registered Education Provider Q&A.

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
• 287, Strategic Project Management: Achieving Organisational Goals
• 914, Programme Management: Essential Skills for Your Portfolio's Success
• 344, Effective Time Management

To expand your technical knowledge in SharePoint, please consider the following courses:

• 538, SharePoint® Technologies: A Comprehensive Hands-On Introduction
• 956, Administering Microsoft Office SharePoint® Server 2007: Hands-On
• 954, Deploying Microsoft Office SharePoint® Server 2007: Hands-On
• 955, Building Data-Driven SharePoint® Applications with SharePoint Designer: Hands-On