One task slips a week and every later date has to move? Microsoft Project organizes work into scheduled tasks, links them with dependencies, and displays the resulting plan on a Gantt chart. Teams can track task progress, resource assignments, and costs against the project schedule.
Task schedules and Gantt charts
Create a project from a template or start with a new plan. Add tasks, set their durations, and connect dependent tasks to reflect the order of work. The Gantt chart places those tasks on a visual timeline, making overlaps and planned sequences visible.
When a task's timing changes, Project recalculates the schedule impact on linked tasks.
What can Project track as work proceeds?
Assign work to people, materials, or financial resources, then monitor resource availability across tasks. For cost planning, give each resource a per-hour or per-use rate and compare projected costs with the budget as the project moves through its phases.
Record task progress in the project plan. Project displays completion percentages and flags delays or departures from the original schedule. Automatic reports can bring together progress, resource consumption, and critical tasks for a status review.
- Set task durations and dependencies.
- Assign resources to specific tasks and track availability.
- Record completion and review schedule deviations.
Team updates and project files
Project connects with Microsoft Teams and SharePoint for sharing project work with other users. Team members can view their assigned portions, update task progress, and leave comments; project updates are shared through that collaborative workflow.
The interface follows familiar Office conventions, with options to create projects, reopen recent work, and use templates.
Pros
- Gantt charts show task order, dependencies, and progress together
- Schedule changes recalculate their effect on dependent tasks
- People, materials, and financial resources can be assigned to tasks
- Progress reports summarize delays, resource use, and critical tasks
System requirements: Windows 10, Windows 11 · 1.6 GHz or faster, 2-core processor · 4 GB RAM; 2 GB RAM (32-bit) · 4 GB available disk space · 1280 × 768 display · DirectX 10 graphics card · Internet access · Microsoft account
How does the Gantt chart handle a delayed task?
Project recalculates the effect on linked tasks and the rest of the schedule.
Can Microsoft Project track project costs?
Yes. Give resources a per-hour or per-use rate, then compare phase costs with the project budget.
How can a team share project updates?
Project integrates with Teams and SharePoint. Team members can view assigned work, mark progress, and comment.