Reading
Set up your project tracker spreadsheet in this video to initiate the tracking of tasks, schedules, and project personnel. Customize the spreadsheet to align with the specific project you are interested in, whether it’s a current undertaking or a future endeavor. The example project used in this activity involves the construction of a community park. Name your spreadsheet in a way that reflects your project, ensuring easy retrieval in Google Drive. If you’ve completed the project charter activity, you’ll have two items saved for project management. To maintain organization, create a folder labeled “Project Management Files” and move both the project charter and project tracker into this new folder.
With the folder structure in place, open your project tracker spreadsheet. A spreadsheet comprises cells arranged in rows and columns, and the setup begins by adding tracking categories to the first row. These categories represent the major aspects of your project that require updating and tracking, including tasks, start and due dates, task owners, notes, and a resources column for linking important items like the project charter. List at least five tasks in the Tasks column that must be completed for your project to meet its goals. To enhance readability, apply text wrapping to ensure all text fits inside the cells. Given the potential complexity of a project, you can navigate the spreadsheet more efficiently by freezing the top row. Additionally, freeze the Task column to keep it visible as you move across the spreadsheet. Enter dates in the “date started” and “date due” columns, either by imagining your project or using real dates from a current project. Standardize the date format for consistency, and with these steps, you’ve established a well-organized spreadsheet for tracking your project’s major components, employing various formatting tools in Google Sheets. These spreadsheet skills are versatile and applicable to any spreadsheet software, enhancing organization across all your projects. In the upcoming video, you’ll continue to add information to your project tracker.