Creating Project Dashboards

Introduction

Project dashboards are a crucial component in project management as they provide a quick, visual representation of a project's status. These dashboards can include various elements like charts, tables, and figures that indicate the progress of tasks, resource allocation, budget status, and more. Microsoft Project offers the functionality to create comprehensive project dashboards. This lesson will guide you through the process of setting up an effective project dashboard.

Steps to Create a Project Dashboard

Identify Key Metrics:

• Determine the key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics that are crucial for your project's success. These might include task completion rates, resource utilization, budget adherence, milestones, etc.

Select the Right Reports:

• Microsoft Project provides a variety of reporting templates such as Resource Overview, Cost Overview, and more.
• Select the reports that align with your identified metrics.

Customize Reports:

• Once you have selected a report, customize it by adding or removing data fields, changing chart types, adjusting colors, and so on.
• Ensure that the reports effectively communicate the desired information.

Create a New Dashboard Report:

• Go to the Report tab and choose New Report > Dashboard.
• This creates a blank dashboard where you can add your customized reports.

Inserting Charts and Tables:

• Use the Insert tab to add various charts and tables to your dashboard.
• You can insert elements like pie charts, bar charts, column charts, and more, depending on the data you wish to represent.

Rearrange and Resize Elements:

• Drag and drop elements to rearrange your dashboard layout.
• Resize elements to ensure that the dashboard is clean, organized, and easy to interpret.

Add Text Boxes for Context:

• Insert text boxes to provide context or explanations where necessary.
• This can include project summaries, notes on data interpretation, or action items.

Finalize and Review:

• Once all elements are in place, review your dashboard for clarity and completeness.
• Make sure that it provides a comprehensive overview of the project status at a glance.

Save and Share:

• Save your dashboard as part of your project file.
• Share the dashboard with stakeholders by exporting it to PDF, PowerPoint, or other formats.

Conclusion

Creating a project dashboard in Microsoft Project is a valuable skill for any project manager. It not only helps in keeping stakeholders informed but also assists in making informed decisions based on the latest project data. Remember, an effective dashboard is one that conveys the most important information in an easy-to-understand format.