Integrating Microsoft Project 2002 with Outlook 2007

MS Project is a project manager's tool. It can be used in connection with MS Outlook to keep track of colleagues' hours and project scheduling, allowing for variations in their available resource times; people fall ill, move jobs, drop dead, and new people join a project along the way. The tool allows predictions to be made and changes to timing and levels of resource in order to achieve target end-dates. It can also predict changes to end dates given varying resource levels, and allow changes to task sequencing that will achieve given end dates given the resource available.

The problem is that, like most tools, it will only do the work properly if everyone is using it properly. Garbage in, garbage out, that sort of thing.

While it can be done, there really isn't any point if one is trying to use it to manage oneself! The time is far better spent doing rather than scheming, because while the scheming is happening, the doing isn't getting done.

The biggest mistake the inexperienced user makes is publish a paper copy of the project timetable at the beginning of the project and expect everyone to stick to it. If it were that easy, there wouldn't be any need for project managers.

A project plan is like a map - it's out-of-date the moment it's printed. So the tool is better used electronically. Persevere with it, if there are others to manage and there is a penalty clause in the contract for a late finish. Otherwise don't waste any more time with it.