Generic Resource vs. Team Assigment Pool (resource)

[isa.merlano]

I have used generic resources in the past for long term planning in
2003. Now the 2007 version comes with this option of Team Assigment
Pool. Does anyone have use it? What scenarios will they work on?

My organization is completely functional, so may generic resources
pretty much represent "someone" in the future from one of the
functional teams. Does it mean, in my case, genric will be the same
thing as Team Assigment Pool?

Thanks in advance!

IM

 

[Dale Howard [MVP]]

IM --

Team resources are a new type of resource in Project Server 2007 and are a
special type of Generic resource. Here is how they work:

1. The Project Server resource creates a Team resource named DBA Team 1
that represents Mickey, Henry, and Pancho.
2. A project manager assigns the DBA Team 1 resource to a task in a project
and publishes the project.
3. Mickey, Henry, and Pancho see the task on the My Tasks page in PWA.
4. Mickey, Henry, and Pancho and submit task updates on the task, OR...
4. Either Mickey, Henry, or Pancho can take over sole ownership of the
task, do the work, and submit updates.

Before you can use Team resources, your Project Server administrator must do
a bit of setup to Project Server. Refer to the following FAQ for the steps:

http://www.projectserverexperts.com/ProjectServerFAQKnowledgeBase/CreateTeamResource.aspx

Hope this helps.

 

[Dave]

One more thing to keep in mind when using Teams is that they do not have a
Base Capacity, so if you forecast resource utilization based on generic
resources, you will not be able to do the same with team resources. Someone
correct me if I am wrong on this

Dave

 

[Dale Howard [MVP]]

Dave --

I believe you are absolutely correct. And I believe that Microsoft
envisioned that people would use Team resources as I detailed in my previous
post. But users have expected more from Team resources, such as skills
forecasting, which Team resources simply cannot do. Their best use,
therefore, is as a means to assign a group of people to a task so that they
can work on the task together, or so that one person can take over personal
ownership of the team. That pretty much the limit of what can be done with
Team resources. Thanks for adding your two cents worth as well!

 

[IsaM]

Dave --

I believe you are absolutely correct.  And I believe that Microsoft
envisioned that people would use Team resources as I detailed in my previous
post.  But users have expected more from Team resources, such as skills
forecasting, which Team resources simply cannot do.  Their best use,
therefore, is as a means to assign a group of people to a task so that they
can work on the task together, or so that one person can take over personal
ownership of the team.  That pretty much the limit of what can be done with
Team resources.  Thanks for adding your two cents worth as well!  








- Show quoted text -

Thanks for the information. IM

 

[isa.merlano]

Thanks for the information.  IM- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Ok. Now I have set up 3 teams in my organization, for each team I
have created a resource that is the one with Team Assigment Pool (TAP)
set to Yes. I did not set them as Generic as I lost the ability to
define the assigment owner if I did so.

So: I have, per team:
- The TAP resource with YES on Team Assigment pool
- The TAP resoruce with NO on Generic
- All the human and TAP resource with the same team name
- All human and TAP are assigned the same RBS value. (GM.VP.Dir.Man)
- All human and TAP are set to Default Assigment Owner the manager of
the team. ( the manager does not have the same RBS value, but one
above in the tree GM.VP.Dir)

When the resource managers logs-in to PWA, he does not see the tasks
assigned to the TAP resource (assigments to his team) so he can re-
assign to a specific team member.

I, however, the one that created the schedule get all their tasks in
My Tasks view. ????

What step did I miss?

SOS!

Thanks!

IsaM

 

[isa.merlano]

Ok.  Now I have set up 3 teams in my organization, for eachteamI
have created a resource that is the one withTeamAssigmentPool(TAP)
set to Yes.  I did not set them as Generic as I lost the ability to
define theassigmentowner if I did so.

So: I have, perteam:
- The TAP resource with YES onTeamAssigmentpool
- The TAP resoruce with NO on Generic
- All the human and TAP resource with the sameteamname
- All human and TAP are assigned the same RBS value. (GM.VP.Dir.Man)
- All human and TAP are set to DefaultAssigmentOwner the manager of
theteam.  ( the manager does not have the same RBS value, but one
above in the tree GM.VP.Dir)

When the resource managers logs-in to PWA, he does not see the tasks
assigned to the TAP resource (assigments to histeam) so he can re-
assign to a specificteammember.

