How to Shorten Project Time with Microsoft Office Project 2007

You estimate the length of a project as best you can, but if your Microsoft Office Project 2007 project is taking longer than you expected, try the following methods to tighten the timing:

• Modify dependencies so that tasks can start sooner, if possible.

• Create overlapping dependencies where appropriate.

• Reduce the amount of slack (but never get rid of it all!) on individual tasks.

• Add resources to effort-driven tasks to have them finish earlier.

• Consider whether your project can do without certain tasks (for example, a second Q&A testing phase or a management review of a package design).

• Outsource a phase of your project when in-house human resources can’t complete it because they’re busy with other tasks.