Fixed Works/Flexible Resource Units

[Ken Z]

Project 2003, SP2 question:

I set up a task of fixed work. Work is set at 40 hours. I enter Resource A
at 50%, Project figures out it will take two weeks at 4hrs a day and sets the
duration to 10d. All is good.

I then enter Actual Work for Resource A. Let's say A works only 2 hours on
the first day instead of the alloted 4 hrs. Project then calculates out that
Resource A will need to work those other two hours on day 11.

Is there anyway to tell Project to leave the duration at 10 and increment
the units, at least until a resource hits 100% units. I guess the same holds
going the opposite way. If a resource works 8 hours instead of 4, rather than
pulling in the duration by a day, I'd rather Project change the units from
50% to 40% (or whatever the correct calculation would be to keep work at 40
hrs and duration at 10 days.

Thanks in advance for the help.

 

[Jim Aksel]

When entering actual work hours, I routinely have to switch back and forth
between fixed work/units/duration to avoid the scenario you have described.
When you are finished, remember to change it back the way you need it.

Think about what you are asking project to do. Work=Duration*Units, pick
two. You told project to constrain work and units (50%), it does not know
that your intentioned changed when updating actual work so it had to change
duration to keep from violating laws of physics. You can temporarily suspend
that by changing to fixed duration with these units assigned. Now it will
honor the end date.
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If this post was helpful, please consider rating it.

Jim
It''s software; it''s not allowed to win.

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

 

[Ken Z]

Thanks Jim. Is there anyway I can tell Project to constrain work and
duration instead of work and units?

Ken

 

[Ken Z]

Thanks Jim.

Is there anyway I can tell Project to fix work and duration instead of work
and units?

Ken

 

[Jim Aksel]

Select Window/Split while the Gantt chart is displayed. The lower pane
becomes a task form. The task type is there and the default is fixed units.
Change the dropdown as necessary.

If you make a task type Fixed Duation and check the Effort Driven Box, then
work will remain constant and new resources added will reduce units% while
keeping total work constant.

There are 5 possible combinations:
Fixed Units (Effort Driven or Non Effort Driven)
Fixed Duration (Effort Driven or Non Effort Driven)
Fixed Work (Effort Driven)

The effort driven check box determines what happens when additional
resources are added for a fixed duraiton task. Checked means more resources
divide the remaining work. Unchecked means more resources create more work.

Fixed Units. UNchecked: More resources create more work while holding the
duration. Checked: More resources hold the units% and adjust duration while
keeping total work constant.

I have a PowerPoint slide that gives you a matrix of what will change. If
you would like it, please send me a note at jeaksel at yahoo dot com.
--
If this post was helpful, please consider rating it.

Jim
It's software; it's not allowed to win.

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

 

[Mike Glen]

Hi Ken,

Welcome to this Microsoft Project newsgroup

Oe you might like to have a look at my series on Microsoft Project in the
TechTrax ezine, particularly #11 on Task Types, at this site:
http://tinyurl.com/2xbhc or this:
http://pubs.logicalexpressions.com/Pub0009/LPMFrame.asp?CMD=ArticleSearch&AUTH=23
(Perhaps you'd care to rate the article before leaving the site,
Thanks.)

Remember to click the OK button in the split screen to set Project in that
mode before changing the value of the parameters.

FAQs, companion products and other useful Project information can be seen at
this web address: <http://www.mvps.org/project/>

Hope this helps - please let us know how you get on

Mike Glen
MS Project MVP