Customer Reviews

Microsoft Office Project Server 2003 Unleashed

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
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2 star:		(2)
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I bought this book hoping to learn MS Project Server workflow from a functional utilization perspective. While the book covers the features, it fails miserably to connecting the dots in a clear manner. This has diminished this book to a reference guide. In the next edition, take note. Make the security model more clear. Make the portfolio feature more clear, etc., etc., etc.

I have worked with many epm tools in a similar manner as a field consultant and this book as written for MS Project Server does not advance the practice.

On a brighter note, you have a strong foundation, wear the shoes of a PMO leader to gain better understanding of what content is required in your next edition.

This work contains over 800 pages of densly packed information. However at least 600 of those pages are directed towards system administrators who are implementing MS Project Server, not towards Project Managers who wish to use the tool.

I purchased the book thinking it would help me use features such as Project Analyzer, Project Center, etc. Less than 140 pages are oriented towards the user. Those pages that are directed towards users describe each feature in detail, but don't present them in the context that a project manager would find appealing. For example, what I would like to know is: "What are the top five views that would most enable a Project Manager to get a better grasp on how the project is doing?" You won't find the information presented in that context.

The Unleashed series is for Advanced users and System Administrators, so this book is a shining example of that series. Covering aspects from a real-world perspective, the authors have captured what it's like to really use Project Server and how to squeeze every last drop of productivity out of the software.

This book isn't afraid to go "under the hood" and really get into the meat of the software, allowing users to get the most out of the book and the server.

With a wide variety of authors, this is an excellent resource no SysAdmin using Project Server should be without.

This is the best Project Server reference book on the market. I have successfully led over 6 installations of Project Server 2003 using this book as one of my main reference manuals. I highly recommend it to anyone who needs to admin the server.