Before you even open Microsoft Project 2003, you need to do some thinking about your project. You should always have a plan before you start your project. For a small project, you may be able to map it out in your head. For larger projects (such as the one we’re going to undertake) you’ll probably want to get out a pen and paper (or use a word processor) and make a few lists.

First, create a general outline of the project. You’ll want to think about what the end result of the project will be. You’ll also want to think about the general timeline, budget, and resources that you will have to work with.

Next, get down to some specific planning. First, create a task list. You may want to specific on this list how long each task is going to take, which tasks are going to be dependent on others, and which ones may need to be broken down into sub-projects.

Once you’ve figured out what your tasks are going to be, make a list of resources. Estimate what resources will be needed and what resources will be available. If your resources are people, think about the hours they work.

Last but not least, think about your costs. You may even want to prepare a formal budget.

For our project, we’re going to create an annual report. Here’s a sample of our plan:

We still need to do some more planning, but it’s a start!