Getting started: Introduction to project management

	For many people, learning how to use Project means learning the basics of project management at the same time. The two go hand-in-hand. This overview points you to information about understanding project management and how to use those concepts in Project.

In this article

• History of project management
• Project management basics
• Connect with other Project users

History of project management

Did you know that Gantt Charts have been around for over a hundred years? Bet you didn't. The discipline of project management has evolved and been refined for longer than you might suspect.

A quick history of project management	The theory behind the techniques you use as a modern project manager has been influenced by over a century's worth of scientific, social, and business methodologies.

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Project management basics

In a nutshell, project management is the discipline of planning, organizing, and managing resources to complete a specific goal. And then everything goes wrong. The following articles can arm you with the basics to manage a project and deal with the problems that come up.

The project management road map	Learn about all the phases of successful project management, including project initiation, planning, and long-term management.
Quick Start: create a new project	Get the step-by-step basics for starting a new project.
Every project plan is a triangle	No matter how normal or different your project is, you cannot escape the triangle of time, money, and scope. Learn to use it to your advantage.
How your project fits into the big picture	Phases, processes, portfolios... Project management terminology can be overwhelming, but this article can help keep you on track.

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Connect with other Project users

Experienced project managers and Microsoft Project users can be the most useful resource for a new project manager. There are many methods of joining the community and finding answers to your questions.

Connect with other Project users	Visit the Project Community Forum to find answers to common questions and discuss Project-related topics.
Project blog	Let the designers of Project offer opinions and insights into Microsoft Project is and where it is going.
Project Tech Community blog	Collaborate, share and learn from Project experts.
Project Facebook page	Let friends and fans on Microsoft Project’s Facebook page help you understand Project and the basics of project management.

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