Cannot overload resource with two tasks

[JustMe]

Hi all,

I have created task1, task2 to the same resource R with 100% on each
task within the same period of time.

I would expect the resource to be overloaded with 200% but MS Project
force the tasks to be done at separate times. It doesn't matter how I
set the task type as Fixed Unit, Duration or Fix Work. MS Project
doesn't allow me to change the Start date to start both tasks at the
same time.

Of course it will work if I reduce the resource R to 50%, but that's
not my intention.

Can someone explain to me this behavior, or any way to get around it?
Thanks a bunch.

Regards,
Frank

 

[JulieS]

Hi Frank,

Check to see if Resource Leveling is set to Automatic. (Tools > Level
Resources).

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

Julie

 

[Steve House [Project MVP]]

And your problem with this is ???? <grin>

Seriously, what you seem to be asking project to do is ignore the fact you
have scheduled your resource to be in two places at once. If you have task
1 lasting 8 hours and you assign your resource to it 100% it means you are
expecting him to do 8 man-hours of full-time labour on that task,
concentrating on that task to the exclusion of anything else. A second task
at the same time with a 100% assignment schedules him to do another 8
man-hours of full-time labour on that task as well and at the same time as
the first one. That means you are expecting 1 single individual worker to
do perform 16 man-hours of work over the course of only 8 hours of time, a
physical impossibility. One worker cannot do the work of two people!

It is a good idea to turn off automatic resource leveling to prevent tasks
flying around the screen without apparent rhyme or reason as you work on
resource assignments but that does NOT mean you should leave resources
overallocated and not level at all. Purposely leaving resources
overallocated to any signifigant degree is an absolute guarantee that your
project is going to fail. Fopr your project plan to be valid, you must
either schedule the two task to run in succession one after the other OR if
you need them to go on at the same time, reduce him 50% to each and live
with the fact that each one will take twice as long as it would if he could
give it his full attention.

One of Project's most valuable uses is to give you a reality check to help
you avoid schedules that are based more on wishful thinking than objective
facts. Don't try to fool it into falling down on the job.

 

[JustMe]

Julie,
Thanks!! It works for me.
Frankie

 

[JulieS]

You're welcome Frankie and thanks for the feedback.

Julie

 

[JustMe]

Hi Steve,
Thanks for your insight!!

I used the example to illustrate a problem, but was resolved by turning
off the Automate resource levelling.
In reality, it happens quite a few instances that the resource
over-allocated 10-20% thought.

Thanks again!

Regards,
Frankie

 

[Steve House]

You better be careful with that. Those overallocations mean that you
project work is likely to require 10-20% more time to do than you have
budgeted for and you probably will be seriously late in finishing - not
a career enhancing state of affairs.