I, however, the one that created the schedule get all their tasks in
My Tasks view.  ????

What step did I miss?

SOS!

Thanks!

IsaM- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Solution. The problem had nothing to do with the TAP's, Team's or
Resource manager's settings. The template was created before the
"default assigment owner" field was set for the TAP resource hence all
assigments for the tasks in the template got owned by the owner of the
template.. which was me. We did remove the assigments and now all new
assigments to the TAP resource get the proper owner and corresponding
displaying of tasks under My Tasks view for the resource manager of
the team... Voila!

IM

 

[Dale Howard [MVP]]

IM --

Thanks for your persistance in finding a solution, and thanks for sharing
your solution as well!

Ok. Now I have set up 3 teams in my organization, for eachteamI
have created a resource that is the one withTeamAssigmentPool(TAP)
set to Yes. I did not set them as Generic as I lost the ability to
define theassigmentowner if I did so.

So: I have, perteam:
- The TAP resource with YES onTeamAssigmentpool
- The TAP resoruce with NO on Generic
- All the human and TAP resource with the sameteamname
- All human and TAP are assigned the same RBS value. (GM.VP.Dir.Man)
- All human and TAP are set to DefaultAssigmentOwner the manager of
theteam. ( the manager does not have the same RBS value, but one
above in the tree GM.VP.Dir)

When the resource managers logs-in to PWA, he does not see the tasks
assigned to the TAP resource (assigments to histeam) so he can re-
assign to a specificteammember.

I, however, the one that created the schedule get all their tasks in
My Tasks view. ????

What step did I miss?

SOS!

Thanks!

IsaM- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Solution. The problem had nothing to do with the TAP's, Team's or
Resource manager's settings. The template was created before the
"default assigment owner" field was set for the TAP resource hence all
assigments for the tasks in the template got owned by the owner of the
template.. which was me. We did remove the assigments and now all new
assigments to the TAP resource get the proper owner and corresponding
displaying of tasks under My Tasks view for the resource manager of
the team... Voila!

IM

 

[milrock]

IM --

Thanks for your persistance in finding a solution, and thanks for sharing
your solution as well!  












Solution.  The problem had nothing to do with the TAP's,Team'sor
Resource manager's settings.  The template was created before the
"default assigment owner" field was set for the TAP resource hence all
assigments for the tasks in the template got owned by the owner of the
template.. which was me. We did remove the assigments and now all new
assigments to the TAP resource get the proper owner and corresponding
displaying of tasks under My Tasks view for the resource manager of
theteam...  Voila!

IM- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Hi Dale,

How are you able to get the team resource assignment to show up in the
My Tasks page and have the team work on it together? The only
behaviour that I have been able to produce when assigning a Team
Resource to a task is that the assignment only appears in the Self-
Assign Team Tasks page and not in the resources' normal My Tasks
page. This means that the team cannot work on the task together
unless the task is assigned to each team member individually.
Therefore all that the Team Member functionality provides is the
ability to assign a task to a team and have one member of the team
take over the task or the team lead can reassign the task to ONE
resource in the team.

"Their best use,
therefore, is as a means to assign a group of people to a task so that
they
can work on the task together, or so that one person can take over
personal
ownership of the team."

Your explanation seems to allude to the notion that once the team
resource is assigned and the project published that all team member
can enter beginning updating progress in their My Tasks page against
the task which definitely isn't the case.

Can you please elaborate as there is a lot of confusing and incorrect
information floating around (your book, Project Professional help and
the Microsoft Project Server website)?

Thanks,

Scot

 

[Dale Howard [MVP]]

milrock --

When you assign a Team resource to a task in an enterprise project and
publish the project, the task assignment is supposed to show up on the My
Tasks page for each resource that is part of the Team resource. That is the
default behavior, and I see it everywhere we go and teach, including on our
own internal system in NYC.

