Determining Slack Time Available

[Joe]

Is there any way to determine the Slack Time available by
resource? For example, I have a Software Development
project plan with about 12 resources. Some are assigned
multiple task items. The critical path is the task that
must be done on time or the project will be late. But
some of the other resources that may have multiple task
items will be done with all of their assigned task 7 days
before the code phase due date. Everyday, I provide
management with a report that shows how much slack time
each developer has left during the coding phase. To do
this I take projected due date of the last task for each
developer and see how many days left before the code phase
end date. Is there a better way to do this?

 

[Steve House]

There really is no such thing as slack time by resource. Slack time is
defined as the amount of time a TASK can be delayed without delaying
either the start of a successor task (free slack) or the project
completion date (total slack). Thus I can't see any way to this other
than what you are doing - looking at the total slack time of the next to
finish task each devloper is assigned to. This would work if all the
developers are assigned to parallel tracks in the coding phase and the
tracks all converge on whatever task follows the coding phase, thus
making the critical path pass through that track through coding that is
the longest.

 

[John Beamish]

Perhaps you are referring to a resource's remaining availability.

Click on View | Resource Usage. In the group of cells to the right of the
divider, RightMouseButton and choose "Remaining Availability". Is this
information sufficient for your needs? If not, what else do you need?

JLB, PMP