Baseline Roll-up Incorrectly

[Jim Aksel]

I have a task with one resource assigned. When I baseline this task (it is
0% complete), I see a baseline cost of $28000 in the Gantt view. I switch to
task usage view and insert the Baseline Cost column I can now see each
resource assigned to a task. My one resource assigned to this one task is
showing $32600 while the line immediately above it (the task name) continues
to show $28000.

I manually verified that $32600 is correct and that MSP is correctly
weighting each baseline hour against the $/hr over the time phase. The rate
increases....

If I look at the $28000 and divide it by the task hours, the resulting
hourly wage is less than the smallest value I've entered into the Cost Rate
Table A. I have verified I am making calculations against the single saved
baseline, EV method is %Complete against the same baseline.

Can anyone explain why the sum total of all resources applied to one task
would not sum up correctly to a total task cost? When I baselined, I
verified the roll-up boxes were selected.

 

[JulieS]

Hi Jim,

A complete shot in the dark... Do you have a negative fixed cost
assigned to the task?

In very quick testing, I can reproduce what you are seeing by having a
negative fixed cost at the task level. The assignment line (represented
by the resource name in the Task Usage view) shows the correct total
resource cost based upon Rate * Work. The Baseline cost for the task
line is less.

--
I hope this helps. Let us know how you get along.

Julie

Visit http://project.mvps.org/ for FAQs and more information about
Microsoft Project.

 

[Jim Aksel]

You are a genius. Now, all I have to do is figure why I did that. ... I
think we were trying to hit a boggy or make some adjustment to a number
someone advertised to a customer.

 

[JulieS]

Hi Jim,

A genius -- not even close, my friend :-D.

Thanks for the feedback and good luck trying to remember the "why did I
do that?" part.


Julie

 

[Steve House]

Just a thought - why would you need it to match a number somone advertised
to a client? The cost data is your internal cost required to get the task
done, normally of no business of the client's, and it certainly should be
less than you're charging him if you expect to make a profit. In fact, it
would be very valuable to know that Joe Bozo-Salesrep promised the client
we'd do the job for $25k without bothering to find out first that it's going
to cost us $35k out of pocket to do the work, though not a career enhancing
move for Joe <grin>.