Project Execution or Project Planning?

Engineer : I have worked in project execution for almost 10 years now. I'm planning to shift myself in field of planning. I want to learn MS Projects. How can I do this?

Me : Congratulations on working in Project execution for 10 years. By MS Projects you mean the software?

Engineer : Yes, planning and scheduling.

Me : Let me understand your challenge. Are you having difficulty in shifting to project planning because of lack of MSP software knowledge or lack of knowledge of the planning activities? Are you able to clear interviews for Planning Engineer role?

Engineer : During interview they ask me whether I know MS projects and whether I have done scheduling ever. My answer is no. So, I need to learn MSP.

Me : So your candidature is turned down because you don’t have the knowledge of software?

Engineer : They asked me if you have to do scheduling for a project, what would you do. I explained it to the best of my knowledge. But later on, I understood from their questions that they wanted to know that I have ever used MSP and whether I have done scheduling by using this software. They also asked me about MPR/DPR preparation. I couldn't satisfy them with my answers.

Me : May I know why you want to shift to Project Planning? What is the motivation?

Engineer : After having spent so much time in execution I want to move ahead in my career. I have seen all the people who are working at higher level generally have good grip over scheduling activities. At the same time if I go in planning I'll be able to use my knowledge of execution in planning.

Me : You are right, to move ahead in career you need to learn scheduling skills, however you can still stay in execution and gain those skills, you don’t have to shift to project planning. I hope you understand what I am saying. I can see that, the hiring team are looking for schedulers, not experienced engineers. why do you think that is a good path to grow to the top?? You could be a future PM.

Engineer : I agree with you, but how can I learn planning and scheduling while being in execution?

Me : Do you have access to the project schedules?

Engineer : Yes I have L2 schedules of the projects.

Me : So, you have no difficulties in reading and understanding? the L2 schedule but have difficulty in preparing schedules in the MSP, right?

Engineer : Correct, because I have not done this before

Me : Do you think you need to know this when you have the real experience and there are people available to prepare schedules? Just think about it. You can even take the help of freshers who have learnt the software. The plan in made your mind; the schedule is the output.

Engineer : You are correct. But while doing this I'll not be able to get hands on experience. My aim is to have overall control of the project.

Me : What do you mean by hand on experience? Who has overall control of project? PM or Scheduler?

Engineer : PM has the overall control. Hands on experience means I'll be able to get first-hand experience of planning, scheduling, and executing.

Me : Ok, can you ask your IT team to install the P6/MSP on your laptop?

Engineer : Nope, I can't get the P6 or MSP installed in my laptop. If I'll get the software, most of my doubts will be cleared.

Me : So the issue is different then. Ok, why don’t you join a one week P6/MSP course in some online/offline institute, there are plenty of them.

Engineer : Sure I will do that. However, I have understood what you wanted me to understand. Thank you for the advice.

Me : Good, All the Best.