However, you are now the third user who has reported that it isn't working
like that for you. Months ago, a user reported this problem, and then
eventually reported a solution to the problem. Unfortunately, I can no
longer find this user's post, and I don't remember what his solution was.

Regarding your situation, why you have this problem is beyond me. When
something isn't working by design, I'm not sure I could even hazard a decent
guess. Sorry I can't be more help.

IM --

Thanks for your persistance in finding a solution, and thanks for sharing
your solution as well!












Solution. The problem had nothing to do with the TAP's,Team'sor
Resource manager's settings. The template was created before the
"default assigment owner" field was set for the TAP resource hence all
assigments for the tasks in the template got owned by the owner of the
template.. which was me. We did remove the assigments and now all new
assigments to the TAP resource get the proper owner and corresponding
displaying of tasks under My Tasks view for the resource manager of
theteam... Voila!

IM- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Hi Dale,

How are you able to get the team resource assignment to show up in the
My Tasks page and have the team work on it together? The only
behaviour that I have been able to produce when assigning a Team
Resource to a task is that the assignment only appears in the Self-
Assign Team Tasks page and not in the resources' normal My Tasks
page. This means that the team cannot work on the task together
unless the task is assigned to each team member individually.
Therefore all that the Team Member functionality provides is the
ability to assign a task to a team and have one member of the team
take over the task or the team lead can reassign the task to ONE
resource in the team.

"Their best use,
therefore, is as a means to assign a group of people to a task so that
they
can work on the task together, or so that one person can take over
personal
ownership of the team."

Your explanation seems to allude to the notion that once the team
resource is assigned and the project published that all team member
can enter beginning updating progress in their My Tasks page against
the task which definitely isn't the case.

Can you please elaborate as there is a lot of confusing and incorrect
information floating around (your book, Project Professional help and
the Microsoft Project Server website)?

Thanks,

Scot

 

[milrock]

milrock --

When you assign a Team resource to a task in an enterprise project and
publish the project, the task assignment is supposed to show up on the My
Tasks page for each resource that is part of the Team resource.  That is the
default behavior, and I see it everywhere we go and teach, including on our
own internal system in NYC.

However, you are now the third user who has reported that it isn't working
like that for you.  Months ago, a user reported this problem, and then
eventually reported a solution to the problem.  Unfortunately, I can no
longer find this user's post, and I don't remember what his solution was.

Regarding your situation, why you have this problem is beyond me.  When
something isn't working by design, I'm not sure I could even hazard a decent
guess.  Sorry I can't be more help.













Hi Dale,

How are you able to get the team resource assignment to show up in the
My Tasks page and have the team work on it together?  The only
behaviour that I have been able to produce when assigning a Team
Resource to a task is that the assignment only appears in the Self-
Assign Team Tasks page and not in the resources' normal My Tasks
page.  This means that the team cannot work on the task together
unless the task is assigned to each team member individually.
Therefore all that the Team Member functionality provides is the
ability to assign a task to a team and have one member of the team
take over the task or the team lead can reassign the task to ONE
resource in the team.

"Their best use,
therefore, is as a means to assign a group of people to a task so that
they
can work on the task together, or so that one person can take over
personal
ownership of the team."

Your explanation seems to allude to the notion that once the team
resource is assigned and the project published that all team member
can enter beginning updating progress in their My Tasks page against
the task which definitely isn't the case.

Can you please elaborate as there is a lot of confusing and incorrect
information floating around (your book, Project Professional help and
the Microsoft Project Server website)?

Thanks,

Scot- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Thanks for the feedback, Dale. It is really puzzling as we don't get
any errors, the ULS logs state nothing but still the Team Tasks do not
show up. I'll open an MS Support call to see if they can figure out
what is happening and report back my findings.

One thing: What version of Project Server are you using in your demo
enviroment (i.e. up to which cumulative update) as I suspect that this
may be the culprit?

Thanks again,

Scot

 

[Dale Howard [MVP]]

Scot --

The VPC imagine I used for Project Server 2007 is updated through the
October CU. Our believe that our corporate training system is updated
through the December CU, but don't quote me on that.

