Elena Humeniuk
PPM Consultant
Microsoft Project for the Web is a cloud-based project management tool introduced recently as a part of the Microsoft Project subscription, making the lives of project managers easier. Read on to learn more about MS Project for the Web and simplify its usage.
Microsoft Project for the Web
Microsoft Project for the Web is one of the most widely used project management tools. Since its release, Microsoft Project has become a go-to SaaS platform for project managers, especially with its latest additions and features incorporated within Project for the Web.
Project managers often need to juggle different tasks and meticulously review them. MS Project for the Web, built on Microsoft Power Platform and Office 365, simplifies the data-driven workload for project managers and allows seamless collaboration with team members.
Basic Microsoft Project Features
With Project for the Web, Microsoft has built Microsoft projects from the ground up. They have introduced different features such as Project Home, Project Roadmap, Task Scheduling, Microsoft Desktop Schedule Import, and many more. Together, they simplify complex tasks and add value to the project execution.
Project Home
Project Home works as a one-stop place for all the available for overviewing every project, creating a project, and roadmaps. It features all the tasks and roadmaps to access the most important and recent ones.
Moreover, you can edit and add files to the favorite option just like you highlight favorite mails in google mail. And thus, it saves you from the inconvenience of going through hundreds of project files.
Microsoft Project Roadmap
As the name suggests, Project Roadmap works like a map to walk you through all the latest updates and features, projects, track and connect resource management, and many more. It allows you to review all the work and stay updated with the progress.
You can add items to the roadmap and build a project view based on the investment and deliverables. This consequently allows seamless integration between different project execution systems within your company.
Moreover, the integration with Microsoft 365 facilitates file sharing with other team members.
Project Portfolio Management
MS Project for the Web allows you to do advanced reporting through Power BI and Excel. With Project Portfolio Management, you can build different portfolio models based on your budget and availability of resources.
Microsoft project management software allows you to select and compare them against a strategic business driver. Thus, it ensures that your portfolios are in the same lane as the priorities of your business strategy.
Unique features and functionalities of Microsoft Project for the Web
Here are the key MS Project features and functionalities you can leverage to improve project management:
Scheduling
Scheduling is crucial for the success of any project management initiative. Microsoft Project for the Web makes scheduling more accessible thanks to its user-friendly interface, allowing you to create and manage customized project schedules effortlessly. The built-in Gantt Chart view is intuitive and enables you to “drag and drop” any task and create “start and end dates,” so you don’t have to worry about complex formulas and spreadsheets.
Project Tracking
The ability to track project progress is essential for its overall success. Microsoft Project for the Web makes this easy for you with just a single click to create and save a baseline. Once done, update your task status and watch the progress of your project according to schedule. You’ll clearly know what is on track and which task needs prompt attention.
Defining and Tracking Project Goals
Clear project goals are a compass to guide your team toward your project’s goals. One of the critical functionalities of Project for Web resource management can help you to define and track such goals effectively. The system allows you to manage your project objectives. Also, it demonstrates how specific tasks contribute to the organization’s project overarching goals, ensuring that everyone understands and follows what is at stake.
Using the Grid View
Gantt Charts are great, but only some project managers find them helpful. Project for the Web Microsoft offers Grid View as an alternative for people who prefer something more tubular. With this feature, you can easily update and manage your project details.
Using the Timeline
As part of your Microsoft Project review endeavors, presenting your project timelines to stakeholders is crucial. The process is easy with the Microsoft Project for the Web Timeline feature. It allows you to create visually appealing and understandable timelines so that stakeholders can quickly grasp the progress of your project. Say goodbye to complex timeline presentations.
Using the Board View
If you’re one of those project managers who fancies the Kanban-style approach to project management, then Microsoft Project for the Web is for you. It offers a user-friendly Board View that enables you to manage tasks using a Kanban-style board. Here, you can quickly transfer tasks from your “To Do” list to “In progress” and then to “Done” using simple drag and drop. It’s an excellent way to visualize your project work in progress.
Communication and Collaboration with MS Project for the Web
All project management initiatives require effective communication and collaboration. Microsoft Project for the Web connects seamlessly to Office 365, creating a unified platform where your project team can communicate, collaborate, and share documents and project updates within the platform. You save yourself the stress of switching between different types of tools for collaboration.
Resource Management
Projects frequently need to improve when it comes to resource management. MS Project for the Web saves the day by assisting you with intelligent resource allocation. It ensures balanced workloads by displaying who is available and who is overworked. To minimize burnout and maximize resource usage, you can also verify the availability of resources before allocating tasks.
Data Protection—Leveraging Office 365 Security Groups
In the current digital environment, data security is critical. MS Project Security uses Office 365’s strong security capabilities to protect the integrity of your project data. Microsoft Project for the Web maintains the security of your project data by utilizing Office 365 Security Groups to protect your data against potential threats.
How to Access Project for the Web
Project for the Web comes with three subscription options: Project Plan 1, Project Plan 3, and Project Plan 5. To access Project for the Web, you’ll need to purchase one of these options first.
Microsoft Project for the Web – The Good and The Bad
Like all systems, Projects for the Web carries multiple pros and cons. Some of the advantages are:
- The features, including Modern UI/UX, work on PC and mobile devices with current configurations.
- Moreover, its Microsoft 365 integration allows data to be stored in Dataverse.
- You can also create schedules and share projects across different teams in your organization.
- Microsoft built Project for the Web with the sole purpose of making it more accessible and easier to use for project managers out there. So, you do not need prior training to manage this platform.
- It allows you to extend your functionality and interaction with the help of the 365 apps.
That said, MS Project for the Web does lack in terms of functionalities:
- The platform features focus solely on managing schedules and tasks rather than activities.
- Moreover, it does not allow smooth project portfolio management.
- Additionally, it takes a lot of time for project managers to install the tool on their devices, wasting their time and energy.
Microsoft Project for the Web drawbacks
Undoubtedly, Project for the Web is one of the best tools for scheduling and managing tasks. However, a few are lacking.
Microsoft Project for the Web offers no protection against data loss or other damages. Managing a vast amount of project data and sensitive information, project managers can face human errors at any time. They can lead to irreversible damage to organizations. That’s why it’s essential to take preventive measures against data loss or corruption.
Learn more
about project data protection by reading the article What is data integrity
