Using Teams and SharePoint for Project Management - Part 2

Teams often rely on third-party tools like Monday.com or Trello for project tracking, but Microsoft 365 provides robust native options through Teams and SharePoint. These tools can handle schedules, risks, documents, and tasks without external dependencies, yet many admins struggle to configure them intuitively.

In part 2 of this hands-on workshop, the workshop leader (experienced Microsoft 365 trainer specializing in practical setups) recaps part 1's achievements, including a SharePoint project schedule list, document library management, Teams channels for internal and guest collaboration, and a Microsoft Lists risk log. The session then introduces Kanban principles using Microsoft Planner, demonstrates adding a Planner dashboard to the SharePoint site, covers basic automations with Power Automate, and tours the complete project environment. For optimal context, review part 1 on Planner first.

What You Will Learn

• Recap of creating a project schedule as a custom list in a SharePoint team site
• Configuring Teams channels connected to the SharePoint site for internal collaboration and external guest access
• Building a risk log using Microsoft Lists integrated into the project site
• Core Kanban practices including visualizing workflow, limiting work in progress, and managing flow for simple projects
• Setting up Microsoft Planner with basic buckets like To Do, Doing, and Done for Kanban-style task visualization
• Embedding a Planner dashboard tab directly into the SharePoint team site homepage
• Introducing Power Automate flows for project task automations, such as notifications or updates
• Touring the fully built Teams and SharePoint environment to see all components in action

Key Takeaways

1. Visualize project work with Planner's Kanban boards. Start with simple To Do, Doing, Done buckets to track tasks, assignees, and deadlines at a glance, mimicking physical Post-it note systems.
2. Limit work in progress for better efficiency. Adopt a finish-before-start mindset to reduce context switching, whether for individuals or teams, and avoid turning boards into unmanaged backlogs.
3. Integrate Planner seamlessly into SharePoint sites. Add Planner as a web part or tab on the site homepage to create a unified dashboard alongside schedules, risks, and documents.
4. Use native M365 tools for end-to-end project management. Combine SharePoint lists for schedules and risks, Teams for communication, Lists for logging, and Planner for tasks without third-party apps.

About the Speaker

The workshop leader is a seasoned Microsoft 365 trainer who runs interactive sessions on leveraging Teams, SharePoint, Planner, and Lists for real-world project management. With hands-on experience addressing common setup challenges like tenant issues and intuitive tool integration, they focus on simple, effective configurations for busy teams.

Who Should Watch This

This session suits Microsoft 365 admins, team leads, and power users who attended part 1 or have a basic SharePoint team site for projects and want to add task tracking with Planner. You will gain practical steps if you manage ad-hoc projects like onboarding or events and seek Kanban without complexity.

Watch if you use Teams daily but underutilize Planner, or if third-party tools frustrate you due to integration gaps. The recap ensures newcomers can follow, while the environment tour shows a cohesive setup.

Skip this if you already run advanced Planner hubs with Power BI dashboards or custom Power Automate flows, as it emphasizes foundational Kanban and basic automations over reporting or enterprise scaling.

Go to part 1 of the bonus content : Planner