If you get a determination from Microsoft, I would be very curious as to the
solution. I simply don't have the time right now to do the in depth
research to find an answer to this puzzling little dilemma. Please post the
solution when you get it. I know it will help others in the same boat.

milrock --

When you assign a Team resource to a task in an enterprise project and
publish the project, the task assignment is supposed to show up on the My
Tasks page for each resource that is part of the Team resource. That is
the
default behavior, and I see it everywhere we go and teach, including on
our
own internal system in NYC.

However, you are now the third user who has reported that it isn't working
like that for you. Months ago, a user reported this problem, and then
eventually reported a solution to the problem. Unfortunately, I can no
longer find this user's post, and I don't remember what his solution was.

Regarding your situation, why you have this problem is beyond me. When
something isn't working by design, I'm not sure I could even hazard a
decent
guess. Sorry I can't be more help.













Hi Dale,

How are you able to get the team resource assignment to show up in the
My Tasks page and have the team work on it together? The only
behaviour that I have been able to produce when assigning a Team
Resource to a task is that the assignment only appears in the Self-
Assign Team Tasks page and not in the resources' normal My Tasks
page. This means that the team cannot work on the task together
unless the task is assigned to each team member individually.
Therefore all that the Team Member functionality provides is the
ability to assign a task to a team and have one member of the team
take over the task or the team lead can reassign the task to ONE
resource in the team.

"Their best use,
therefore, is as a means to assign a group of people to a task so that
they
can work on the task together, or so that one person can take over
personal
ownership of the team."

Your explanation seems to allude to the notion that once the team
resource is assigned and the project published that all team member
can enter beginning updating progress in their My Tasks page against
the task which definitely isn't the case.

Can you please elaborate as there is a lot of confusing and incorrect
information floating around (your book, Project Professional help and
the Microsoft Project Server website)?

Thanks,

Scot- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Thanks for the feedback, Dale. It is really puzzling as we don't get
any errors, the ULS logs state nothing but still the Team Tasks do not
show up. I'll open an MS Support call to see if they can figure out
what is happening and report back my findings.

One thing: What version of Project Server are you using in your demo
enviroment (i.e. up to which cumulative update) as I suspect that this
may be the culprit?

Thanks again,

Scot

 

[Gord]

Scot --

The VPC imagine I used forProjectServer2007is updated through the
October CU.  Our believe that our corporate training system is updated
through the December CU, but don't quote me on that.

If you get a determination from Microsoft, I would be very curious as to the
solution.  I simply don't have the time right now to do the in depth
research to find an answer to this puzzling little dilemma.  Please post the
solution when you get it.  I know it will help others in the same boat. 

--
Dale A. Howard [MVP]
VP of Educational Services
msProjectExpertshttp://www.msprojectexperts.comhttp://www.projectserverexperts.com
"We write the books onProjectServer"














...

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- Show quoted text -

Hi guys,

From Microsoft Office Online – Project Server – Assign work to a team:
“The team lead can see on the My Work page all team tasks that have
been assigned to him or her. Other team members can only see those
tasks that they assigned to themselves.”

The difference in the functionality you see is based on the type of
team membership: lead or member.

Gord

 

[milrock]

Scot --

The VPC imagine I used for Project Server 2007 is updated through the
October CU.  Our believe that our corporate training system is updated
through the December CU, but don't quote me on that.

If you get a determination from Microsoft, I would be very curious as to the
solution.  I simply don't have the time right now to do the in depth
research to find an answer to this puzzling little dilemma.  Please post the
solution when you get it.  I know it will help others in the same boat. 
















...

read more »- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Hi Dale,

I was forwarded by the MS Support call to this newly updated page on
Microsoft Office online website:

"Assign work to the team

Once you have set up the teams, assign all tasks initially to the team
lead.

Team members who are not leads can now go their My Work page, select
Self-assign Team Tasks on the Actions menu, and then select those
tasks that they want assigned to them.

Note The team lead can see on the My Work page all team tasks that
have been assigned to him or her. Other team members can only see
those tasks that they assigned to themselves.

So it appears that the functionality is working as it is designed (or
poorly designed I might add!) and the Project Professional help and
the some other entries on the Microsoft Office Online website are
incorrect as well.