Does Microsoft Project Incorporate PERT?

Microsoft Project is a fully loaded application that covers all of the fundamentals of managing projects. Not only can you enter tasks and schedule them, you can use Project Evaluation and Review Technique, or PERT, for analyzing your schedule. Because of the complexities of scheduling and project management in general, Microsoft Project Training is highly recommended. In the meantime, here's a brief overview of using PERT with Microsoft Project 2007.

First, it's important to understand that Project only allows PERT analysis at the task level. You cannot use the software to perform PERT analysis at the summary level or overall project level. PERT works by calculating the weighted average of each of the following estimates that enter for each task: optimistic, pessimistic, and expected. By using PERT with Project, you can determine the project's shortest, longest, and most likely completion date.

Two different options are available:

• Using the default weight which weighs the probability of expected duration (4 out of 6) more heavily than optimistic (1 out of 6) or pessimistic durations (1 out of 6).
• Adjust the probabilities of your estimated durations

To use PERT analysis in Project, go to the View menu, choose Toolbars, and then click on PERT Analysis. To use the default weights, click on PERT Analysis toolbar and then click the PERT Entry Sheet. Enter the optimistic, expected, and pessimistic duration estimates. Click Calculate PERT and then click Yes in the next dialog box. Once calculated, you can view the different Gantt charts on the PERT Analysis toolbar. You can also view the three different completion dates by going to the Tool menu, clicking Options and then clicking the “Show project summary task” checkbox found in the View tab.

Microsoft Project 2007 Training courses go into using PERT in much greater detail. Get the most out of your investment in the software by learning how to use it. If you have the 2003 product, make sure to choose Microsoft Project 2003 Training.