Microsoft Learning:

Exam 74-131:

Designing a Microsoft Office Enterprise Project Management (EPM) Solution

Published:December 09, 2004
Language(s):English, French, German, Spanish
Audience(s):IT Professionals
Technology:Microsoft Office Project Server 2003
Type:Proctored Exam
About this ExamBusiness Analysts are experienced in project management leadership. A candidate for this exam should have at least one year of experience designing project management solutions.
Audience Profile
Business Analysts are experienced in project management leadership. A candidate for this exam should have at least one year of experience designing project management solutions.
Credit Toward CertificationWhen you pass Exam 74-131: Designing a Microsoft Office Enterprise Project Management (EPM) Solution, you complete the requirements for the following certification(s):
  • Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist: Office Project Server 2003, Business Planning Design Toolkit
Note This preparation guide is subject to change at any time without prior notice and at the sole discretion of Microsoft. Microsoft exams might include adaptive testing technology and simulation items. Microsoft does not identify the format in which exams are presented. Please use this preparation guide to prepare for the exam, regardless of its format.
Skills Being MeasuredThis exam measures your ability to accomplish the technical tasks listed below.The percentages indicate the relative weight of each major topic area on the exam.
Gathering business requirements for the enterprise project management solution
  • Identify the current and planned project management environment. Considerations include:
    • The business problems you are trying to solve
    • The maturity of the project management environment
    • PMO structure
    • Scheduling
    • Planning
    • Reporting
    • Tracking of costs and resources
    • The risk management strategy
    • Identify the security needs
  • Identify the organizational structure and constraints. Considerations include:
    • User profiles
    • Stakeholder analysis
    • Training/user education
    • Regulatory requirements
    • Financial situation
    • Gather localization requirements for language and currency.
  • Identify the current and planned IT environments. Considerations include scalability, extensibility, reliability, and availability requirements.
  • Identify the integration requirements for current and planned line of business (LOB) applications. Possible applications include:
    • Resource and human resources HR
    • Timesheets
    • Financial
    • Messaging
    • Integration with Intranet/extranet
Analyze the business requirements for an enterprise project management solution
  • Perform a gap analysis. Considerations include the difference between where you are and where you want to go, and the migration requirements.
  • Identify and track risks.
  • Evaluate project management processes.
  • Analyze implementation constraints.
  • Analyze project metrics.
    • Analyze impact on Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) (help desk, etc.).
    • Analyze Return on Investment (ROI).
Design the EPM Solution
  • Identify appropriate product features based on requirements.
  • Create the appropriate network infrastructure for an EPM solution.
  • Create model configurations for Microsoft Office Project Server and services, Microsoft SQL Server, Microsoft Internet Services, Microsoft Office SharePoint technologies, Internet Explorer, and clients.
  • Create and document enterprise features and templates. Considerations include:
    • Reporting requirements
    • Enterprise outline codes
    • Resource breakdown structure
    • Generic resources/skills
    • Standard calendars
    • System defaults
  • Create and document the security configuration.
  • Create user profile work flow diagrams.
  • Build a prototype and validate against business requirements.
Planning an EPM solution deployment
  • Assemble a deployment team.
  • Manage and evaluate the project planning process. Considerations include:
    • Budget plan
    • Communications plan
    • Support plans
    • Training plans
    • Security plan
    • Capacity plan
    • Software development plan
    • Test plan
  • Create a migration plan.
  • Create a deployment plan.
    • Define rollout phases.
    • Identify deployment dependencies.
    • Create deployment schedule.
    • Create a pilot plan.
  • Document the project schedule by using Microsoft Office Project Professional.
  • Define success metrics.
Deploy an EPM solution
  • Validate deployment met plan.
  • Validate solution-met business requirements.
Preparation Tools and ResourcesTo help you prepare for this exam, Microsoft Learning recommends that you have hands-on experience with the product and that you use the following training resources. These training resources do not necessarily cover all of the topics listed in the "Skills Measured" tab.
Classroom Training There is no classroom training currently available.
Microsoft E-Learning There is no Microsoft E-Learning training currently available.
Microsoft Press Books There are no Microsoft Press books currently available.
Practice Tests There are no practice tests currently available.
Microsoft Online Resources
  • Partner site: Designed for our partners, this site includes training, sales and marketing advice, events, and competency resources.
  • TechNet: Designed for IT professionals, this site includes how-to instructions, best practices, downloads, technical chats, and much more.
  • MSDN: The Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) is a reference for developers, featuring code samples, technical articles, newsgroups, chats, and more.
  • Training and certification newsgroups: A newsgroup exists for every Microsoft certification. By participating in the ongoing dialogue, you take advantage of a unique opportunity to exchange ideas with and ask questions of others, including more than 750 Microsoft Most Valuable Professionals (MVPs) worldwide.
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