Collaborating Between Microsoft Project 2016 and Early Versions

If you have been using MS Office for a long time, in all probability you have noticed the tremendous new changes made over the years by Microsoft. From the year 2000, when Office 2000 was introduced, there has been XP, 2003, 2007, 2010 and 2013. New improvements were introduced with each of these versions to make your working day better.

In March 2016, Microsoft made another big step in launching Project Server 2016. Compared to the earlier version of 2013, at first glance, the new 2016 release may not seem to be very extensive. But the truth is that looks can be quite deceiving. The 2016 Office suite is now much more than simply a tools-set for word processing, presentations, spreadsheets, email messaging, and publishing. It has taken productivity to a higher level with sharing, mobility, co-authoring, and more.

Resource Engagements

Microsoft Project Server 2016 has given more focus on resource management. In this section, it has brought in more features about committing and coordinating resources between the line-of-business team manager and the project manager.

For instance, earlier versions of Microsoft Project have had the Resource Plan function although the benefits were limited. The 2016 version has introduced the Resource Engagements function designed to provide better collaboration between team managers and project managers.

For example, the Resource Plan has now been moved to Project Professional from Project Web Access (PWA), and expanded with additional new functions. The new arrangement allows project managers to view as well as edit their resource commitments, and requests for their current project. These requests have to be entered separately alongside the project plan. PMP classroom training is the best way to learn resource engagement in a project.

Multiple Timelines

The older versions had only one timeline available in Project Server. In the 2016 version, it is now possible to define multiple timelines, effectively giving you a compact time-related general overview of your entire project. Each of the timelines can also have its own timeframe which enables you to display the overall project plus its detailed subsets on the same Project chart.

Microsoft Project Professional 

Microsoft Project Professional enables you to plan complex projects and view current information at any time. This planning tool also assists the user to manage project work, finances, and schedules, to coordinate project teams members, and generally to be more productive.  Your work becomes even easier with more robust reporting functions, integration of MS Office applications plus the help of interactive planning templates and wizards.

Microsoft Project Server 

The Project Server gives businesses a unified and centralized repository for the storage of all their resources and project data. You can also integrate this Platform Solution with Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 or with MS SharePoint Server 2010. This platform offers functions for efficient team collaboration and file management. The MS Project Server 2010/2013 and 2016 solutions also come with full portfolio planning capabilities.

New Cloud-Based Version – Project Online 

This is a new cloud-based solution, part of MS Office 365. It gives you total flexibility to work on projects while out of your office. You can also store project data saved on the main sever offline if you need to, which makes it easier to carry them around, and continue working without a server connection. Once you get reconnected to the server, the updated information gets automatically synchronized.

Project Plan 365

With the Project Plan 365 feature, you can create new Gantt charts, and also modify your existing project schedules in a similar intuitive way as is possible for MS Project. You can save and share your MPP files (plans) from any cloud or storage location on any device or platform. It works as an alternative, or with Microsoft Project. This is perhaps the most wide-ranging solution for teams facing collaboration challenges. It is suitable for use by the largest global enterprise to the smallest.

Office 2016 -Most Secure Office

The new Data Loss Prevention feature on Office 2016 helps in significantly reducing the risk of sensitive data leakage. This is achieved through giving IT administrators tools that enable them to centrally manage, create, and enforce security policies for document sharing and content authoring (Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint).  A Multi-factor Authentication procedure allows the user to securely access content from any location – even when away from your corporate network.

Improved Outlook Performance

Exchange/Outlook connectivity has been enhanced by the New Internet-friendly MAPI-HTTP protocol. Outlook is now more responsive in terms of unreliable networks with power to eliminate foreground network calls. It has also reduced the time for messages downloads, displaying the message list as well as in showing new email following hibernation. The new settings allow you to better manage storage, only retaining 1, 3, 7, 14 or even 30 days of mail on your device. 

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Upgrading Benefits

So the obvious question is, why should one opt to upgrade to the new Office 2016? The straight answer is to be more productive and collaborate better. It is still possible to buy Office in the standard “one box, one installation” with the perpetual user license at your retailer (Microsoft Office 2016). It is, however, now also accessible in a Software-as-a-Service model (including Office Apps).

A single license grants you the right of installing Office apps on 5 Macs, 5 PCs, plus 5 mobile devices. The subscription fees begin at less than $10 per seat monthly. When you cannot install Office Apps locally, they are accessible online through a web browser. When using Office Apps, it doesn’t come with an upfront investment, and you are also guaranteed access to the latest version.

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Conclusion

Contrary to earlier versions, which are sometimes simply referred to as Microsoft project for beginners, Microsoft Project Professional 2016 is designed to help you easily plan your projects, and collaborate with others on your team from virtually any place. With the new features, you can stay organized, and keep your projects on the right track. Remember, it is the only available project management system that works seamlessly with other applications from Microsoft and cloud services. It can also be used as a detached/standalone product or it can be connected to a server.